Max Morgan’s career began deep below the Pacific Ocean, aboard a nuclear submarine, and it will end on the sun-splashed fairways of Myrtle Beach. Along the way, he has impacted more Myrtle Beach golf trips than perhaps any man, a distinction that has earned Morgan a place in the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame.

Morgan served in the U.S. Navy from 1974 to 1980, stationed in Pearl Harbor, where alternating 90-day stretches on and off duty left him with free time. That’s when he discovered his passion for golf.

“The courses were nice, the military rate was cheap, and I just fell in love with it,” he recalled.

When his service to Uncle Sam ended, Morgan pursued a new career path in golf course maintenance, enrolling in the turf program at Horry Georgetown Technical College in December 1980. Two months later, he was working at Pine Lakes, beginning a career that has now spanned five decades.

He rose through the ranks at Waterway Hills, Marsh Harbour, Eagle Nest, Myrtlewood, and Myrtle Beach National, before being named vice president of agronomy at Founders Group International, the Grand Strand’s largest ownership group, where he oversees 21 courses.

A Teacher and Mentor
For longtime co-worker Michael Bankert, who first met Morgan as a student at Horry Georgetown Tech, the lessons he learned were as much about life as they were about grass.

“Max is a creature of habit,” said Bankert, now the superintendent at Legends Resort. “He wanted everything done a certain way, every single day, and that taught me the importance of establishing guidelines – not just for the course, but for employees. Everyone knew what was expected of them, and it made the whole operation run smoothly.”

But beyond procedures and standards, there was also a joy that made working with Morgan fun, even during stressful situations.

“Max is a kid at heart,” Bankert laughed. “If you ever golf with him, play poker, or go fishing, you’ll see it. One time at Myrtle Beach National, he tried out a new windsurfer on the pond by the 14th hole. There was no wind, the pond was half-drained, and there he was, standing on (the wind surfer) in a life jacket – in knee-high water! That’s just Max: he enjoys life.”

The Bigger Picture
The attention to detail Bankert saw when he met Morgan in the 1980s has served as the foundation for his hall of fame career.

“Every day he comes to work, Max is the same. He wears rubbers over his tennis shoes, carries a knife to cut weeds, and you will see 30 or 40 cigarette butts piled in the cart he was riding in,” Founders Group International president Steve Mays said with a smile. “That consistency – along with his attention to detail – is what sets superintendents apart. And Max has it.”

Beyond his expertise in turf grass, Morgan has always brought the perspective of a golfer to his job, much to the benefit of countless players who have flocked to Myrtle Beach over the years.

“He knows vacationers aren’t here to sit in a hotel room; they are here to play golf,” Mays said. “That’s why he manages his courses to be open and playable as much as possible. Even how we overseed is about letting people ride the fairways and enjoy the experience. Not every superintendent thinks that way.”

Morgan’s passion for golf and commitment to the player experience has him indispensable.

“The reason I was able to step into the role of president and the success we’ve had at Founders Group International was because of the confidence I had in Max Morgan,” Mays said. “This is a well-deserved recognition for everything he’s done for Myrtle Beach golf.”

A Career of Purpose
Morgan himself said his career has always been about people as much as turf.

“It’s such a terrific business because it’s a business of pleasure,” he said. “You’re surrounded by people who love the game and are in a good mood. That’s been the greatest reward.”

As he joins the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame, Morgan hopes to be remembered for two things: putting golfers first and preparing the next generation.

“I never wanted the course to feel like sacred ground that only I could control. It’s a business, and it should be enjoyable,” he said. “At the same time, I wanted the people who worked with me to understand why we do things. That’s how you really learn.”

For Bankert, the legacy is clear. “Max, you’ve earned this. Nobody can touch your dedication or your morality. You’re one of the best in the business, and all of us who worked with you are proud of you.”