Wotherspoon is being recognized for his leadership, mentoring and charitable involvement throughout the region.
“I feel that being a PGA professional means many things, but the most important is promoting the game of golf by setting a positive example,” said Wotherspoon. “I do this by giving back to the community and to those in the business that I have the pleasure of mentoring,”
Wotherspoon is among 18 recipients of the NCPGA’s 2011 Annual Section Awards.
Section awards are given to PGA Professionals and industry leaders who have excelled in the game and business of golf.
The NCPGA will recognize its 2011 Annual Section Award winners on Sunday, Dec. 4, at the NCPGA Special Awards Ceremony & President’s Dinner at Marin Country Club in Novato.
This event, a highlight for the year, will be held the evening prior to the NCPGA Annual Meeting. There are more than 200 golf professionals and industry leaders expected to attend.
“Mark has helped so many people through golf,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Cathy Jo Johnson, PGA. “He has been a great leader as the founder of the North Coast Chapter of the NCPGA, he has mentored many golf associates, and he has been responsible for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities.”
Wotherspoon has been a leader within the NCPGA. He helped found the North Coast Chapter (NCC) of the Nor Cal PGA Section, served four years as NCC President and Chapter Representative on the NCPGA Board of Directors, three years as the NCC Vice President, and three years as the NCC Tournament Chairman.
He founded the Lake County Amateur Golf Circuit 19 years ago and today it ranks as the third largest amateur golf circuit in the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA). He also helped overturn non-PGA biased NCPGA Tournament Rules and Regulations.
He takes pride in knowing he has mentored at least 10 current PGA professionals whether it was a co-worker or an up and coming apprentice working toward membership. Seeing a need within his Chapter, Wotherspoon started an apprentice fund in the NCC to support apprentices with their education.
Wotherspoon’s community involvement and charitable contributions are many and have resulted in tremendous benefits for organizations locally and abroad.
He hosted the Lake County Wine Alliance Event and the Pepsi Celebrity Quarterback Shootout with Konocti Harbor Resort. The Lake County Wine Alliance Event generated donations up to $100,000 annually that were directed locally and the Pepsi Celebrity Quarterback Shootout generated donations up to $250,000 annually that were distributed locally and abroad amongst several United Way-affiliated organizations.
During his 20 years at Buckingham Golf & Country Club, he has been responsible for more than $100,000 being given back to the local community in green fees, cart fees, dinners and 19th hole donations.
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