About | Opportunities | Eligibility/Process | FAQs | Past Interns
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| At PGA TOUR Headquarters, interns have an opportunity to work together and make a real impact in the organization. |
The PGA TOUR Diversity Internship Program is open to all qualified college students, regardless of ethnicity and is committed to attaining greater diversity within our organization, as well as, the golf industry. Our internships are designed to expose college students to the business side of golf that supports one of the world’s leading sports brands -- the PGA TOUR. While a love of the game is certainly appreciated, knowing how to play is not a prerequisite for the internship. Your internship experience will be enhanced by activities and projects that will allow you to gain a full picture of how the PGA TOUR and other golf organizations work together to support our players, charities and events on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and the Nationwide Tour.
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| Weekly Employee Golf Tournaments are a great way to not only take advantage of playing on a premier course, but also a great chance to network and get to know people who may not work in your department. |
Watch this video about our program that was produced by PGA TOUR interns at PGA TOUR Productions.
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| The Interns vs. Staff Softball Game is an annual tradition. |
Opportunities
The following are areas in which internship opportunities may be available. Click on the links below to see what former interns have to say about their experiences:
We have also partnered with other golf industry organizations that provide internship opportunities through the PGA TOUR Diversity Intern Program.
While a majority of our internships are located at our corporate headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and offered from June to August, some are located at various tournament sites throughout the country.
Eligibility
Position requirements will vary according to job placement. However, at the time of applying, all candidates must be:
NOTE: The ability to play golf or knowledge of the game is not required for many positions.
Application Process
What to do PRIOR to beginning the on-line application process:
* NOTE: applications must have a resume and personal essay attached to be considered.
What to expect once you have completed the application:
Once you have created an on-line Application Profile, an email will be sent including the username and password you selected. Keep this information in a safe place so that you can access your application at a later date if necessary. Applications will be reviewed and candidates will be notified as early as possible, but no later than May 1, 2009. Finalist candidates will be required to provide two letters of reference and transcripts of grades from current college or university.
FAQs
DO YOU HAVE TO BE A MINORITY TO BECOME AN INTERN WITH THE PGA TOUR?
No. The PGA TOUR Diversity Internship Program is open to all students regardless of race, color, gender, religion, age, national origin, or disability. The purpose of the program is to consider all candidates and hire the best qualified who can enrich the TOUR and its partnering organizations through diversity.
SHOULD I SEND A COPY OF MY RESUME VIA TRADITIONAL POSTAL MAIL?
No. Please submit all application materials online through PGATOUR.com.
WHAT OTHER MATERIALS WILL I NEED TO SUBMIT?
If selected as a finalist candidate, you will need to provide supplementary materials including transcripts of grades from your current educational institution and two reference letters. Letters must include the reference’s name, title, phone number, relationship to you, and brief comments on your work or academic performance, integrity, initiative, dependability, and creativity. Letters should be mailed in a sealed envelope signed by the reference over the flap to the PGA TOUR address listed on back.
HOW MANY INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE?
We typically offer around 40 internship positions each year. However, the number and type of internship is subject to change according to company needs.
WHAT IS THE SUCCESS RATE FOR INTERNS BECOMING FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES?
On average, 20% of the eligible interns (those available for full-time work) are hired as full-time employees with the PGA TOUR and other golf industry partners on an annual basis. A major objective of the program is to assist interns who’ve had a successful internship to find positions within the PGA TOUR and the golf industry.
WHAT IS THE PONTE VEDRA/JACKSONVILLE AREA LIKE?
Jacksonville, which spans the broad, curving St. Johns River, is a vibrant city with many distinct areas. From the high rise buildings of downtown Jacksonville to beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach located on the Atlantic Ocean, you will never run out of things to see and do. Cities such as Orlando, St. Augustine, and Savannah are only short distances away.
WHERE ARE THE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES LOCATED?
Most positions are available at PGA TOUR Headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., during the summer. During the Fall and Spring, internships have been located in Sonoma, Calif.; Savannah, Ga.; Atlanta, Ga.; Tucson, Arizona; Akron, Ohio; Baltimore, Mary.; Paramus, N.J.; and Miami, Fla.
ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVEL STUDENTS?
The PGA TOUR tries to match the best candidate to the available positions, regardless of their level of education.
HOW DO I GET SCHOOL CREDIT?
University accreditation for completion of the internship program is common and must be coordinated by the student through his or her school.
