HOUSTON, Texas (Feb. 4, 2021) – The Spirit Golf Association (SGA) announced today that Mark Steinbauer, PGA has been named Vice President of the Spirit Golf Association. Steinbauer is a Class A PGA Member, Master Professional and a 30-year veteran of the golf industry with extensive experience managing golf operations at private facilities, golf academies and schools.
In his new role, Steinbauer will oversee partnerships for The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, the Spirit Golf Association’s signature event featuring the world’s best amateur men and women golfers representing their respective countries in team and individual competitions. Steinbauer will also work in the development of new charitable events for The Spirit Golf Association and its corporate partners.
“Mark is a forward-thinking and progressive PGA Professional who has run successful day-to-day golf operations at courses in Texas and South Carolina,” said SGA President Charlie Epps.“He also brings extensive experience managing high-level tournaments and USGA events to our team. Mark and I have worked together several times over the years. His energy and expertise made him my first call when we began our search for a vice president.”
Steinbauer has an extensive track record of revenue and membership growth at every stop during his career. He has overseen course redesigns, operations changes and rebranding initiatives in addition to serving as a director or host for numerous tournaments, including three USGA events.
“It is an honor to join the Spirit Golf Association and I look forward to working again with Charlie (Epps) and the rest of The Spirit staff,” said Steinbauer. “This is a first-class, service-minded organization and I cannot think of a better fit for me. I am ready to get started.”
Steinbauer has earned numerous awards as an instructor including South Texas PGA Professional of the Year in 2015 and 2011. He was named to Golf Magazine’s prestigious Top 100 Instructor list in 2011 and has served as a member of the PGA National Education Committee since 2017. He is a five-time winner of the South Texas PGA Horton Smith Award (education) in addition to the 2010 Bill Strausbaugh Award (club relations) and the Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year award in 1994. Since 2000, he has served on the Presidential advisory board for TaylorMade and Adidas.
Steinbauer comes to SGA after four years as the Director of Golf for Bentwater Country Club (Montgomery, Texas) where he oversaw three consecutive years of increased revenue and member satisfaction while also coordinating the redesign of the club’s courses.
At previous stops in his career, Steinbauer served as the Assistant General Manager at Haig Point Club in Hilton Head, S.C., Vice President of Operations at The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley, Texas, and Director of Golf at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. He began his career as a teaching professional in 1987 and eventually founded his own business, Mark Steinbauer Golf Training Center, in 1994.
About the Spirit Golf Association: The Spirit Golf Association, 501(c)(3), serves as the host for The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship. Contributors to the Spirit Golf Association, 501(c)(3), receive playing privileges at Whispering Pines Golf Club. In addition, SGA also hosts the Spirit Charity Challenge featuring Spirit alumni and Spirit Hall of Fame Game which features local sports Hall of Famers and celebrities.
About Whispering Pines Golf Club: Whispering Pines Golf Club recently completed a course construction and re-opened in the fall of 2020. Just 80 miles north of Houston along the shores of Lake Livingston, Whispering Pines Golf Club is one of the best private golf clubs in the country. The club was founded not only to offer its discerning contributors a superior golf experience on an exceptional course, but it also was created to promote amateur golf. Whispering Pines is ranked #1 in Texas and was recently ranked #21 in the top 200 modern courses in the country by Golfweek.
