The Long Game: A Conversation with Josh Richter

Some careers are built on ambition. Josh Richter's was built on belonging. When Richter arrived at Boyne Resorts in 1999 as a Ferris State PGM intern, northern Michigan wasn't just a career stop — it became home. Twenty-seven years later, he oversees 14 courses across the country as Senior Vice President of Golf Operations, was named the Michigan PGA's 2025 Golf Executive of the Year, and has helped mentor an entire generation of golf professionals, many of whom have gone on to lead courses and academies of their own.

But spend any time with Richter, and it becomes clear that the fairway was never the full extent of his commitment to this place. He has chaired the Board of Directors for First Tee of Northern Michigan since 2024, helping expand the program to serve over 300% more juniors across the region. He volunteers with The Manna Food Project. He has been a driving force behind the Harbor Cup, which has raised more than $1 million for local charities. In Richter, the values that animate the Boyne Forever Foundation — protect the land, strengthen the community, invest in the people — aren't mission statement language. They're a way of life.

We sat down with Josh to talk about what keeps him rooted here, what golf teaches beyond the game, and why the places we love most are always worth giving back to.

You've been with Boyne for 27 years. What's kept you here? Many things, starting with the team I get to work with From the leaders who mentored me, to the colleagues I work alongside of, and even the new generation I get to help mentor myself - all of these individuals have become close friends. Secondly, the beautiful place we live in and the amazing access to golf and skiing make it impossible to call someplace else home. Finally, the opportunities along the way for personal and professional development. I love it here and have been incredibly fortunate to raise my daughters in this community.

The Heather is your favorite Boyne course. What makes it special to you — and what do you think it offers golfers that they don't expect? It is special to me because it was the first golf course where I was a Head Professional, including my first year as host of the Michigan Amateur at The Heather. More importantly, it was the start of golf for Boyne Resorts and still the course we compare all the others to. It is a great test of golf. Not overly long, but amazing green complexes with strategically placed bunkers make it a perfect course for tournament golf. Having hosted many AJGA events, four Michigan Amateurs, and just recently is the home to the Great Lakes Championship, an EPSON Tour tournament.

Golf at a resort level is as much about hospitality as it is about the game. How do you think about the experience beyond the 18 holes? It needs to be a well-rounded journey. We talk all the time about expectations throughout your time with us. It starts when you arrive and doesn't end until you head out. Great service, the right food and beverage, a good pace of play, and a comfortable feeling. It all starts with our team, and we feel we do a great job of crafting that to individuals, not the same cookie-cutter for everyone.

You've spent nearly three decades watching how golf intersects with the land here in northern Michigan. How has your thinking about environmental stewardship on the courses evolved over that time? At the beginning, I was trying to learn so much at once that it didn't even occur to me. Then, over time, with different levels of responsibility and all that I was learning from leaders like Bernie Friedrich, Mike Chumbler, among them, was whether we were doing the right things to create the conditions our golfers expected while being thoughtful to the impact of our environment. I truly feel we are doing that throughout our decision making process and are continually looking for opportunities for improvement. The team is very passionate about our best practices that create the ideal conditions for our courses, while remaining responsible.

You chair the Board of Directors for First Tee of Northern Michigan. Why is that work meaningful to you personally? At the surface, as PGA Professionals, our mission is to grow the game of golf. That is where it started when I was asked to join the board in the fall of 2017. Then, as the years went by, helping teach, fundraise, participate in events, and move our mission forward, it became so much more. Since taking over as President of the Board in 2024, we have expanded into several new areas, including Marquette and Charlevoix. We are now serving 300% more juniors in our communities, have expanded into a new space that allows us to offer more year-round access, and are in the best financial shape in our 20+ year history. It has been one of the highlights of my career thus far, and I owe it all to the men and women who support and serve as leaders of the Board and our Executive Director, Kevin McKinley.

What does it mean to you to introduce a young person to the game — and do you think golf teaches something beyond golf? It means so much. They are our future, and as I mentioned prior, growing the game is a pillar of being a PGA Professional. Golf teaches life skills such as honesty, respect, confidence, and responsibility, to name a few. Golf is also a social sport, and it teaches you how to talk to people, shake hands, and make eye contact. Golf is a great platform for becoming a better human.

You also volunteer with Manna Food Project. How do you think about your role in the broader northern Michigan community, beyond the fairways? Manna Food Project (https://www.mannafoodproject.org/)is near and dear to us as PGA Professionals at Boyne Golf. We have supported them through our annual Harbor Cup fundraiser for nearly 20 years, and we also host their annual 'Golf Fore Manna' golf outing. We sincerely enjoy volunteering in all the ways we can. We feel it is our responsibility to be active contributors to the community where we work and play. Personally, it is one of the most meaningful things I do each year.

You played Pinehurst #2 on Masters Sunday in 2005. Tell us about that day — and what moments like that remind you about why golf matters. It was a great day. A relaxing morning followed by a mid-morning round on No. 2 with three fellow golf professionals: Mike Chumbler, Bernie Friedrich, and Paul Friedrich. We had an amazing time, caddies in tow, then posted up at the Ryder Cup Lounge at the Carolina Hotel after the round. Watching The Masters is an annual highlight, but this was the year Tiger Woods won, including his famous chip-in on No. 16, which sent a packed lounge wild. Start to finish, it ranks among the most memorable days of my life, shared with friends who remain close to this day.

Boyne Forever Foundation was founded on the idea that the places we love are worth protecting and investing in. How do you see golf fitting into that mission? Golf is a natural fit, in my opinion. In the golf division, we understand that we have a responsibility to care for our courses sustainably. By focusing on best agronomic practices that manage water use, minimizing herbicide and fertilizer applications, maximizing energy efficiency, and by reinvesting in tools that support all of the above. Other examples include LED lighting in our buildings and the use of central controls and variable frequency drives in our irrigation systems.

What's your vision for Boyne Golf's role within the Foundation going forward — and what would it mean to you to see that relationship deepen? To be a leader and advocate for the Foundation in every way possible. To grow our contribution year over year. To host events that support fundraising and raise awareness for the Foundation. And to support our pillars, with particular focus on helping team members with career development.