LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Dec. 1, 2022) – As part of an ongoing effort to introduce individuals from underrepresented communities to careers in golf, the USGA has opened applications for the USGA Pathways Internship program at the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club.
Launched as the Lee Elder Internship by The Country Club at the 2022 U.S. Open in Brookline, Mass., the educational experience will continue to be led by the USGA and supported by its global partners. The internship will be held annually throughout the week of the U.S. Open as part of the USGA’s long-term commitment to creating more accessible pathways for all who are interested in pursuing careers in golf.
The 10-day program is scheduled for June 10-19, 2023, and will provide 20 college and graduate students with exposure to multiple facets of the golf industry while being immersed in the operations of a major championship. Those interested can apply at USGA.org/pathways through Feb. 10, 2023.
Following the success of the internship’s launch in 2022, Deloitte*, proud to be the official professional services provider of the USGA, will join the program as a foundational supporter to help drive greater inclusion in golf. As part of the 10-day program, Deloitte plans to provide a full day of professional development programming for the interns at its Los Angeles office and collaborate with the USGA on sessions that demonstrate Deloitte’s commitment to innovating for the future of the game.
“The students participating in this program will become golf’s next generation of leaders,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “At the USGA, our commitment to the future of the game includes investing in programs that help position tomorrow’s leaders for success and create pathways for careers in golf.”
The curriculum for the Pathways program will include a series of classroom-style instructional sessions paired with job shadowing and on-site training that covers all aspects of the championship, as well as networking opportunities with local and national leaders from the golf industry and beyond. The USGA will cover the program’s costs, including travel expenses and accommodations for all interns.
The 2022 inaugural class of the program included an international cohort of students from 22 institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other accredited universities across the United States with many having little to no experience with the game. Leveraging connections and leadership skills developed through the program, alumni have advanced to full-time internships at sports organizations, including the USGA, and serve as leaders within their universities.
Golf is an $84 billion industry that provides nearly 2 million U.S. jobs, and the USGA recognizes the need to prioritize career development programs to funnel individuals from underrepresented communities into the game. In addition to the USGA Pathways in Golf Program, the USGA annually funds more than 150 paid long-term internships through the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program across its network of 58 Allied Golf Associations, providing qualified applicants of all backgrounds with direct experience as staff members at state and regional golf associations. The program has launched the sports careers of more than 3,000 individuals since its inception in 1991.
