Internship Spotlight: Bacon Discovers a New Side of the Sports Industry at Monroe Golf Club

Maggie Bacon, a senior sport management major, discovered how marketing, retail operations, and member experience intersect during her summer internship at Monroe Golf Club.

The variety of responsibilities is what made Bacon’s summer internship at Monroe Golf Club so valuable. As a retail and marketing assistant, she gained exposure to many different areas of the club, from member services and merchandising to marketing, tournament operations, and communications.

Throughout the summer, Bacon worked in the Golf Shop assisting members, managing inventory, coordinating special orders, creating social media content, helping prepare weekly member emails, and supporting tournament operations. The broad range of responsibilities allowed her to understand how marketing, retail, and event management all play a role in serving club members.

“My daily responsibilities varied, which was one of my favorite parts of the experience,” said Bacon.

After learning about the opportunity through a visit from a former golf professional in her sports industry seminar at the University, Bacon was eager to explore a new side of the sports industry. With her previous experience working in baseball, Bacon saw this internship as an opportunity to expand her sports industry experience.

One experience Bacon was most proud of was taking initiative with merchandise buying and shop organization. Working with vendors, helping select merchandise, and refreshing displays throughout the season, gave her a new perspective on the strategy behind retail operations.

“I learned that merchandising is about more than simply putting products on shelves. It involves understanding the customer, paying attention to what is available, and presenting products in a way that encourages people to engage with them,” she explained.

The internship provided Bacon with opportunities to apply concepts from her sport management and communication courses. Through social media content and member communications, she gained firsthand experience reaching audiences and supporting customer engagement while seeing course content come to life in a professional setting.

“My coursework also helped me understand the importance of creating a positive customer experience and maintaining consistent communication,” said Bacon.

Beyond the technical skills, Bacon’s experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, teamwork, and strong relationships within the organization. The internship also strengthened her interest in pursuing a career in the sports industry.

“This internship gave me a broader understanding of the many ways organizations connect with and serve their audiences. It also helped me identify skills I want to continue developing as I prepare for my career,” Bacon said.

For students in the process of their internship search, Bacon encourages them to remain open to opportunities that may be outside of their original interests.

“Some of the best learning experiences come from trying something new and stepping outside your comfort zone,” said Bacon.

This article was written by Olivia Bennett, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2026-2027 academic year.