From left – Rylee Heryford, Ashton Martens and Erika Holmberg
The 2025 IGA championship season is underway, and excitement is buzzing throughout the Golf House Iowa office as IGA staff are gearing up for another thrilling season of competitive golf. With the start of a new season also comes a fresh batch of P.J. Boatwright interns who work directly with the IGA staff to learn about golf administration, media and marketing techniques, tournament prep, and other areas within the golf industry. The IGA proudly offers three internship positions: Championship Administration, Handicapping and Course Rating, and Marketing and Communications.
Joining the crew as the Championship Administration intern is Rylee Heryford from Newton. A rising senior at Drake University, Heryford is majoring in Management and minoring in Finance while also competing for the Drake women’s golf team. Her interests in golf management and business drew her to the internship.
“I’m really looking forward to spending the summer with the Iowa Golf Association as the Championships Intern. What drew me to this internship was the chance to be part of the behind-the-scenes work that brings golf tournaments to life. I’m excited to grow, learn, and be around a sport I’ve loved for years,” Heryford shared.
Heryford’s IGA staff mentor, Karli Kerrigan, expressed her excitement for Heryford’s addition, “I’m thrilled to welcome Rylee as the IGA Championship Admin Intern for the 2025 season. Her enthusiasm for golf administration, combined with her diverse experiences on and off the course, make her a fantastic addition to our team. Rylee is a quick learner, and I can’t wait to watch her grow and thrive this summer.”
Also new to the crew as the Handicapping and Course Rating intern is Ashton Martens from Grundy Center. Martens is a rising senior studying Marketing Management at the University of Northern Iowa after formerly competing for the Upper Iowa University men’s golf team for two years. Martens is looking to work in the golf industry, so this internship was the perfect fit for his career interest.
“I am looking forward to joining the IGA this summer as well as learning more about handicapping and course rating with Nate. I am very eager to learn about all of the opportunities and operations that make up an organization while assisting the IGA in a variety of ways,” Martens expressed.
“Ashton’s curiosity and commitment to learning the ins and outs of the golf industry make him really stand out,” Director of Handicapping and Course Rating Nate McCoy said. “I think he is really going to enjoy Course Rating and the opportunity to help our IGA member clubs and individual members.”
Rounding out the new additions as the Marketing and Communications intern is Erika Holmberg from Bettendorf. A rising senior at Drake University, Holmberg is double majoring in Secondary Education and English and minoring in Sociology while also competing for the Drake women’s golf team. Holmberg’s interest in multimedia communications and golf coaching compelled her to apply for the internship.
“I am incredibly humbled to have been selected as the Marketing and Communications intern here at Golf House Iowa. Writing and golf are two of my passions, and this internship opportunity pairs both together perfectly. I’m excited to learn more about the behind-the-scenes intricacies of tournament setup and golf administration.”
Clint Brown, Holmberg’s IGA staff mentor, shared his enthusiasm for Holmberg’s welcome, “I’m thrilled to welcome Erika to the team! In both golf and marketing, precision, creativity, and timing make all the difference — and I’m excited to see how her fresh ideas and passion help us drive forward, both on and off the course. I’m committed to making this summer not only a great learning experience but also a fun and memorable one.”
The P.J. Boatwright internship opportunity is sure to be a unique and educational opportunity for Heryford, Martens, and Holmberg. Be on the lookout for these three new faces at Golf House Iowa and IGA tournaments throughout the summer!
IGA Interns Participate in National P.J Boatwright Intern Summit
Iowa Golf Association P.J. Boatwright interns Rylee Heryford, Erika Holmberg, and Ashton Martens (right) began their internship journeys by attending the USGA P.J. Boatwright Intern Summit at USGA Headquarters in Liberty Corner, New Jersey last week. The summit welcomed over 50 interns from across the country where interns participated in various learning seminars, breakout groups and competitions, and networking opportunities.
Among the most notable presentations was a Q&A session with USGA CEO Mike Whan in which he shared welcoming remarks, pieces of advice within the industry, and key takeaways from his own professional journey: “If you’re going to do anything with this internship, I encourage you to be a sponge. Ask questions, make mistakes, but most importantly, make your association better with your presence than it would have been in your absence,” Whan encouraged.
Martens was inspired by all of the different speakers’ presentations: “It was amazing listening to USGA CEO Mike Whan and the different departments within the USGA and learning more about their job and mission for the future of golf.”
In addition to hearing guest speakers, interns participated in various hands-on breakout sessions such as broadcasting, rules of golf, championship administration, and more. Interns also competed in a first-tee setup speed challenge and nine-hole putting competition. Martens highlighted the IGA as a top eight finalist in the putting challenge and earned a USGA golden ticket to commend his accomplishment.
Throughout the summit, interns also had the opportunity to hear about the USGA’s future plans and goals for fostering growth within the game. One major project includes the U.S. National Development Program which aims to highlight talented junior golfers at the state level and provide opportunities for them to compete in nationally recognized events.
Holmberg shared her interest in this project:“I was fascinated by the U.S. National Development Program. I think it’s a great idea to take an already-established national framework and provide similar opportunities to talented juniors at the state level. I’m excited to see how the IGA will implement these programs across the state.”
Each day of the summit ended with social networking opportunities for interns to connect with each other during meals, games, and other activities. “My favorite part of the summit was listening to and talking to everyone about the pathway of their careers and how they were able to find a job doing something they are passionate about,” Heryford remarked.
While the P.J. Boatwright Summit may be over, the lessons and experiences from the trip are ones that Heryford, Holmberg, and Martens will carry with them throughout the duration of their internships and for the rest of their lives.
Luke Slaymaker (right) of Marion led the field with a flawless round of 66 (-6), earning medalist honors and securing his place in the championship. Slaymaker recorded six birdies and was the only player in the field to go bogey-free.
