About
Parsinen set out to create a modern course for golfers like himself—players with modest skills who prized enjoyment and opportunity for recovery on the golf course—making his designs highly playable and fun for amateurs while still challenging for seasoned players.
Mark Parsinen was an innovative and thoughtful golf course developer and designer best known for his involvement in the creation of several renowned golf projects. Parsinen’s approach to golf course design was heavily influenced by the philosophies of the Golden Age architects such as Alister MacKenzie, Seth Raynor, Tom Tillinghast, and H.S. Colt. His landmark projects include Granite Bay Golf Club near Sacramento, California, Kingsbarns Golf Links in Fife, Scotland, and Castle Stuart in Inverness, Scotland.
Parsinen’s contribution was more than just overseeing design; he was deeply involved with the land, refining the routing and ensuring that courses respected the natural terrain and celebrated the site’s inherent qualities. He was a career single-digit amateur golfer who brought his passion and understanding of the game to his golf course projects. Known for his persistence and intellectual approach, Parsinen strived to create golf courses that maintained player's interest by offering "sustained hopefulness"—a level of challenge that encouraged recovery opportunities while rewarding skillful play. Beyond design, he was appreciated for his generosity and passion for the game.
