Growing up in Marion, Iowa, Michael Benkusky began his study of golf course architecture early and first hand by working on and playing the Donald Ross designed Cedar Rapids Country Club. In 1983 he entered Iowa State University to study Landscape Architecture with an emphasis in golf design. Benkusky played on the varsity golf team where he was introduced to another of the game's giants, architect Perry Maxwell, who designed Iowa State's home course, Veenker Memorial Golf Course.

In January 2005, Benkusky started his own design firm, Michael J. Benkusky, Inc. The mission of MJB, Inc. is to combine quality designs with a hands on approach and a close working relationship to enhance his client's golf courses. With over 20 years of golf course design experience he has worked on hundreds of projects including courses originally laid out by Donald Ross, Perry Maxwell, Seth Raynor, Tom Bendelow, and Colt & Allison.

Michael Benkusky has been a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects since 1997.