NATIONAL LINKS TRUST ANNOUNCES RETURN OF INTERNSHIP AND CADDIE PROGRAM AT THE HISTORIC LANGSTON GOLF COURSE 

Washington, D.C. -  National Links Trust (NLT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established to positively impact local communities by protecting and promoting accessible, affordable, and engaging municipal golf courses across the United States of America, announced today the return of the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program (JVWDP) – an internship and caddie program that provides adolescents from the greater Washington, DC area the chance to develop relevant skills and acquire the tools they will need for future success through work at Langston Golf Course. The program, consisting of thirty interns and fifteen caddies, has been supported by numerous organizations this year.

“We are extremely proud of the work we’ve done to build, grow, and enhance the Vardaman Program,” said Damian Cosby, PGA, NLT’s Executive Director. “The program is first-hand evidence of the transformative impact that publicly-accessible golf can have on individuals in local communities, and we are eager to watch our interns and caddies grow throughout the summer.”

The internship component of the JVWDP runs in two four-week sessions over the summer. The first of these started this past week. Interns receive an immersive training experience in the program while learning skills in golf course operations, hospitality services, merchandising, and agronomy. The caddie component of the JVWDP is supported by the Western Golf Association / Evans Scholars Foundation (WGAESF). Caddies in the program are available at Langston Golf Course Friday-Sunday from now until the end of August, and can be booked by contacting the Caddie Program supervisor, Ben Foster, at 202-809-5662. While caddie fees are covered by the WGAESF, tipping is encouraged.

“Everything NLT is doing in Washington, DC is about community, and the Vardaman Program is no exception,” shared Will Smith, Co-Founder of NLT. “We’re grateful for our supporters for allowing us to bring it back for another year because we believe it is such a valuable initiative. The impact and benefits it has for the kids are long-lasting.”

In addition to instilling core values such as respect, responsibility, and integrity, and teaching valuable skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, adaptability, and time management, interns and caddies in the JVWDP are provided with a number of tangible outcomes. These include the income they are provided through the program, future career opportunities at National Links Trust’s facilities in Washington, DC through their partnership with Troon, and a pathway to the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Program.  All of this is made possible by the support of the National Links Trust Community.

Supporters of the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program include the Heinz Family Foundation, NBC Sports Next, GolfNow, University of the District of Columbia, the Western Golf Association / Evans Scholars Foundation, Southern Company Foundation, and the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. Supporters of the Langston Community Classroom, a renovated space in the Langston Golf Course clubhouse that headquarters the JVWDP and provides a safe space with technology and Wi-Fi access to individuals in the local community, include The Home Depot Foundation, NBC Sports Next, and GolfNow.