Fall Program Internship

Grand Rapids Fall Program Internship 

Position Posted: December, 8, 2025  | Apply Before: June 1, 2026

Job Category & Wage: Part-time (August-December, flexible), $15/hour

Location: Grand Rapids, MI 

Relevant Work Experience: See Below

Preferred Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree (or currently pursuing) in Business, Sports Management, Prof. Golf Management

Organization Overview 

 In 2011, First Tee – West Michigan officially became a chapter of First Tee. First Tee – West Michigan is one of 150 chapters worldwide that are part of a global non-profit youth initiative. First Tee was created in 1997 by the World Golf Foundation to use golf and character education to provide young people of all ethnic and economic backgrounds an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. By engaging youth in a combination of life skills, leadership and golf activities, they are exposed to positive traits that will help them become valuable assets to their community and eventually achieve success in life. First Tee’s Life Skills & Golf Experience curriculum is the unique component that sets it apart from many other successful junior golf programs. 

At First Tee – West Michigan, we are highly focused on reaching out to at-risk and disadvantaged youth. We want our participants to see the beauty of the golf course, learn the skills they need to succeed in life, and build relationships with those who care for their well-being.  In 2024, we worked with 2400 participants in West Michigan. 

Position Description

The Grand Rapids Program Intern will report directly to the Program Director. Inspired by a genuine passion for empowering and helping youth succeed in life, s/he will work diligently to promote and expand First Tee programs in Grand Rapids. The Program Intern will help with program implementation and support the overall strategic and operational plan for First Tee – West Michigan in Grand Rapids. This position will coach sessions with students 2-3 days per week, including Saturdays. Must be available to work evening hours from 3-8pm.

The ideal candidate has outstanding administrative, communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, strong affinity for golf and the golf community, and an interest in working with participants ages 7-17 (and their parents). 

Responsibilities

Programming:  

  • Help develop and implement First Tee curriculum as outlined by the Program Director
  • Coordinate registration, schedules, transportation and lesson plans for clinics and programs with other youth serving organizations and schools
  • Help identify, meet, and partner with area organizations and schools who work with First Tee’s target demographic (lower-income populations)
  • Take small groups of students to play 9 holes at local courses
  • Lead (Coach) First Tee’s six-class sessions and various other parts of programming with kids and teens 2-3 days/week
  • Provide a safe environment for all students and coaches
  • Ability to create and implement a lesson plan
  • Make the game and experience fun for participants
  • Weekly & Bi-weekly Inventory of Equipment at main program locations
  • Empathy, patience and excitement to serve and work with students from challenging backgrounds
  • A knowledge of the game of golf, and an ability and desire to work directly with students
  • Attend all First Tee events

Administrative: 

  • Help track participants information and progress through First Tee online participant databases (Salesforce & First Tee Coaches App)
  • Manage student registration for Grand Rapids programs
  • Communicate with parents through website, email, text, and phone calls
  • Help with the scheduling and managing of Junior Coach for Grand Rapids programs
  • Other data entry that the Program Director needs help with
  • Assist in the creation of promotional materials to increase the awareness of the programs

Qualifications

The following characteristics are necessary for success in this position: 

Communication Skills

  • Strong communication skills including written and verbal
  • Active listener
  • High emotional IQ
  • Ability to multitask

Technical Skills

  • Comfortable learning online database systems
    • Hubspot, G-Suite, SalesForce, Slack, are used with frequency
  • Golf swing knowledge
  • Youth/coaching experience

Personal Characteristics

  • A love for youth (age 7 to 17)
  • High Integrity 
  • A servant heart
  • High attention to detail
  • Strong memory
  • Ability to focus in a high-energy environment or as an individual
  • Flexible
  • Organized
  • Personally accountable
  • Outcome driven
  • Efficiency seeker 
  • Challenger
  • Patient

Job Benefits

  • Flexibility of schedule
  • Holidays Off (Labor Day, Thanksgiving)

Interested? 

Please submit a cover letter and resume to the following emails:

Program Director, Taylour Boer, [email protected] 

Program Coordinator, Emily Damstra, [email protected]

 or Apply via Handshake, Indeed, or Linkedin.

Watch this video for an overview of First Tee – West Michigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py0mtv16s64&t=1s