ELMSFORD, N.Y. (September 8, 2011) – The MGA Foundation’s cornerstone student internship program, GOLFWORKS, provides meaningful summer working experiences at Met Area clubs to more than 200 deserving high school students each year. Now in its 17th year, the success of the GOLFWORKS program can be attributed to the willingness of MGA member clubs to hire deserving area teenagers. Many of these teens have been in the program for three or more years, like siblings Tyler and Skye McCaine of Mount Vernon, N.Y., who are both in their fourth years as GOLFWORKS interns.

Tyler, 18, graduated from Rye Country Day School in May and was an intern at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., while younger sister Skye, 17, started her senior year at Rye Country Day and worked at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., this past summer. Tyler and Skye’s parents got the two of them interested in golf early in life, and the McCaines have used golf as a vehicle to bond as a family ever since.

“Our dad started us really young,” said Tyler, who is now a freshman at Colgate University. “I got into it more than Skye at first, but she started to like it and now she plays a lot of competitive golf like me. We play a lot together and we play as a family a lot, too.”

GOLFWORKS has strengthened both Tyler and Skye’s interest in golf while providing meaningful summer work experience for them. As a result of their internships, both feel that they have matured and learned to be more responsible.

“I’ve learned to interact and be personable,” said Skye, who spent the summer in the golf shop at Winged Foot, ringing up members' purchases and creating merchandise displays. “I’ve met a lot of nice people and I’ve learned the importance of being friendly all the time while working.”

“This internship has prepared me for a real working environment,” said Tyler, who spent the last four seasons as a bag and cart attendant at Quaker Ridge. “I believe working teaches you discipline because you have to set up your schedule, be on time and get things done while performing well. I think that all of this is going to help me in college, especially when it comes to managing my time and getting work done.”

Both Tyler and Skye are talented golfers, too. Tyler, who carries a Handicap Index of 4.7, played three years on Rye Country Day’s varsity team and Skye will be on the team for her fifth season this year. Both Quaker Ridge and Winged Foot have been generous about letting their interns improves their games on their premier courses, which Tyler and Skye greatly appreciate.

“I could play here on Mondays and after 2:00 p.m. almost any day of the week,” said Tyler, who worked hard on his game in 2011 which led to him competing in the Nature Valley First Tee Open, an official Champions Tour event that was held at Pebble Beach in July. “I’m happy that I can play here as a result of working. The members even put a ‘Good Luck’ sign up for me when I headed out to Pebble Beach, so they know what’s going on and it’s just a really nice work environment.”

Skye carries a Handicap Index that hovers near 15.0, which hasn’t stopped her from competing against her brother. “I’ve beaten him a couple times, but not too often,” she said. “I get to play golf at Winged Foot and I’m very happy to be part of GOLFWORKS. I have a great job and I’m at a great place with a lot of good people here.”

And according to their respective supervisors, the McCaines are assets to their clubs, too.

“Skye is an all-star on my staff,” said Winged Foot assistant professional James Ondo. “It is an absolute pleasure to work with her on a daily basis. Her pleasant attitude and sense of humor is a great asset to both my staff and membership.”

Tyler’s supervisor, Quaker Ridge caddie master Rich Uva, has watched Tyler grow into a young adult. “He’s just awesome, a great kid and a hard worker,” Uva said. “Tyler is our first GOLFWORKS intern working in outside services at Quaker Ridge, and he’s also a great player who played earlier in our Caddie/Lady tournament and the ladies loved playing with him—they thought they had a real winner.”

 “GOLFWORKS is obviously a wonderful program,” said Uva. “Anything you can do to generate any interest in golf, like working or playing, is great, especially when it comes to kids and young adults.”

That interest is seen wholeheartedly in Tyler and Skye McCaine.

 

About GOLFWORKS

Founded in 1994, the MGA Foundation’s GOLFWORKS program is designed to give its participants—high school aged students—exposure to the many career opportunities within the golf industry by providing meaningful summer work experiences. The young adults who participate in GOLFWORKS complete an internship in an environment that revolves around golf, which in itself can teach the lessons of honor, integrity and tradition and provides an activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. In addition, GOLFWORKS provides a good salary as well as networking opportunities to its interns, and a way for interns to learn the skills necessary to pursue their career interests.