From Fairways to Boardrooms – Why Bernhard Academy’s Training Goes Far Beyond Golf

Practical skills are covered in extensive detail during Bernhard Academy workshops, from cutting-edge strategies for managing top-quality surfaces, cutting unit setup and sharpening techniques, and fundamentals of turfcare mechanics.

However, it may surprise some to learn that some of Bernhard Academy’s training programmes also lean into self-awareness, team dynamics, communication strategies and resilience under pressure. These workshops resonate with anyone who leads people or works within a team. Whether you run a golf course, a clothing company, or a catering business, the principles are the same: understand your team, empower them, and manage with emotional intelligence.

While delivering workshops at Oakmont during the US Open, Academy lead Phil Helmn noticed that members of the catering team began sitting in on sessions. “This isn’t just for greenkeepers,” one of them remarked. “We could use this in our business.” That simple comment sparked a broader realisation, that the Academy’s work has wide applicability.

At its core, the Bernhard Academy is about people: how they lead, how they adapt, and how they thrive. That’s why its suite of management courses is now catching the attention of professionals well beyond the world of greenkeeping.

The Academy’s collaboration with the Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) on their advanced management programme has already earned 98% satisfaction from delegates, which is a record score. Interest from industries as varied as hospitality and retail suggests that alongside a deep expertise in the technical elements of turf management, a new chapter is opening for Bernhard Academy.