Cascade Hills Country Club Outdoor Operations
Drew
Experience Information
Employer: Cascade Hills Country Club
Job Title: Outdoor Operations - Golf Intern
Major: Sport Management
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Cascade Hills Country Club is an organization in East Grand Rapids with roughly 700 members ranging from young families to more elderly retired couples. The club has been up and running since 1921 and still operates within the same walls as it did then. The club includes a restaurant, pool/water park, golf course, event banquet hall and much more. Every year, the members elect or re-elect a board that essentially makes all of the major decisions at the club.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I was involved with everything related to Golf. Managing the range, operating various golf course equipment, leading efforts in the bag room and cart garage, organizing weekly men's and women's leagues, overseeing invitationals and tournaments, and communicating with every level of the organization were some of the primary tasks I was assigned with throughout the summer.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Thanks to this experience, I now understand what it means to adapt on the fly in the sport management field. No matter what vision you have for a given day, something will always not go as planned. Additionally, I have developed my professional communication skills by pushing myself to offer insight when necessary and be someone that others can turn to for answers.
Favorite Part of the Experience
Getting to know the members at the club was my favorite part. They are all very successful individuals/families that have earned their way into that club. It is fascinating to see all of the different ways that members have made a living. I now understand more than ever that you are who you surround yourself with. Exposing myself to other very high achievers has taken my motivation to be successful to a whole new level.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
In the past, I have always had a tunnel vision for what I thought my career would look like. Focusing solely on one avenue was how I thought it should go, but now I realize that I can do a multitude of things concurrently. I still have the same goals of becoming a professional athlete and giving back to the game that has guided my life. However, I have developed a new area of confidence not only in the golf world, but amongst a demographic that I was once in awe of.
Internship Format
In Person