The MGA Foundation’s cornerstone program, GOLFWORKS, celebrates 30 years of impact in 2024. For two former interns, brother and sister Tyler and Skye McCaine, their experience working during their high school years set them up for success in college and now in their professional careers in Manhattan.
The siblings grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and were introduced to golf at a young age by their father. Both Tyler and Skye played on their high school teams at Rye Country Day. Skye was a member of two conference championship teams and won the 2007 HSBC Big Break for Kids. Active participants in First Tee – Metropolitan New York programs at Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx, they competed in the 2009 Barclays Cup, a junior event that was held in advance of the PGA Tour event at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J.
Their father had heard about GOLFWORKS and, seeing how much the two of them loved golf, thought Tyler and Skye would enjoy learning about course operations while developing further as individuals.
Tyler began his GOLFWORKS journey the summer after his freshman year of high school at Bonnie Briar Country Club in Larchmont, N.Y., before moving over to Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., where he worked in the bag room and caddied. Tyler returned to work at Quaker Ridge during his summer breaks from Colgate University, where he graduated from with degrees in political science and English in 2015. He now works in commercial real estate.
One year younger than Tyler, Skye followed in his footsteps and interned for five years at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., working in the pro shop with then-assistant James Ondo, now the head golf professional at the Apawamis Club. After majoring in advertising at Iona University, Skye now works in experiential marketing, and she and Tyler still employ the skills they learned through GOLFWORKS in their careers today.
“Looking back, I think I learned how to deal with different personalities and interact with people very different from me from a very young age,” Skye says. “I didn’t anticipate (the connections), but I was very grateful because I think the world runs on connections. The people we interacted with at the country club, at our school, and later on through work all connect and have set us up for success.”
Tyler loved the discipline the program brought to his life. “I think the important thing is that you have structure in your life,” he says. “You have responsibilities that you have to answer to. You must learn at a young age that your social plans must coalesce with your work obligations. But it was a great experience. Quaker Ridge was always good to me. (The GOLFWORKS internship) contributed to my success as an adult in the real world and sort of moving through the ranks in my (career).”
Founded in 1994, the MGA Foundation’s GOLFWORKS program gives high school students exposure to career opportunities within the golf industry. The young adults who participate in GOLFWORKS complete an internship in a golf environment, learning the lessons of honor, integrity, and tradition, as well as an activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. In addition, GOLFWORKS provides real-world work experience, networking opportunities, and a way for interns to learn the skills necessary to pursue their career interests. To learn more, contact Lou Cutolo at lcutolo@mgagolf.org .
