Stepping Into Golf: Experience as a Boatwright Intern

By Funmilayo Adeyemo, who's working with the MGA this summer as a USGA P.J. Boatwright DEI Intern.

Sport has always been a part of me, and I have always wanted to make a difference in the world through sports. Back in high school, I imagined myself playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup; however, that dream did not come to fruition because I had to put a stop to playing soccer. This was because of an injury that took several months to heal. Fortunately, I still found my way back to the sports industry through sports journalism and media relations, which has allowed me to see some areas in sports that require urgent attention.

Though the sports industry has recorded enormous success over the years, there are still some major concerns that have given rise to countless debates in the media space. One of the major concerns, which happens to be my area of interest, is diversity and inclusion. Some sports, especially elite sports, are still struggling with creating diverse and inclusive teams both on the playing field and in the office.

This lack of diversity has been a major concern for me, as I have always sought ways to make sports a place where everyone can feel safe and respected regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, and abilities. As a result of this, I wanted an internship position specifically in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) that would not only challenge me, but also allow me to think of ways to improve diversity, opportunity, and inclusion within the sport and learn something new along the way.

This made me streamline my internship search and led me to the USGA P.J. Boatwright DEI internship position with the Metropolitan Golf Association. Learning about the Metropolitan Golf Association and what the position entails during the interview gave me the reassurance I needed to go ahead with the internship. Initially, I was a bit skeptical about leaving my comfort zone (soccer) for a sport where the only thing I knew about it was Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. However, the opportunities this position has offered are second to none because I am not only bringing my experience from other sports, but, most importantly, I am going to be learning a lot about the world of golf at the MGA. I could say I am killing two birds with one stone.

Furthermore, attending the USGA P.J. Boatwright Intern Summit in Liberty Corner, N.J., gave me a better understanding of golf. The three-day summit shed good light on the various areas of the sport (championship administration, player relations and development, GHIN, handicapping and course rating, rules, social media, Green Section, equipment standards, and the USGA Golf Museum) and how everyone could be part of its growth. The CEO of the USGA, Mike Whan, spoke extensively about how he transitioned from hockey to golf and the importance of not being afraid to try out new industries regardless of one’s background. His speech was a great boost to my confidence, as this made me see that not having a golf background cannot stop me from having a successful career in golf. Aside from this, past P.J. Boatwright interns who are now full-time staff with the USGA spoke about their journey in golf and how the internship paved the way for them into the industry.

Additionally, I must not fail to mention the tour of the magnificent USGA Museum that blew my mind away. I can say that I have not been to a sports museum that is as detailed and well-arranged as the USGA museum. Seeing the golf clubs of past players and some of the items they donated to the museum made me ponder how the museum could be one of the best destinations not just for sports enthusiasts but for tourists as well. The historians at the museum did a very good job explaining and giving comprehensive details of every section visited, which made me appreciate what the players and administrators are doing to improve golf.

However, the tour of the museum showed how critical it is to improve diversity and inclusion in golf. The lack of diversity in the sport in terms of racial population and gender (women) was seen as I walked through the sections in the museum. This only means that more research and work need to be done to create a diverse and inclusive golf world.

Finally, the summit connected me with some amazing people working at the USGA and some interns across the country with whom I intend to keep in touch. Honestly, this would not have been possible without the USGA and the MGA, who gave me the opportunity to be part of the summit. So far, I would say that the experience has been nothing short of amazing, and I look forward to how the journey keeps unfolding.