Growing up, golf fans always dream of what it would feel like to walk down the 18^th fairway on Sunday of a Major with the outcome of the tournament hanging in the balance and to stand on the 18^th green after the tournament with some of the largest names in golf standing next to you. This summer, I experienced just that at the 116^th United States Open at Oakmont Country Club. While I obviously was not playing, I came pretty close. I had the privilege of serving as a Short-term Operations Intern for the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The two months that I’ve spent with the USGA have been some of the most trying, physically exhausting, and tiring months of my life. However, just one week out of those two months made the all of the other time totally worth it.

Coming into the internship, I did not know what to expect except for my former boss telling me that the USGA would work me to the bone. His words could not have been more true. Leading up to the Championship, the Operations team is responsible for painting all of the wood that is used for railings, wind screening (putting green mesh) all of the fence on the property (which ended up being about 25 miles total), laying down plywood for trailers to protect the grass, and many other responsibilities.

This internship provided me with a lot of memories that I never would’ve thought I would experience, both good and bad. Through this internship, I became forklift certified, worked over 20 hours in one day, and worked over 125 hours each week for two consecutive weeks. However, my hard work paid off in the form of an All-Access Pass and Inside the Ropes lanyard for the Championship Week.

For anyone pursuing a career in the golf industry, I would highly recommend this internship. Interns have the opportunity to interact with everyone from Mike Davis to Charlie Howe (the tournament director this year) and everyone up the Operations chain so the connections you make can greatly benefit you in the future. The internships are competitive, with only 15 short-term interns being selected from a pool of over 500 applicants, but those who are selected benefit greatly.

Interning with the USGA at the U.S. Open will test your mental and physical strength but ultimately prepare you for your future career, whether or not it is in the golf industry. I hope to see some of you next year in my home state of Wisconsin at Erin Hills Golf Course for the 117^th United States Open Championship!

Want to work in golf? Stay tuned to the Nextgengolf job board for the latest golf jobs opportunities to work in the industry.