"Many of us have dreams and he's one of the few who made his dream happened," Roberg said. "Because of him we have something that's a national treasure, in my opinion."
How very true this observation is that Mr. Roberg shares. Mark was so much like many of the folks that are avid fans of golf course architecture and design, but also had the vision and courage and confidence to go out and develop the vision. He would be every architects dream collaborator to develop a world class golf facility. He had such high praise and friendship with Graham Marsh.
But, maybe the most revealing aspect of Mark's strong character is how he managed to stick with the dream of Sutton Bay in the face of disaster with the entire land mass of the first course geologically sloughing off and litterally breaking the land in multiple places. Yet, Mark reorganized, and they relocated the course to higher ground above the first site. That much drama and disappointment would have broken many the less of men.
I can't say enough of how welcoming Mark made our group the two excursions we made with various GCA contibutors. He came out on foot and walked and played along with everyone in the groups, explaining all the significant architecture and construction issues faced and designed into the golf course.
RIP and condolences to his family. His brother caddied for Swampy at the Whistling Straits Senior Open. What a proud and acclaimed family of golf significant figures in South Dakota.