National Links Trust's Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program - Golf Operations Intern

Our program is perfect for youth and young adults who show interest in developing a career in Business (General Business Management, Marketing or Accounting), Golf Course Management & Tournament Operations, Media & Communications, Retail and/or Merchandising, Food & Beverage/Hospitality and Golf Course Maintenance/Agronomy. However, regardless of an intern's career aspirations, the John W. Vardaman Program is open to anyone ages 16 to 24 who are looking to gain work experience and develop skills that are necessary to succeed in any career field. 

 
Internship Positions

 
Golf Services Intern
National Links Trust is seeking applicants for an internship position in golf services at the three DC courses. This position focuses on developing an intern’s communication and interpersonal skills. This position is responsible for professionally handling and maintaining the practice areas, cart barn, and on course amenities, while providing services to our players and their guests. This position reports to the Assistant Professional and will be provided with beneficial educational learning opportunities on a paid basis:

• • Development of key customer service skills and golf cart fleet management.
  • Exposure to golf cart management – golf cart inventory, weekly, monthly checklists.
  • Opportunities to take advantage of additional training programs.

Responsibilities:

• Set the driving range practice tees, putting green, and short game area with all necessary items.
• Perform daily maintenance for the practice area and driving range tees (i.e., cleaning up broken tees, trash and keeping both areas and storage places clean and organized).
• Clean, stock and take out trash of cart barn, ball washroom, driving range, and golf carts on a daily basis.
• Stage golf carts in cart staging area.
• Manage and maintain Golf Services equipment including fleet of golf carts, the range picker, driving range equipment, and leaf blowers. Stock, clean, care for batteries, and store equipment as designated.
• Pick up the driving range on a daily basis along with cleaning range balls, maintaining inventory and quality of usable stock.
• Assist with tournament operations as directed, as needed.
• Assist with the set-up for junior camps, clinics, and guest groups, as needed.
•  Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Qualifications, Work Environment, & Physical Demands:

• Ability to anticipate and skilled in multi-tasking at a high level.
• Effective communication skills.
• High attention for detail and great organizational skills.
• Appearance resembling a successful golf professional (clean and properly groomed appearance).
• Available to work weekends and holidays.
• Requires communicating effectively with players, guests, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Work tasks are performed mainly outdoors and involve physical strength and endurance.
• Must be able to work in varying temperatures and inclement weather.
  Requires frequent bending, stooping, pushing, and pulling, intervals of walking, standing, and sitting during the day.
• Must have the ability to walk rolling terrain.
• Must be able to lift and transport up to 25 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis.
• May also experience exposure to the following: carbon monoxide fumes from cars, equipment, various insects and native/domestic animals, potentially damaging noise levels, and a variety of dirt, mud, dust, pollen, and approved pesticides and cleaning chemicals.
• Must be able to drive golf carts and use maintenance related equipment.
•  Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary vehicles and equipment.

Experience & Education:

• Currently Attend High School, for applicant ages 15-18.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent, for applicants ages 18-24.
•  No experience required (on job training provided).

Golf Shop Operations Intern
Position Description & Responsibilities: National Links Trust is seeking applicants for an internship position in golf shop operations at the three DC courses. This position focuses on developing an intern’s critical thinking, research and analysis, and technical proficiency skills. Interns in this position will assist with administrative and marketing task, such as filing, researching, course photography, and creating company documents and flyers. This position is also responsible for administering golf shop retail services, such as reserving tee times, checking in customers, and selling merchandise. This position reports to the Golf Shop Assistant Manager and will be provided with beneficial educational learning opportunities on a paid basis:

• • Development of key customer service skills, retail management, and basic business skills.
  • Exposure to retail management – golf shop inventory, sales, and stocking.
  • Exposure to small business operations – data entry, bookkeeping, and research.
  • Opportunities to take advantage of additional training programs.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with the administration of point of sales transactions and maintain the day-to-day golf reservation systems by reserving tee times and lessons, check-in customers, selling merchandise and receive payments.
• Assist with golf range services by ensuring the driving range is set up and broken down daily and monitor the cleanliness of the driving range and availability of clean range balls.
• Assist with maintaining an accurate and up-to-date customer and donor database.
• Assist with research as directed, as needed.
• Assist with reconciliation of program and tournament financial and result summaries.
• Assist with marketing as directed, as needed.
• Assist with tournament operations as directed, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

 Qualifications, Work Environment, & Physical Demands:

• Ability to anticipate and skilled in multi-tasking at a high level.
• Effective communication skills.
• High attention for detail and great organizational skills.
• Appearance resembling a successful golf professional (clean and properly groomed appearance).
• Available to work weekends and holidays.
• Requires communicating effectively with players, guests, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Work tasks are performed mainly outdoors and involve physical strength and endurance. Must be able to work in varying temperatures and inclement weather.
• Requires frequent bending, stooping, pushing, and pulling, intervals of walking, standing, and sitting during the day. Must have the ability to walk rolling terrain. 
• Must be able to lift and transport up to 25 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis. 
• May also experience exposure to the following: carbon monoxide fumes from cars, equipment, various insects and native/domestic animals, potentially damaging noise levels, and a variety of dirt, mud, dust, pollen, and approved pesticides and cleaning chemicals. 
• Must be able to drive golf carts and use maintenance related equipment. 
• Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary vehicles and equipment.

