This summer, students from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics discovered new avenues for professional preparation and practical hands-on experience. Lerner College students pursued an array of internships, externships and other professional development opportunities. From MBA scholars to undergraduates entering their second year at UD, students across a spectrum of Lerner programs shared their experiences accomplishing an assortment of projects.
Our “My Summer Internship” series highlights these unique experiences, showcasing how students translated classroom knowledge into real-world success.
Dane Robertson, Class of 2026 sport management major with a minor in advertising, spent his summer as a golf operations intern at Wilmington Country Club.
Lerner: How did you find out about this internship? Why did you pursue it?
Robertson: I found out about this internship through Professor Allgood having Eric Williams (head pro at Wilmington) come into our class and speak about the opportunity. I pursued it because I have always loved the sport of golf but never worked on the operations side before. Pushing myself to learn in new areas and get outside my comfort zone was super important to me.
Lerner: What was the most exciting task or project that you completed?
Robertson: It’s hard to pick one, but definitely the tournaments that are held every so often at the club. Whether it was the member guest invitational tournament or just a holiday tournament, they were always a blast. The competitiveness would pick up and there was an awesome atmosphere to be around.
Lerner: What did you learn from the internship that you think you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
Robertson: Definitely being able to communicate effectively. With this job, communication was probably the most important skill needed in order for the club to run smoothly. Being able to communicate with other coworkers, head pros, my boss, or even just to the members, was all a skill that developed over time. I don’t think I would have gotten that from anywhere else.
Lerner: What is an example of a time where you were able to apply what you’ve learned at Lerner to your role?
Robertson: I remember during Professor Allgood’s class we discussed crisis management which definitely came into play during my time at Wilmington. Maybe not to the extreme level, but there were times when heavy thunderstorms would unexpectedly roll in. During this we would have to safely but quickly escort all members to safety as well as ensuring that all carts, golf bags, and any other course maintenance was safe and secure.
Lerner: Did you face any challenges during your internship? If so, what was the issue and how did you overcome it?
Robertson: I would say at first just getting the hang of everything that we are in charge of on the golf course. Whether that’s cleaning the golf ball washer, filling up the driving range, cleaning towels, or even running out a new cart for someone since theirs died out on the course, all is tricky to get used to especially being my first time working on a golf course. But over time it eventually became second nature and I would do it without even thinking.
Lerner: What are your career plans, and how do you think the internship will push you closer to your professional goals?
Robertson: As of right now I’m not completely sure what my plans are for the future, but this internship without a doubt opened up new doors for me. I never worked on the golf side of sports before, but now I can proudly say that I 100% would later down the road. Along with that, my time at Wilmington allowed me to make connections that I would not have made anywhere else. These connections may help me in the future, which is something that is so important as a college student.