Oakmont – Inside the Bernhard Academy’s American Home

Nestled among the hills of Pennsylvania, Oakmont isn’t just a legendary golf venue, it’s also the Bernhard Academy’s only US base, and the site of some of its most inspiring work.

Returning to Oakmont for the 2025 US Open felt like coming home for the Academy. Having already delivered training there 18 months earlier, Phil Helmn was stunned by the transformation. “They’d rebuilt the driving range, redesigned the practise facilities, even reshaped bunkers. It was phenomenal,” he recalls.

But it wasn’t just the physical changes that left an impression. It was the culture. The leadership team, under Mike McCormack, operates with discipline, precision, and purpose. The Academy team had a front-row seat to watch excellence unfold, not just in turf care, but in team culture.

That’s what made the experience at Oakmont so special. It wasn’t just about hosting the US Open. It was about being part of a workplace where excellence is the baseline. For the Bernhard Academy, observing and supporting this ethos aligned perfectly with their mission: to help individuals and teams raise their game.

In many ways, Oakmont exemplifies what the Academy teaches, leadership with integrity, teamwork built on trust, and performance under pressure.

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.

From Huddersfield to Oakmont: James’ Journey to the 125th U.S. Open

The story so far…

A native of Huddersfield Golf Club in West Yorkshire, UK, James Breeze has spent over 20 years in the golf course maintenance industry. Starting his career, as a greenkeeper, he transitioned to a full-time equipment technician role in 2016. Applying for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was a bold step, and James confessed “ It was certainly out of my comfort zone but an opportunity I felt I simply couldn’t afford to miss”. From submitting a video application to navigating an online interview and an in-person workshop visit, James impressed the selection panel with the passion and determination they were looking for. So, on the on the final day of May 2025, James, winner of the Bernhard Academy’s volunteer equipment technician competition, flew the 3,596 miles out to Pittsburgh, USA, to join the team preparing for the 125th U.S. Open at the legendary Oakmont Country Club.

Upon touchdown, James was welcomed by Tommy Richey from Bernhard and Company and together, joined the advance-week support team, working closely with the host club’s equipment and mechanic staff. Their mission: to grind all the mowing units, ensuring the highest quality of cut was produced using Oakmont’s own industry-leading Bernhard grinders.

During a rare break in his busy schedule, the Bernhard Academy’s Sami Strutt and Phil Helmn sat down with James to hear about his experience so far.

How was your experience travelling to the US, and how has it been so far?

“My journey was really smooth, everything went to plan, and thankfully, there were no hiccups! I’ve never been to the US before, so every experience has been completely new. The setup at Oakmont is not quite what I expected, though I’m not even sure what I was expecting! It’s completely different from the UK. The workshop facility here is enormous, highly organised, and has everything you could possibly imagine. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and I’ve felt part of the team from the moment I stepped through the door.”

You arrived during advance week. What have you been working on?

“Alongside Tommy, we’ve been grinding all the cutting units, or ‘reels’ as they’re known in the U.S. Between us, we’ve processed over 100 units. When we arrived, we joined Chris and Ian from Oakmont’s equipment management team. Since then, more volunteer technicians have arrived, and we’re now an eight-strong team. It’s brilliant working with so many like-minded professionals and observing how they approach their work. I’ll take away a huge amount from this experience.

The days are long with 4am briefing and late finishes. Sleep is at a premium and you take it when you can get it! It’s just amazing to see it and be part of it.”

What are your thoughts on the recognition technicians receive in the US?

“The respect for equipment technicians here is immense. Their expertise is genuinely recognised and valued, it’s clear that without them, the course maintenance operation wouldn’t function. Technicians are central to the team, and I’d love to see more of that appreciation in the UK. Groups like TETO, the Turf Equipment Technicians Organisation, are doing amazing work to raise awareness of our profession and its value within clubs and the wider industry.

TETO has built something in the UK that never existed before. I met someone this week whom I’d previously connected with through the Twitter, Trent Manning, who runs Reel Turf Techs, the U.S. equivalent of TETO. It’s an honour to work alongside him and have meaningful discussions about how we can inspire and support others. The dedication of people who give up their time to grow and nurture our profession is one of the keys to long-term success.

In the UK, Chris Minton, James Wilkinson, and Matt Axton have created a community of over 300 like-minded individuals through TETO, all united by the ambition to support each other and elevate the role of equipment technicians.”

Has this experience had an impact on you personally?

“This is, without doubt, the highlight of my career so far. The U.S. Open is one of the biggest golf tournaments in the World, and it’s a huge privilege to play a part in it. It’s boosted my confidence in ways I never expected. I’m here to soak up knowledge, make connections, and open my mind to what the future might hold for me. This experience has definitely planted some seeds for what comes next.”

The volunteer equipment technician opportunity is proudly sponsored by the Bernhard Academy and endorsed by TETO – the Turf Equipment Technicians Organisation.

The Bernhard Academy is pleased to announce its Autumn programme of educational workshops, designed to provide essential skills and knowledge to turf professionals and those managing maintenance equipment.