Each year, the TGA gives select high school students opportunities to earn a paycheck while working at local golf courses or clubs during the summer as part of the TGA Foundation’s Bill Penn Internship Program.
These paid internships connect ambitious young people to potential mentors and offer networking opportunities and experience in various areas of club operations. They’re able to grow personally as the program allows interns to gain self-confidence, learn how to work in teams and develop positive, professional skill sets for the future.
The three interns and their respective club associations for the 2021 program were Kennedi Lee and Golf Club of Dallas, Meer Patel and Gleneagles Country Club in Plano and Meredith Speer and Cimmaron Hills Golf & Country Club in Georgetown.
Golf Club of Dallas Head Professional Keith Coppedge said he was introduced to the program this year by Managing Director of TGA Foundation and Director of Outreach Kelly Kilgo.
“We had her do a little bit of everything: pro shop, golf cart staff, drink cart, bartend, and food and beverage service,” Coppedge said of Lee’s intern experience. “Plus, I had her work on a summerlong project of making a club marketing brochure.”
Lee learned about the Bill Penn Internship Program through her coach Gladys Lee, who encouraged her to apply.
“I applied because as a golfer, I thought having job experience at a golf course would be a lot of fun,” Lee said. “After practicing, playing and competing at many different courses, I thought this internship opportunity would allow me to learn about the other side of the business.”
With her future goals set high in media and design or business, Lee said being a Bill Penn intern showed her new pathways for her career.
“I didn’t realize there was a need for people in media and design until an opportunity was presented to me,” Lee said of her eye-opening time. “Getting experience in the field now through the golf industry will help me in the future.”
Even though this was his first year being involved with the program, Coppedge said he isn’t sure he could’ve started with a better candidate.
“My goal is to get Kennedi back next summer and hopefully be a landing spot for summer interns for years to come,” said Coppedge.
“Kennedi was a great employee. She brought a great attitude each day and took on any task we gave her with enthusiasm,” Coppedge said when asked how Lee did this summer.
Lee said as a longtime lover of golf, she appreciates learning all she can about the industry through the Bill Penn Internship Program.
“My favorite part of this internship was the people I met. I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of keeping a golf club running. It was a great learning experience as a golfer and I’m so glad I took the opportunity.”
Patel and Speer also had equally rewarding experiences and said they would cheerfully recommended the internship program to other high schoolers who are interested in golf.
“I would have to say my favorite part of the internship at Gleneagles was greeting and meeting the members,” Patel said. “Everyone was extremely friendly and easy to talk to. I managed to build a few relationships with some of the members which honestly made working all the better. I was lucky enough to see people such as Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback at the range and even got the chance to speak with him!”
The TGA extends a sincere thank you to each of the interns and clubs that participated in the internship program this past summer. Impactful experiences and connections were made that will last far into the future.
The Bill Penn Internship Program was started in 2016 to introduce high school golfers to the professional side of the golf industry. The program honors the late William “Bill” Penn and his legacy. Penn served as the TGA’s first executive director from 1988-2000 and was a mentor to countless young golfers on and off the course.
To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship Program, click here.