HOW SHOULD I INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF MY APPLICATION?
Due to the volume of interest in our program, it is difficult for us to respond to each inquiry. An initial determination will be made on all applications by March 15, 2009. Final determinations will be communicated on or before May 1, 2009.
APPLY NOW!
Past Interns
PGATOUR.com
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Jamie North Carolina State University Major: Communications- Media & Public Relations Typical Day My main responsibility as the editorial intern for PGATOUR.com was to help develop different story ideas for content on the website. I brainstormed with producers, managing editors and the writers to keep the site running smoothly and to provide quality information for the public to read. No two days were exactly the same; each day provided me with different opportunities. This summer, I was given many assignments to research and write about such as “Inside the Field,” which provided detailed information about the players in a given tournament. I was able to see the brainstorming behind the content published on the celebrity round of golf involving Justin Timberlake, Tony Romo and Matt Lauer before the U.S. Open, as well as understand how high stress situations such as Tiger Woods’ decision to have knee surgery affected the website’s content and viewer traffic. Most Memorable Project The project I most enjoyed working on was the Men’s Health Week section. During the Travelers Championship, the national promotion of Men’s Health Week was in full swing. I was able to compile research on the topic, provide video content, interview professionals and write segments about the topic. I was given a lot of creative freedom and was able to make a contribution to the site as well as add to my own portfolio. |
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Lisa University of Hawaii Major: Apparel Product Design & Merchandising Typical Day My day started with answering emails and correspondences concerning our international licensees and strategic partnerships. I was usually involved in a couple of meetings where my supervisors always encouraged my input. I researched new ideas on all of my projects, which kept me learning about the TOUR and a new side of retail, which I wasn't familiar with before. This entailed reading and further understanding each licensee contract, logo approvals, product credit and more. I was encouraged to keep abreast of current events for licensing ideas by reading newspapers, magazines and industry newsletters. The other projects that filled my day included organizing, communicating and creating concepts for the TOUR; all useful for the next steps in my career. Best Aspect of TOUR Experience I didn’t know what to expect coming all the way from my home in Hawaii, but I was pleasantly surprised at the warm and hospitable nature of everyone at the TOUR. Each person worked to make our experience worthwhile and fulfilling. I loved how accessible my supervisor was and he would always make himself available to meet with me. The Retail Licensing team encouraged networking and finding the best experience for me, even if it wasn’t to be with the TOUR. Even if you learned that this was not the place for you, they would still try to work within the TOUR’s contacts to help you achieve your goals. |
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Tracy University of Massachusetts MBA/Master of Science of Sport Management Candidate 2009 Best Aspect of TOUR Experience For me, the best aspect of this experience was being able to get to know the TOUR and the golf industry in-depth, especially the international side of the golf business. It would have taken me a year or two to obtain all the knowledge that I gained in the ten weeks during my internship. The second best aspect was the intercultural communication experience at work. As an international student from China, I shared my unique perspective with my co-workers and other interns and gained insight from their perspectives as well. Was there anything that surprised you and what can future applicants expect? The internship constantly surprised me on how much initiative I was able to take at work. It distinguished itself from the typical “internship” work that may be expected. I was doing more than copying contracts and sorting out documents. I was conducting a comprehensive analysis that will soon be communicated to PGA TOUR clients and put into practice. If you are fortunate enough to become an intern, don’t be afraid to ask questions and realize that it is important to listen and then voice your suggestions. |
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Brian Columbia Business School MBA Candidate 2009 Typical Day As a tournament services intern, I was involved with five or six different projects, including coordinating volunteers, tournament services, marketing, corporate sales and of course, operations. My favorite project was when I negotiated contracts and trade agreements with vendors. Best Aspect of TOUR Experience The BARCLAYS event is located only 20 minutes from New York City in Paramus, NJ, so I was lucky enough to already live in an apartment in Manhattan. There was never a shortage of activities to participate in around the NYC area. When I could, I also enjoyed playing golf after work with other TOUR employees at the tournament course. |
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Jeff University of Dayton Major: Business Leadership Minor: Business Finance Typical day Every day was completely different. Working in the operations side was great because there were always a number of small projects and I was always meeting new people (vendors, preferred suppliers, etc.). I liked being outside, so whenever there was a project that I could help the volunteers with like setup the golf course, or whenever I got a chance to use the fork lift, I tried to take advantage of those opportunities. Best Aspect of TOUR Experience I had the chance to see and be exposed to a variety of areas that was needed to put on a tournament – including coordinating volunteers, tournament services, marketing, corporate sales and of course, operations. It was really cool because I had no idea that it took so much effort from each area to put on a week long golf tournament. Getting a feel of how hard it really was and how much work it took really made me appreciate the business more then I did before as a spectator. |