Experience & Education:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent, for applicants ages 18-24.
• No experience required (on job training provided).

 Program & Tournament Operations Intern
Position Description & Responsibilities: National Links Trust is seeking applicants for an internship position in program & tournament operations at the three DC courses. This position focuses on developing an intern’s time management, adaptability, and technical proficiency skills. Interns in this position will assist with golf programs; providing instruction assistance and completing the set up and break down of golf programs. This position will also be responsible for assisting with golf tournaments and assisting with the upkeep of the driving range/practice facilities. This position reports to the Assistant Golf Professional and will be provided with beneficial educational learning opportunities on a paid basis: 

• • Development of key customer service skills, golf instruction, and tournament management skills.
  • Exposure to golf instruction – instruction set up and utilization of instruction tools & software.
  • Exposure to tournament management – data entry, tournament scoring, and tournament coordination.
  •  Opportunities to take advantage of additional training programs.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with the implementation of youth instructional programs and clinics.
• Assist with pre-tournament planning, such as creating players' list, cart placards, and more.
• Assist with tournament on-site responsibilities such as registration, course set up, starting, scoring, and awards presentation.
• Assist with effective communication with parents, juniors, and other intern staff.
• Assist with research as directed, as needed.
• Assist with reconciliation of program and tournament financial and result summaries.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

 Qualifications, Work Environment, & Physical Demands:

• Ability to anticipate and skilled in multi-tasking at a high level.
• Effective communication skills.
• High attention for detail and great organizational skills.
• Appearance resembling a successful golf professional (clean and properly groomed appearance).
• Available to work weekends and holidays.
• Requires communicating effectively with players, guests, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Work tasks are performed mainly outdoors and involve physical strength and endurance.
• Must be able to work in varying temperatures and inclement weather.
• Requires frequent bending, stooping, pushing, and pulling, intervals of walking, standing, and sitting during the day. Must have the ability to walk rolling terrain.
• Must be able to lift and transport up to 25 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis.
• May also experience exposure to the following: carbon monoxide fumes from cars, equipment, various insects and native/domestic animals, potentially damaging noise levels, and a variety of dirt, mud, dust, pollen, and approved pesticides and cleaning chemicals.
• Must be able to drive golf carts and use maintenance related equipment.
• Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary vehicles and equipment.

Experience & Education:

• Currently Attend High School, for applicant ages 15-18.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent, for applicants ages 18-24.
• 3 years of playing experience.
• No experience required (on job training provided).

Food & Beverage Operations Intern
Position Description & Responsibilities: National Links Trust is seeking applicants for an internship position in food & beverage operations at the three DC courses. This position focuses on developing an intern’s initiative, adaptability, and interpersonal skills. Interns in this position will assist with food & beverage task from service to inventory. This position is also responsible for assisting with catering service for tournaments, programs, and events. This position reports to the Golf Shop Assistant Manager and will be provided with beneficial educational learning opportunities on a paid basis:

• • Development of key customer service skills and food & beverage management.
  • Exposure to food & beverage management – food & beverage inventory, sales, service, and food preparation.
  • Opportunities to take advantage of additional training programs.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with the administration food & beverage point of sales transactions.
• Assist with weekly inventory, counting inventory, receiving inventory, rotating inventory (FIFO system), and stocking inventory.
• Assist with day-to-day food & beverage service, including bartending and on-course service.
• Assist with food & beverage services for tournament and program operations.
• Assist with food & beverage marketing, such as food photography and food presentation, as directed, as needed.
•  Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Qualifications, Work Environment, & Physical Demands:

• Ability to anticipate and skilled in multi-tasking at a high level.
• Effective communication skills.
• High attention for detail and great organizational skills
• Appearance resembling a successful golf professional (clean and properly groomed appearance).
• Available to work weekends and holidays.
• Requires communicating effectively with players, guests, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Work tasks are performed mainly outdoors and involve physical strength and endurance.
• Must be able to work in varying temperatures and inclement weather.
• Requires frequent bending, stooping, pushing, and pulling, intervals of walking, standing, and sitting during the day.
• Must have the ability to walk rolling terrain.
• Must be able to lift and transport up to 25 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis.
• May also experience exposure to the following: carbon monoxide fumes from cars, equipment, various insects and native/domestic animals, potentially damaging noise levels, and a variety of dirt, mud, dust, pollen, and approved pesticides and cleaning chemicals.
• Must be able to drive golf carts.
•  Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary vehicles and equipment.

Experience & Education:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent, for applicants ages 18-24.
• Must be 18 or older to serve alcohol in Washington, DC.
• No experience required (on job training provided).
   

Pay Information: $17.95 per hour, part-time schedule.
 
Benefits:

• Staff Uniforms including HG and NLT golf shirts and hats.
• Playing and practice privileges at the three DC courses.
• Discounted Meals at the three DC courses.
• Discounted Golf Merchandise & Equipment.
• Free Golf Lessons.
• School credit (if applicable).

Internship Dates:

Approximate Start Date: June 29th, 2026
Anticipated End Date: September 13th, 2026

(start and finish dates are flexible based on the applicant's school schedule).

 
Additional Details:
National Links Trust may host event at locations other than the three DC courses. Interns who are scheduled for these events are responsible for their own transportation to and from. National Links Trust does not provide housing of any kind.