DUBLIN, Ohio — Washington Courthouse native Chad Mark said leading the Muirfield Village Golf Club groundskeeping crew is his dream job.

What You Need To Know

  • Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin will host the Memorial Tournament on June 2

  • Mark attended Ohio State University and started working at the golf course in 2017

  • Mark is one of 18 Ohio State graduates on a staff of 55 during the summer months

“I still walk up to the 18th hole and have to pinch myself that I'm actually director of grounds here because it's a dream come true,” Mark said.

Mark attended Ohio State University and started working at the golf course in 2017. 

His love and appreciation for the sport of golf dates back decades. 

“Did an article about Jack Nicholas when I was a senior in high school, and so certainly, this is my dream job. I know there's great jobs all over the country, but being a buckeye and being somebody that grew up close to Columbus, Ohio, I've always wanted something like this,” said Mark. 

Mark is one of 18 Ohio State graduates on a staff of 55 during the summer months. 

Another 30 volunteers from across the globe help to make sure the Memorial Tournament goes off without a hitch. 

“Takes a village to make this happen. Mowers that can mow at .085 of an inch on greens to mowers that can cut and brush the fairways at .300 of an inch,” said Mark. 

Mark said it's also a thrill to work hand-in-hand with Nicholaus and to be part of the recent renovations to the course.

“You know we have a lot of changes to the greens complexes and changes with the contours on the greens. The bunkers are all new, the fairways are all re-grassed. So this year is the first year we're going to put a little fire back in the golf course, have the green speeds back at traditional memorial speeds,” said Mark. 

This will be Mark's seventh Memorial Tournament, and he takes a lot of pride in what he and his staff have been able to accomplish. 

While weather conditions during the month of May vary and present challenges from year to year, Mark's end goal remains the same. 

“I think it's great to have a good-looking golf course but one that's good looking and plays well is my ultimate goal.”

The Memorial Tournament kicks off June 2 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin. 

Defending champion Patrick Cantlay leads a star-studded crew that competes for $12 million in prize money.