This summer, eight Youth on Course members from across the country came together in Pebble Beach, California, for a six-week internship that gave them hands-on experience at Pebble Beach Golf Academy, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Del Monte Golf Course. Through Careers on Course, interns build professional skills, relationships and independence while exploring career opportunities beyond the course.
At a time when fewer teens are entering the workforce, opportunities like these matter. According to the Center for American Progress, just 30.7% of 16- to 19-year-olds were employed in July 2026, compared with a peak of 50% in August 1978.
Careers on Course provides a meaningful first step into the workforce through real-world experience and a window to explore what comes next.
This year's cohort brought together Youth on Course members from eight communities across the country:
Johara Bracey — Atlanta, Georgia
Scarlett Ortega — Davis, California
Kallie Phon — Covington, Washington
Chloe Giang — Dublin, California
Jeffrey Lee — Milpitas, California
Sebastian Solchaga — Moreno Valley, California
Mateo Sanchez — Newark, California
Neil Awasthi — Raleigh, North Carolina
They arrived in Pebble Beach with different interests and career goals. Over the next six weeks, they became coworkers, roommates, teammates and friends. For the interns, one of the most valuable parts of the summer was seeing what goes into creating the golf experience from the other side of the ropes.
At Spyglass Hill, interns worked across the pro shop, bag drop, cart operations and first-tee experience. At Pebble Beach Golf Academy, they supported guests at the practice facility, while at Del Monte, interns worked in golf operations and helped with the flow of play.
For Kallie, working at Spyglass Hill gave her a completely new perspective on the game she loves.
“As someone who plays golf pretty avidly, you only see one side of things,” Kallie said. “Getting to see the other side, how much work actually goes into maintaining operations and making the whole customer experience run really smoothly, has been just so interesting.”
While the interns gained technical experience in their individual roles, some of their biggest takeaways were skills they’ll carry with them beyond golf. For Neil, working at the Pebble Beach practice facility taught him the importance of making a lasting impression.
“Try to be as memorable as possible every single day,” Neil said.
Whether he was greeting a guest, answering a question or anticipating what someone might need, Neil learned that small interactions can have a big impact.
For Youth on Course Head of Impact Michael Lowe, these professional and personal lessons are among the most important parts of the internship.
“We are incredibly thankful to Pebble Beach Resorts for providing mentorship that goes far beyond the golf course. Under the guidance of industry-leading professionals, these interns have developed critical skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving that will serve them on any career path they choose.”
For some interns, the summer turned an interest in golf into a potential career path. Beyond the workplace, living together in the Stevenson School dorms gave them six weeks to navigate a new environment, build community, manage their time and grow their independence.
And they had plenty of fun along the way.
The group visited Youth on Course headquarters, toured Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, experienced Topgolf through one of Youth on Course's newest summer member benefits, went bowling and visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
“The growth that happens after each workday ends is also profound,” Lowe said. “By living in the Stevenson School dorms for six weeks, these high schoolers gain an incredible head start on adulthood, experiencing independence that typically doesn't happen until a student leaves for college or enters the workforce full-time.”
Eight young people arrived in Pebble Beach ready to learn. Six weeks later, they left with professional skills, greater independence, meaningful connections and a deeper understanding of the many ways to build a future through golf.