The MBGA

• Press Release: Pinehurst, NC (December 11th, 2022 – 9:45 am) – A special meeting of the “MBGA” was held at Maxie’s Grill and Tap Room to induct the organizations newest member; Jim Schoch. In attendance, Jim White (President), Dan Bowman (Vice-President) and Jim “Hambone” Hermann (Treasurer).

It is almost inconceivable that after one short year of living in the Pinehurst community, I was formally inducted into, may I say; a prestigious, may I also say; an elite organization, not dissimilar to the likes of Mensa (high IQ Society), Skull and Bones (Yale University Secret Society) and the Lancaster Liederkranz!

It all started in April 2022, working on the Grounds Crew of Pinehurst No. 6, where I met Jim White and Dan Bowman.  I had recently transferred from Pinehurst’s main driving range (“Maniac Hill”) to a member of the Grounds Crew on No. 6. The move made perfect sense due to my three-plus years of experience at World Woods Golf Course in Brooksville, Florida, where I honed my craft; mowing greens, mowing fairways, mowing rough, cutting cups and chain-sawing debris.

Jim and Dan, retired military (U.S. Army) and Department of Defense employees, have worked part-time, every other weekend, for years on No. 6 in exchange for a meager wage and $5 greens fees on the majority of Pinehurst’s Resort and Country Club nine (soon to be eleven) courses. They are responsible for meticulously hand grooming twenty-nine greenside bunkers as well as maintaining twenty-five fairway bunkers; utilizing the “Aussie Style” of bunker raking.

Note:  The “Aussie Style”” produces finely raked and consistent bunker floors and 3’-5’ of smooth/firm edges, eliminating fried eggs, resulting in bunkers that are playable, but not perfect, retaining some of the original intent of penalizing golfers for hitting wayward shots.

It didn’t take long to notice that there was something very special about these two dedicated and deeply prideful employees. They work as a team; skilled technicians who truly care about their specific tasks and the quality of their workmanship; true professionals in every sense of the word. Their Accuform Ace II long smoothing bunker rakes (affectionately known as an LR26’s) and metal lawn rakes are extensions of their appendages.

I was fortunate to be assigned to the same alternating weekend shifts as Jim and Dan, working side by side with the masters. They were kind enough to take me under their cumulative wings, true mentors in every sense of the word; teaching the skills and disciplines required to precisely transform a pile of fine sand into a work of art. Little did I know that my every move was being scrutinized relative to my engagement, my work ethic, my speed, my willingness to go the extra mile, my precision, my sense of “team” and my overall attitude.

As my internship with Jim and Dan entered its fifth weekend, I felt confident enough to ask a question that had been burning on the tip of my tongue since my first day at No. 6.

Background: On the wall, next to our superintendent’s office, is a white assignment board that lists the names of all full and part-time No. 6 Grounds Crew employees, segregated in no particular order.  On a personal note, it took a disturbing amount of time before my name was added to the roster and I cannot confirm or deny that I added my own name to the board. Anyway, scribbled next to Jim and Dan’s name, and only Jim and Dan’s name, are the letters “MBGA.”

I have spent countless hours, racking my brain, trying to make sense of these nonsensical letters; in part, not wanting to embarrass myself by an obvious answer.  It was akin to attempting to decipher the Enigma Code!  As we returned our equipment to the Shop, I finally found my opportunity to share my conundrum with the legends, “Jim, Dan, I give up, would one of you please tell me what the heck is the meaning of MBGA?”  Jim, pausing for a reflective moment, responded with the following, “The MBGA is our two-person organization committed to the relentless pursuit of excellence in everything we do. Membership is an earned distinction.  We are the MBGA, Make Bunkers Great Again!”  Jim continued by saying the organization was considering an unprecedented expansion by inducting two new members in the very near future.

In addition to Jim “Hambone” Hermann, the organization’s new Treasurer, I was proud to become the MBGA’s new Recording Secretary!

“No bunker is too big or too small for the MBGA.” – Jim “Hambone” Hermann

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