"Interning with the AJGA will get you places, whether it’s within the Association or in the outside world." --Stacey Whyte, Syracuse University 2005 Summer Communications Intern

Get the candidates' perspective of Intern Recruiting Weekend! Check out Stacey's experiences by clicking here.

Sandwiched in between these two “informational” events was a weekend that the AJGA holds dear, one in which the world’s premier junior golf organization takes a glimpse into its collective future and the faces that will compose it. This is a three-day job interview better known as Intern Recruiting Weekend, held Feb. 4-6, where 72 candidates were brought in, hoping to capture one of 37 spots available for one of the most progressive and rewarding internships in the sports industry, if not the world.

For those who have played in or attended AJGA events, you are undoubtedly familiar with the Polo Golf-clad AJGA staff at tournament sites. What you may not know, however, is that in most cases, the majority of the staff on site consists of a six-person intern team. These brave young men and women are the ones who drive the vans and trailers across the continent on a weekly basis to put on the greatest junior golf tournaments in the world.

Their journey begins at Intern Recruiting Weekend.

After being picked up Friday at the busiest airport in the world, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, intern candidates made their way to AJGA National Headquarters for registration and a brief tour of the office. After some formalities that included a welcome by Executive Director Stephen Hamblin and Gayle Champagne, president of the AJGA board of directors, candidates enjoyed dinner southern-style with some good ole’ pulled-pork BBQ. After a P0wer Point presentation describing the ins and outs of the internship, Friday evening’s activities were complete.

Saturday began at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast and a presentation by Todd Garten, a former AJGA tournament director who now works with the PGA TOUR’s FedEx St. Jude Classic. Garten’s presentation was one of many throughout the weekend given by former staff members who have moved on to positions in the golf industry, sports information and coaching. All in all, seven guest speakers took time out of their weekends to come to Braselton, Ga., to speak about their experiences at the AJGA, their careers outside the AJGA and their perspectives on the internship.

With a full stomach and the grogginess of an early wake-up call all but evaporated, the 72 candidates took to five “stations” set up by the AJGA staff designed to measure characteristics such as initiative, creativity, and the ability to work as part of a team, just to name a few. Three of the stations included items typical to any job interview, such as panel interviews, a public speaking exercise and a writing test. Included was a quiz that tested the candidates’ knowledge of the AJGA. A portion of the quiz was dedicated to the AJGA’s Performance Based Entry system. Created by Vice President of Player Services Rob Jansen, this section of the quiz proved to be a challenge even for the full-time staff who took part in a pilot study beforehand. Do you know how many Performance Stars equal one Tournament Exemption?

Intern Team 5 from the summer of 2004 relaxes after a hard day's work at the AJGA Boyne Highlands Junior.

The other two stations were unique concepts developed by the AJGA staff that carried a somewhat lighter tone, but were still very important in the recruitment process. In one station, teams of six interns designed commercials promoting an AJGA event. The teams utilized tournament banners, the AJGA mission statement, crazy costumes and of course, mullet wigs while putting their own creative touches on their productions. The best of the best were shown during Saturday night’s dinner, and considering that the candidates had only 90 minutes to plan, coordinate, film, edit and view their commercials, the finished product was pretty impressive.

The egg-drop station turned out to be the hit of the weekend. Here, each team of six candidates were divided into three groups of two. One group had to design and develop a blueprint for a mechanism that would safely transport an egg from the deck outside the AJGA’s headquarters to the pavement about 20 feet below without cracking. Next, the group would pass off their blueprint to a team of designers who had to implement the plan. Finally, the eggs were dropped off of the back deck, and while a few made it to the ground safely, it’s needless to say that the AJGA staff had to take part in some clean-up duty once festivities ended.

On Saturday night, the candidates were able to let their hair down a little bit, teaming with the AJGA staff for what has become a tradition like none other, AJGA Trivia Night. Developed by Senior Vice President of Communications Rob Coleman, questions covered topics such as movies, sports and history. However, the highlight of Trivia Night turned out to be Rob’s pride and joy. These, of course, were the wordles. Some were left with the pride of figuring out these literary puzzles. Others were just flat-out confused.

After a few formalities on Sunday, the candidates departed AJGA headquarters in hopes of making it home for the Super Bowl. Since Intern Recruiting Weekend, the AJGA has chosen its 37 interns for the summer of 2005. In what was designed to be the most thorough and intense recruitment process in the golf industry, the AJGA feels confident that it has brought on 37 young men and women who will strive to make the AJGA the best that it can be. Be sure to look for these interns on the road this summer, and know that they are working hard, literally day and night, to provide some of the best tournament experiences in the game of golf!