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Jason New York University Major: Sport Management & Leisure Studies Typical Day As an intern in a department with a wide range of responsibilities (including database collection, XM Satellite Radio relationship, & EA Sports relationship), my duties changed from day to day. Some days, I analyzed database statistics and created reports to help the department and its clients reach a larger, targeted audience more effectively. Other days I was responsible for brand assurance with Tiger Wood’s PGA TOUR video game franchise and ensuring XM advertisers acted within their contracts during broadcasts. Since the TOUR encourages their interns to learn as much about the business as possible, I was also able to help out the TOUR’s charity division once a week, organizing TOUR-wide charity events and respond to charity requests from outside organizations. Most Memorable Project In order for upper management to get a better understanding of a younger demographic, I was assigned to create a panel discussion on Generation Y media usage. I used demographics and psychographics to assemble a diverse panel of fellow interns as well as researched Gen Y media usage to help facilitate the discussion. Being a co-moderator on the panel was a great experience and, hopefully, the discussion that resulted helped those who attended. |
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Jordan
Iowa Wesleyan College Major: Business Administration & Sports Management Typical Day I communicated with the Marketing Director and the Nationwide Tour Tournament Business Affairs (TBA) Directors on a daily basis. I was constantly assisting them with projects, proposals, and reports by helping in any way that I could to speed up the process. I also attended various Nationwide Tour meetings and conference calls dealing with business that relates to the TOUR as a whole, or individual tournaments. Most Memorable Project This summer I thoroughly enjoyed creating the Nationwide Tours’ Business-to-Business website which we launched in July 2008. This website is a tool for Tournament Directors and Tournament Business Affairs staff to use when introducing our product to potential sponsors and partners. The website gives a large-scale view of the Nationwide Tour and its connection to the PGA TOUR. I was also responsible for making updates on Nationwide Tour Central, a website designed for Tournament Directors and used as a communication medium to connect the Tournament Directors with promotional and operational examples from featured tournaments. Both programs required me to learn about website creation/updates and gave me the opportunity to learn a new skill. |
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Caitlin Harvard University Major: Government Typical Day Every day was unique and involved a different aspect of the PGA TOUR. “Hands-on” experiences were the norm. As an intern in Corporate Marketing, I attended meetings with clients (including Tiffany & Co. and North American Membership Group) and participated in conference calls during contract renewal negotiations. I learned first-hand about the negotiation process involving a new deal as well as how corporate sponsorship relationships generated revenue. When I was not involved in the internal workings of Corporate Marketing, I participated in several other projects. These ranged from researching the business profile, marketing history, and demographic targets of a current Official Marketing Partner to tracking FedExCup media coverage. Most Memorable Project I had the opportunity to assist with development ideas for Meteorlogix, the official forecaster of the PGA TOUR. I participated in several meetings and phone calls with individuals from Meteorlogix, PGATOUR.COM, and PGA TOUR Productions to explore ways to increase Meteorlogix’s brand awareness. I helped compile the presentation which proposed several options to Meteorlogix, including greater online exposure and a vignette series on "Inside the PGA TOUR". |
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Emily University of Virginia Commerce Most Memorable Project Since I worked in Golf Course Properties, I really enjoyed learning about all 28 TPCs in the PGA TOUR’s Network of clubs across the country. My favorite part about my internship was interacting with each Club’s Marketing Director through various e-mails and conference calls, and helping create and edit each Club’s unique collateral. Best Aspect of TOUR Experience Once you become an intern with the TOUR, you are given so many wonderful opportunities. I was able to enhance my knowledge of the marketing field. I saw firsthand how marketing interacted with all of the other departments of the TOUR and I learned how they came together to support the company. Before coming to Jacksonville, I had never played 18 holes of golf. With the TOUR’s help, I took lessons at the TOUR Academy every Saturday morning, played 9 holes of employee golf once a week, and repeatedly played the famous Hole #17 on the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course! |
