When the USGA’s P.J. Boatwright Internship program was created in 1991 one of its objectives was to honor the legendary P.J. Boatwright, Jr.—a long-time USGA employee who served as the de facto “grand poo-bah” of the Rules of Golf for the better part of a half-century. Thirty-two years later that mission has clearly been accomplished. But much more importantly, this program has far exceeded anyone’s wildest dreams when it came to its primary purpose, “to give experience to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in golf administration, while assisting state and regional golf associations in the promotion of amateur golf.”
The success of this program is highlighted when the P.J. Boatwright alumni are asked to stand at the annual golf association conference each November. When more than half of the room stands up you realize that the P.J. Boatwright program has literally changed the face of amateur golf across the country.
The CGA has benefited from this program more than most. Each year the CGA hires at least three P.J. Boatwright Interns who work in all areas of association programming, with a strong emphasis on tournament administration, Rules of Golf, and other USGA core services. Some of the CGA P.J. Boatwright alumni include Thomas Pagel, Chief Governance Officer for the USGA, Pete Lis, PGA Tour Rules Official, and Robert Duke, LPGA Tour Rules Official. Pete is featured on this month’s CGA Spirit of the Game Podcast, and both Thomas and Robert have also been guests. Find their podcast interviews HERE.
In addition to these alumni, the CGA’s current staff includes five former P.J. Boatwright interns—Erin Gangloff, Chief Marketing Officer, Lewis Harry, Director of Rules and Competitions, Hannah House, Manager of Member Engagement, Aaron Guereca, Managing Director of Club & Facility Services, and Emily Olson, Director of Caddie Development.
“My P.J. Boatwright Internship seems like a lifetime ago,” said 2007 Boatwright Intern and now CGA Chief Marketing Officer, Erin Gangloff. “If it weren’t for that program, I guess I would still be doing radio promotions! I am so grateful to the USGA for having the foresight to create this program to provide a pathway to me and so many others who aspired to make golf their career.”
But not all Boatwright Interns remain in the golf industry. Briena (Kappes) Goldsmith was a P.J. Boatwright Intern for the CGA in 2007 and worked for the CGA full-time for several years after her internship. Much like Thomas Pagel, Pete Lis, and Robert Duke, Briena was a rising star in golf administration but decided to pivot her career to facilitate her move back home to North Dakota. The organization, planning and management skills Briena learned at the CGA translated extremely well to her role as a Director at WEX.
“I miss working in golf, but being close to family was a high priority,” notes Goldsmith who is now in her 9th year with WEX. “The P.J. Boatwright program was a great way to begin my career in the business world, and my full-time experience at the CGA allowed me to maximize that opportunity.”