By LOGAN RIPLEY

2019 is a milestone year for the MGA Foundation as we celebrate 25 years of the GOLFWORKS student intern program. What began in 1994 with just 12 students working at six clubs has significantly grown into a successful program - in 2018 we had 304 students working at more than 65 MGA Member Clubs.

The MGA recently talked with one of their own, Kyle Keckeisen, Programs Coordinator for the MGA Foundation, about his first-hand experience with the GOLFWORKS program. From 2009 to 2012, Keckeisen worked as a GOLFWORKS Intern at GlenArbor Golf Club, spending most of his time in outside services but also caddieing.

It was through this internship that Keckeisen realized he wanted to work toward a career in the golf industry, and would later use his masters degree in Public Policy from Fairfield University to establish himself as one of the key administrators of the GOLFWORKS Program eight years removed from his original internship.

Hear Kyle Keckeisen's thoughts on the GOLFWORKS Internship Program and how it prepared him for his career:

Nearly 3,000 students have participated in the GOLFWORKS program since its inception. GOLFWORKS is designed to give its participants exposure to the many career opportunities within the golf industry and beyond by providing meaningful summer work experiences. The young adults who participate in GOLFWORKS complete an internship in an environment that revolves around golf, which in itself can teach the lessons of honor, integrity and tradition and provides an activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. In addition, GOLFWORKS provides a good salary as well as networking opportunities to its interns, and a way for interns to learn the skills necessary to pursue their career interests. Participants have gone on to careers in the golf industry, while others are successful in other fields.