This week in the Fortinet Intern Spotlight Series, we introduce Grant Glover. In 2022, Glover served as a spring operations intern and a summer Tournament Assistant. A Tournament Assistant (TA) is an elevated internship position for those who return for another traveling internship season. Glover now has a Graduate Assistant position at the University of Missouri.
Can you tell me a little about your background?
I grew up in both Michigan and Illinois and sports have been a big part of my life. My grandfather was an All-American athlete, and both my parents were very involved with sports. I had some interests and hobbies, but my experience in sports shaped me into who I am and what I want to do for a career.
How did you find out about the AJGA?
I went to school at the University of Iowa for journalism, and I always knew that I wanted to have a career in sports. A lot of my practical experience in college was centered around that. I started working with Recreational Services on campus as an official and moved up to lead supervisor. I began searching for jobs shortly after and my roommate’s mother mentioned the AJGA’s internship program. I read about it using TeamWork Online and thought that it would be an incredible opportunity.
What was your internship experience like?
We had a special group that worked well together. We were mature in the way we handled communication, conflict resolution and execution of tasks. We had a lot of fun working together, whether that was early in the morning or late at night. I learned a lot about myself and the game of golf. Learning the rules and doing the operational tasks helped me understand the beauty of the game. I appreciate knowing the ins and outs of tournament operations.
You came back to as a Tournament Assistant; what did you learn from that position?
I enjoyed being a liaison between the Tournament Director and the operations interns with the ability to lead and guide them in the right direction. As a Tournament Assistant, I envisioned myself as a mediator between the two parties to accomplish the tournament’s goals and it was cool using my experience as a spring intern as a resource for them.
What skills did you pick up from your internship experiences?
I think the most valuable aspect for me was getting comfortable talking to different stakeholders, whether that was a parent or a sponsor. Before this internship experience, I was uncomfortable with talking to people I didn’t know. As I got further into the internship, the more I progressed. I became a better communicator, and I was able to talk with different people around the golf course. You’re going to be in situations where you don’t know the people and I became more comfortable in those situations. My teamwork and conflict-resolution skills also improved throughout the internship. A lot of things happen in junior golf, and you’ve got to be prepared to adjust and have the best line of communication. Finally, I gained an appreciation for hard work and instilled that within me. I feel like I had it before, but the internship solidified that.
What’s the next step in your career?
I’ve simplified my goal a lot, but I’d like to find a way to make a good living to take care of myself and my family. Professionally, the door is wide open as I don’t have a specific career that I’m looking for.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about doing the AJGA Internship?
If you’re reading this article and are thinking about applying for the AJGA internship, just do it! I’m so happy that I did. I learned a lot about myself, I got to see many different places and develop incredible connections. The people who work at the AJGA are some of the most amazing people that I’ve met. Go for it because you’ll have a lot of fun and won’t regret it.
If you're driven to be part of this dynamic community, applications for the 2024 AJGA Traveling Internships are closed, but 2025 Traveling applications will open in August. For more insights into the #AJGAInternship, explore the AJGA Careers webpage and Instagram channel .