- Greetings, my name is Leiahnni Smith. I am a rising senior business administration scholar and member of the women’s golf team at Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. This summer I am blessed with the opportunity to be a PJ Boatwright Intern with  Miami Valley Golf. Going into PJ Boatwright Summit, I was not entirely sure what to expect. I knew that I would be training for my internship role and learning about what the USGA does, but the summit turned out to be more than I could have imagined. 

DAY 1

After checking into the hotel, we made our way to the USGA headquarters. When we arrived at the headquarters, I learned the USGA museum is housed there as well. It was a beautiful facility. We were greeted with smiles by the amazing staff in the museum, and I was in awe at first sight. The museum holds so much rich golf history, and I got to learn about historic moments in the game of golf. One of my favorite artifacts to see was the moon club that was taken and swung on the moon. Another cool piece of history was the golf cart that belonged to President Dwight Eisenhower. The museum had a lovely display that truly showcased the evolution of golf. As I walked through each hall, my appreciation for the game grew as I realized how much of a privilege it is for me to be able to be involved in the game. I have been very fortunate to have had a good experience this far and through this internship I hope to build more connections and expand my knowledge in the tournament operations section of golf.

DAY 2

Day two of the summit was my favorite day. Because it consisted of breakout sessions that included the following subjects – handicapping, GHIN, championship administration, social media, green section, rules, championships, player relations & development, and equipment standards. Each of these sections are key components are all components with the golf industry. The theme of the day was to “be a sponge” as we went throughout each session. As someone who wants to work in the golf industry after graduation, I found these information sessions very informative so that through my internship and additional research, I can decide which departments I would be most interested in potentially working with. Personally, I feel like I was able to really “be a sponge”.  There is so much that goes on behind the scenes in order for tournaments to run smoothly. 

DAY 3

Day three of the summit not only tied what we learned in Day 2 together, but we had the opportunity to hear from individuals like Mike Whan, the CEO of the USGA, and PJ Boatwright Alumni who shared their stories about where in the industry they started, then shared where their journey has currently placed them. Afterwards we got to tour more of the headquarters building and see the indoor putting green, simulator, and media room. We even had a competition to see who could set up the first tee the fastest!

Overall, I truly loved my PJ Boatwright Internship Summit experience. I never knew how any different roles and department avenues are in the USGA and how every AGA (Allied Golf Association) contributes to the ultimate success of their tournament season. I was able to make many new connections and leave with a completely new view point on the golf industry and I am looking forward to seeing where this amazing game will take me. I want to thank the Members of the Miami Valley Golf Community for this incredible opportunity.