Beyond the Greens – Bernhard Academy’s Impact at the 2025 US Open

When the world turned its attention to Oakmont for the 2025 US Open, the spotlight wasn’t only on the players. Behind the scenes, the Bernhard Academy played a quiet yet transformational role in shaping the experience for more than 250 volunteers who made the tournament tick.

Recognising the importance of professional development, Oakmont’s Superintendent Mike McCormack invited the Academy to deliver bespoke soft skills training to the volunteer team during their downtime. The focus was on soft skills, rather than technical skills like mowing patterns or bunker edges, but resilience, leadership potential, and self-awareness.

Workshops spanned from personality profiling to techniques designed to build resilience, helping individuals understand both themselves and their teams. Sessions took place informally in the downtime between early morning and evening shifts, where they’d drop in for engaging training that helped them become better leaders, better communicators, and more adaptable professionals.

The younger volunteers were hungry for experience and eager to network. They viewed the US Open as a springboard for career progression and self-development. The seasoned professionals, meanwhile, relished the opportunity to reconnect with peers, rediscover their purpose, and share best practices.

In short, the Bernhard Academy became a cornerstone of the tournament’s success, not by cutting grass, but by cultivating people.