Mark Parsinen

Mark Parsinen (1948–2019) was an American golf course developer and designer whose vision helped create two of Scotland's most celebrated modern links courses. Working primarily as a developer with design partners, he played a central role in transforming challenging coastal sites into world-class golf destinations.

Parsinen is best known for co-developing Kingsbarns Golf Links near St Andrews, which opened in 2000. Designed by Kyle Phillips with Parsinen as original developer alongside Art Dunkley, Kingsbarns occupies 1.8 miles of Scottish shoreline and has earned recognition among the finest courses in Scotland and frequently appears in global rankings. The course co-hosts the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and has welcomed major championships including the 2017 Women's British Open.

Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness, designed with Gil Hanse, represents another ambitious Parsinen project on the Moray Firth. His work demonstrated a keen eye for dramatic coastal landscapes and the ability to attract top design talent to realize their potential. Parsinen departed Kingsbarns ownership in 2005 but left a lasting legacy in Scottish golf's modern era.

Sources: Wikipedia articles linked above; course list from Course Vaults.