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Austin Harvard University Major: Government Minor: Psychology Typical Day My typical day began by responding to emails either from other interns or from employees within the Human Resources Department regarding topics such as payroll, hours, employee services, etc. I then worked on different projects including reading resumes and screening candidates for open positions, updating policy guides, conducting pricing and product comparisons, or project research for my supervisors. Most Memorable Project I most enjoyed the work I did on purchasing new-hire employee testing software for the TOUR. I was able to research different brands of software, set up testing accounts, and then report to my supervisor as to which product I felt best served the TOUR based on our needs. I was then able to purchase the software and install it immediately for use. This project represented much of the work we did at the TOUR, exemplifying that interns did not simply exist in an observational capacity, but rather that we contributed in concrete ways as a means of ensuring the TOUR’s success. |
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Bailey Arizona State University MMC Candidate 2009 Typical Day As a communications intern, I was responsible for researching and collecting pertinent information as it related to upcoming PGA TOUR events. With the data I assembled, ideas that were generated for what were the “key story ideas” to be fed to local and national media so that coverage of the PGA TOUR would be appropriate, appealing, and accurate. Through my department’s efforts, we aspired to better engage and expand our audience and their appreciation for and interest in both the PGA TOUR and the game of golf. I attended weekly “messaging” meetings where Directors and VP’s from departments such as Communications, Broadcasting/Programming, Media, Brand Marketing, Tournament Business Affairs, and Productions collaborated on their efforts to turn these ideas into concrete stories used by the media. I was constantly working on multiple projects and each week there was a whole new set of storylines waiting to be formulated, so there was a constant change-of-pace. Most Memorable Project I coordinated with editors at USA TODAY to get more exposure for the PGA TOUR into a section called “USA TODAY Snapshots,” which appeared daily on the front page of the sports section. Each week, I collected lesser-known statistics and figures for that tournament week so that USA TODAY could put them in the newspaper. In all of last year, USA TODAY featured less than a dozen golf-related snapshots; I helped to establish a relationship with the editors so that golf will be covered on a more frequent basis. |
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Eleanor University of Florida Major: Event Management Typical Day During my internship, I promoted women and family golf at TPC Sawgrass. A typical day included organizing and billing participants along with coordinating with each department throughout the club to organize various events. I also came up with action plans for events and coordinated volunteers. Most Memorable Project I enjoyed planning and seeing through “A Celebration of Women and Golf” social event benefiting the HEAL! (Healing Every Autistic Life) Foundation. I saw everything from start to finish and it was fun to see it all come together in the end where we raised over $2,000 for such a wonderful cause! |
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Kevin University of Massachusetts Major: Journalism and Sociology Best Aspect of TOUR Experience Work with PGA TOUR Productions was a real life experience that prepared me for work after college. Productions gives you experience logging field tapes of TOUR events, assisting in putting together sales pitches for clients such as Under Armour or Vitamin Water, being cast in commercials for Vitamin Water, assisting in making TV spots and commercials, assisting in the production of programming such as “Inside the PGA TOUR” and “LIVE AT”. It was a wonderful and eye-opening experience just learning the day-to-day operations of such a high-quality productions facility. |
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Kali Kansas State University Major: Electronic Journalism Best Aspect of TOUR Experience I think the best part of my summer internship was that I was able to work side-by-side with most of the employees here at PGA TOUR Productions. My responsibilities weren’t classroom projects anymore- there were real deadlines! I know that in the few short months that I was here, I really made an impact on what was accomplished and how certain things were completed. Not only the field experience, but the networking factor here was extremely beneficial! |
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Michael University of Denver College of Law Most Memorable Project Working in Sports Licensing gave me hands on experience with what corporate life was all about. I continually had meetings with supervisors or was on conference calls with co-workers and clients. For example, as IMG’s first and legendary client, Arnold Palmer was looking to extend his brand into a new product category that he had no previous presence. I was able to assist in the creation of sales decks communicating Mr. Palmer’s brand to potential licensees, as well as take part in many of the initial talks about using the Palmer name on this new product. Best Aspect of TOUR Experience This internship was exciting, challenging, and rewarding. I got an opportunity to live in a new city, meet lots of great people, and have a fun summer, all while working for one of the most prestigious and well-respected organizations in the world. There aren’t many programs out there that can offer what I got from my PGA TOUR and IMG experience. |
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Download our .pdf document (Full-color version | Printer-friendly version) with additional information regarding the benefits, compensation, and housing offered through the PGA TOUR Internship Programs. This document also contains specific information regarding the Application Process.
• Deadline for applications is February 28, 2009. Late entries may be considered based on program needs.
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