Long-Term Merchandise & Licensing Intern

The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. The USGA’s headquarters are located in Liberty Corner, NJ, with a recently opened campus in Pinehurst, NC. For more, visit usga.org. 

 About this role:

Join our team as a Long-Term Merchandise & Licensing Intern! The position will run from early January 2026 through early September 2026. Interns will assist the USGA Merchandise and Licensing department and get an inside look at what happens in the time leading up to our Championship season and more closely, the experience on-site at the U.S. Open Championship and/or the U.S. Women’s Open. This is a great opportunity to learn about the lifecycle of an event, as well as gain a better understanding of the different merchandise & licensing roles within the department.  

This basic timeline should give you an idea of the many roles you will play throughout this internship. From your work in-person at our office in Liberty Corner assisting with our merchandise experience and operation, to your time in the Merchandise Pavilion at Championships with some of the biggest golf merchandise and apparel brands, you will leave with a greater understanding of the merchandise operation of a major Championship. The hours indicated below are averages based off previous years. Candidates must be capable of assisting in the movement of boxes weighing approximately 30-70 pounds, especially during May and Memorial Day weekend. 

Early January – April (Approx. 40 hours/week; Liberty Corner, NJ)  

● Cross-functional exposure to the USGA and our strategy & approach towards our Merchandise & Licensing functions  

● Opportunity to learn and contribute to a variety of aspects within the Merchandise & Licensing department (Merchandise Volunteer Program, Merchandise Vendor Relations, Merchandise Operations, Merchandise Services, Marketing, Licensing Programs, etc.)  

● Specific responsibilities will include work across the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open  

• Organization of samples and merchandise showroom
• Maintaining documents and assisting with mailing projects
• Assisting with building presentations
• Creating a “go-to” guide for the short-term interns
• Other smaller miscellaneous duties with other individuals on the team 

Mid-April - Early May (Approx. 40 hours/week; Southampton, NY and Pacific Palisades, CA.  

● Assist with on-site office set up and organizational projects 

● Assist with receiving incoming merchandise for the U.S. Open and/or the U.S. Women’s Open in the merchandise compound  

○ This involves moving boxes, counting product, and loading/organizing the boxes onto trucks 

○ Work with over 50 merchandise brands such as Peter Millar, G/FORE, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, etc., and representing the USGA well 

Mid-May (Approx. 50 hours/week)  

● Assist the merchandise staff in the on-site office  

○ This includes maintaining the office, assisting with the on-boarding of short-term interns, helping receive smaller orders and assisting with merchandise volunteer packets, vendor credentials, and more 

● Assist with U.S. Open Volunteer Orientation / Training Sessions 

● Assist with our Volunteer Apparel Exchange Program  

○ This involves setting up Volunteer and Marshal Apparel at an off-site location to provide Volunteers with an opportunity to change sizes in their uniform prior to the start of the event. This service will continue on-site once the championship is underway.  

Late May (Including Memorial Day Weekend) (Approx. 60 hours/week)  

● Assist with merchandise set-up and visual displays in the Merchandise Tents 

○ This includes working with vendors to move product into the tent, organizing back-stock, visual merchandising, cleaning/moving fixtures, and other various jobs in preparation for the Grand Opening. 

Early June (Approx. 70 hours/week)  

● Assist in the final preparations for the Merchandise Pavilion and Satellite Tent 

○ This involves creating signage, organizing the POS stations, helping our visual merchandiser dress mannequins and more.  

● Help with a variety of PR projects, promotions, and mailings to help promote our pre-championship merchandise opening.   

Mid/Late June (U.S. Open) (Approx. 90 - 105 hours/week)  

● Assist our full-time merchandise staff in running the Merchandise Pavilion for the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and/or U.S. Senior Open.

• • You will be assigned to shifts throughout the day. From customer service to inventory management, help maintain the Pavilion and Satellite Tents and more.  
  • This includes working beside over 1,200 volunteers in various areas of the merchandise operation. You will have an opportunity to manage a group of volunteers and work with them to ensure each area of the merchandise operation is running efficiently. 
    • Assist Merchandise Volunteer Chairman with check-in. 
    • Assist with checking in any replenishment orders on the dock during the event. In addition to that, preparing products as necessary prior to hitting the sales floor. This may include, applying the necessary barcodes or removing them from any packaging.  

Late June – Late September (Approx. 40 hours/week)  

● Assist with the breakdown of the merchandise operation.  

• • This includes post-event sales and ending inventory procedures.  
  • Help with coordinating donation program.
  • Work closely with fixture company and help pack trailers.  
  • Coordinate any staff sale activities upon return to Liberty Corner.  

What you'll do:

• Support on-site merchandise operations at USGA championships by assisting in the leadership of merchandise vendors and volunteers and helping guide the execution of a multimillion-dollar merchandise program.
• Help design, develop, and implement a cross-functional order management system. This role will be key in building an integrated solution that streamlines order processing, enhances communication across departments, and ensures seamless coordination between sales, inventory, logistics, and customer service teams.
• Develop the Merchandise Archive Project, including cataloging and preservation.
• Assist in vintage U.S. Open merchandise acquisition, including research, sourcing, and purchasing of items.

Where you'll be:  

• This position will begin working on-site at our office in Liberty Corner, NJ. The position will then move to a Championship location, Southampton, NY, and/or Pacific Palisades, CA. Housing will be provided at the Championship sites.

What you bring:

• Teamwork  
  • Communication is the key to being successful in this role. Working together with fellow interns to execute daily tasks is one of your main responsibilities.  

● Leadership  

• • Opportunity to lead volunteers and become a resource for the Merchandise Staff to communicate to vendors and other USGA Staff. Play a huge role as eye and ears of the operation.  

● Creativity  

• • Freedom to create and take ownership of a project. Great opportunity to present new ideas. Influence on Visual Merchandising during tent stocking.  

● Flexibility  

• • Ability to jump from task to task quickly as well as picking up where someone left off on any given project. In this role, you will learn flexibility is key, in order to adjust the plan under different circumstances to achieve the same goal.  

Compensation: $17.00 / hour, plus overtime in accordance with state and federal regulations

The USGA is an equal opportunity employer. Our organization believes we are stronger by embracing our diverse backgrounds and perspectives, promoting equity so all teammates can excel and grow in their careers, and fostering experiences to drive inclusion in our workplace and game. Golf is a game for everyone, and you are always welcome.