Teens in the Benton Harbor, Michigan area have a unique chance to explore career options through the Summer Youth Golf Careers & Development Program. This initiative, a partnership between the Whirlpool Foundation, Harbor Shores Golf Course, and Point O’ Woods Golf and Country Club, exposes students to various career paths within the golf industry, such as event planning, retail, hospitality, turf management, and culinary arts.
Now in its second year, this 12-week program offers participants hands-on experience with the aim of inspiring their future career choices. “The students are collaborating as a team and immersing themselves in the golf culture,” said Josh Doxtator, general manager of Harbor Shores Golf Course. “We hope that the insights and experiences they gain will help guide their future career decisions, whether in golf or related fields.”
Tyler Valentine, a Benton Harbor resident and recent St. Joseph High School graduate, participated in the program this year, acquiring valuable culinary skills while working at The Grille at Harbor Shores. He plans to take this experience to the Culinary Institute of America in New York this fall to pursue his dream of becoming a chef and eventually opening his own restaurant.
Deb O’Connor, managing director of the Whirlpool Foundation, stated, “This program is immensely beneficial for youth in our community. It provides them with a firsthand look at potential career opportunities in the golf industry that they may not have known were available right in their own neighborhood.”
Twenty-seven students have taken part in the program during its first two years.
To know more and request an application for the 2025 program, please email Stefanie Harvey-Vandenberg at stefanie_r_harvey-vandenberg@whirlpool.com
Now in its second year, this 12-week program offers participants hands-on experience with the aim of inspiring their future career choices. “The students are collaborating as a team and immersing themselves in the golf culture,” said Josh Doxtator, general manager of Harbor Shores Golf Course. “We hope that the insights and experiences they gain will help guide their future career decisions, whether in golf or related fields.”
Tyler Valentine, a Benton Harbor resident and recent St. Joseph High School graduate, participated in the program this year, acquiring valuable culinary skills while working at The Grille at Harbor Shores. He plans to take this experience to the Culinary Institute of America in New York this fall to pursue his dream of becoming a chef and eventually opening his own restaurant.
Deb O’Connor, managing director of the Whirlpool Foundation, stated, “This program is immensely beneficial for youth in our community. It provides them with a firsthand look at potential career opportunities in the golf industry that they may not have known were available right in their own neighborhood.”
Twenty-seven students have taken part in the program during its first two years.
To know more and request an application for the 2025 program, please email Stefanie Harvey-Vandenberg at stefanie_r_harvey-vandenberg@whirlpool.com