About the job
The USGA is a mission-based nonprofit organization whose purpose is to unify the game, showcase the best talent in golf, provide impartial governance and advance our impact on critical issues such as sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. We conduct the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women’s Open and 13 other national championships at America’s iconic golf venues. The USGA’s headquarters is located in Liberty Corner, N.J., with a new satellite Golf House Pinehurst campus scheduled to open in Dec. 2023. For more, visit usga.org.
Position Timeframe: February – July 2024
Location: Newport Country Club | Newport, RI
Are you looking to join a dynamic team who works together to promote and conserve the true spirit of the game of golf? The U.S. Senior Open Championship internship is a great way to gain valuable experience in sports management. Whether you work in Championship Administration or Operations, you will gain valuable experience and see firsthand how an exemplary golf championship is conducted.
The 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship will be held at Newport Country Club, one of the five founding clubs of the USGA. As the host site of four previous USGA Championships, including the inaugural U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur, Newport Country Club is rooted in USGA history. 2024 will be the first time NCC hosts the U.S. Senior Open and will provide a premier backdrop for the best golfers in the world (ages 50+).
What you'll do:
The Championship Office is a fast-paced working environment. The Intern must have the ability to work under pressure and handle multiple task at once. Each day brings new challenges and the intern must have top-notch organizational and communication skills. Daily, the intern will find themselves working in a typical office environment, but significant work will be done in exterior environs as well. The ability to handle physical tasks such as lifting boxes and manual labor may be required at times. In the weeks leading up to the championship, the intern will work at least 40-hour work weeks; however, as we grow closer to the championship, work weeks will lengthen to 60+ hours and will include weekends and holidays. An internship with the United States Golf Association and the 2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship is a tremendous first step for a career in the fields of special event management and professional sports.
The Championship Administration Intern will assist primarily with the Volunteer Program and administrative duties of the 2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship, including advance preparation/set-up, championship week responsibilities and post-championship breakdown. They will also support the Championship Office in other areas such as parking & transportation, public safety, community relations, player services and more.
This internship is in-person and the intern will report the USGA office at Newport Country Club on a daily basis. This is a competitively paid position which contains overtime. The Intern is responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from the office.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
The Volunteer Program for the 2024 U.S. Senior Open consists of 1,100 volunteers assigned to 17 volunteer committees. Duties will include:
- Managing the concerns, questions, and requests of volunteers before and during the championship
- Assisting Committee Chairs with their responsibilities, including volunteer scheduling, site visits and managing volunteer committees.
- Assisting with volunteer orientation and training, including organizing training session materials and credential packets, volunteer handbooks, and the distribution of volunteer credentials along with other important information.
- Setting up, organizing, and tearing down volunteer areas on championship grounds.
ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS
The Championship Administration Intern will assist with the administrative tasks of the Championship Office. Such tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Answering phones, preparing mailings, UPS shipping/receiving.
- Assisting with the creation of various correspondences including emails, letters, and other pieces of volunteer communication, such as newsletters.
- Keeping the Championship Office neat, clean and organized.
Additional Areas Of Responsibility
Additional areas in which the Championship Administration Intern may provide support include:
- Parking & Transportation: assist with the planning and organization of on-site and off-site parking, shuttle routes/maps, and any other transportation related items.
- Public Safety: work with local authorities and championship vendors to ensure all areas of the championship grounds meet safety and security requirements.
- Community Relations: attend community events to promote the championship, assist the USGA marketing team, including Trophy Tour stops.
What you bring:
- Ability to work long and strenuous hours (40 – 60+ hour work weeks)
- Effective communication with a wide variety of individuals involved in a national championship.
- Resourceful, presentable, courteous, friendly, and organized.
- Good follow-up skills and ability to handle issues quickly and calmly.
- Ability to work independently and support the team.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Publisher, etc.)
- Ability to prepare presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint and printed materials.
- Demonstrated ability to follow and execute detailed plans – able to anticipate and analyze problems and provide logical solutions.
- Ability to work well under pressure.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The Intern may perform other duties as assigned.
The United States Golf Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
What the USGA brings:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, including a zero cost medical plan offered for all full-time employees
- Retirement plans, with up to 10% annual USGA contribution
- Suite of programs to promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being
- Generous bank of paid time off, plus the week between Christmas and New Years Day off
- Off-site team building events
- Professional development opportunities
The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via a global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, N.J., is home to the Association’s Research and Test Center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.