The golf world lost “a true trailblazer and gentleman” last November with the death of Lee Elder, but the man who broke the color barrier at the Masters is still giving back to the game after his passing.
The USGA announced that 25 students from underrepresented communities will receive on-the-job training as part of the Lee Elder Internship during the 122nd U.S. Open on June 16-19 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
“This bright group of young leaders shows us what the future of golf can and will be,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “Only a small fraction of the 2 million golf jobs across our $84 billion industry are held by people from underrepresented communities. It’s our responsibility to continually advance and grow the game through programs that expose more young professionals to the wealth of opportunities that exist, and to elevate their ability to make our game stronger.”
The group of 25 interns includes 15 who identify as female and 10 as male from 22 universities and various countries including the United States, Argentina, the Republic of Korea and Nigeria. More than 200 students from 37 states and five countries applied after the internship that was announced in November 2021.
From the release:
To remove systemic barriers that can impede diverse participation in traditional internship programs, an emphasis was placed on the student’s demonstrated commitment to diversity, drawing from previous and current work or school experiences, referrals and recommendations.
“We are thrilled with the overall interest and the quality of applicants for this first-of-its-kind program,” said Will Fulton, general chair for the 2022 U.S. Open. “This program embodies Lee Elder’s vision and hope for the future of golf and we recognize that diversification is one of the biggest opportunities for the game. Through this program, we hope to connect with those who can help shape the future of golf as potential leaders who may not have been reached without programs like the Lee Elder Internship.”
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