When 15-year-old Michael Weinreich found a summer job working at a golf course in Greenville, S.C., he never dreamed it would lead him to Myrtle Beach and one of the best public golf courses in America.
Life is crazy like that.
Weinreich worked at two courses in high school, and the experience was enough to convince him he wanted to pursue a career as a golf course superintendent. He had a good friend whose brother – an assistant super – attended Horry Georgetown Technical College to study turf management, providing further impetus.
With that recommendation, Weinreich headed to the beach and never left, graduating from HGTC and quickly moving up the ranks. After interning and working at World Tour, Weinreich accepted an assistant’s job at Myrtle Beach National – home of King’s North, West Course and SouthCreek – where he worked for 15 years, the last seven as the superintendent in charge of all three layouts.
While Weinreich excelled at Myrtle Beach National, when long-time TPC Myrtle Beach superintendent Clay DuBose left in October to take over at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Weinreich jumped at the opportunity to oversee operations at a layout that is near the top of every list of the Grand Strand’s best.
Under Weinreich guidance, TPC Myrtle Beach has again overseeded wall-to-wall and the course is green as far as the eye can see, meaning players can expect outstanding conditions throughout the winter and spring.
Nearing two decades in the business, Weinreich continues to relish the challenge of the job, creating an annual agronomic plan, working to stay on top of industry trends, and providing golfers a course that lives up to lofty expectations.
While the winter months are typically quiet along the Myrtle Beach golf scene, Weinreich and his crew will be actively preparing TPC to host the annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, one of the game’s premier junior events. The greens will be double-cut and rolled and the rye fairways and rough will be as vibrant as they are lush.
The competition level conditions will extend throughout the spring, ensuring golfers enjoy the full TPC experience, and Weinreich, far removed from a summer golf gig, will continue to enjoy his job from a high profile perch.
“I couldn’t imagine being behind a desk all day,” Weinreich said. “With this career, it’s a little bit of both and I really enjoy that.”
Thousands of golfers will enjoy Weinreich’s work this spring.
