Remember when a summer internship meant doing the grunt work – stuffing envelopes, taking out the trash and getting coffee (one sugar or two, boss)? Not this one.
The Wisconsin State Golf Association (WSGA) has hired two interns to spend the summer getting paid to play golf as part of “America’s No. 1 Golf Internship.” Patrick Koenig, 41, of Laguna Beach, California, and Madison, Wisconsin-native Bobbi Stricker, 22, stood out amongst hundreds of applicants from 25 different states eager to earn the dream job of any golfer.
“The response has been beyond anything we expected,” said WSGA Executive Director Rob Jansen. “Bobbi and Patrick both have such a passion for the game and for Wisconsin golf that we couldn’t pick just one, so we hired them both.”
Each of the two interns has a history with and a passion for the sport. Koenig left a career in sales in 2018, purchased a recreational vehicle and toured the country playing golf while raising money for First Tee. Called the Recreational Golf Vehicle (RGV) Tour, Koenig ultimately spent a year on the road, playing 405 different golf courses across the country and at the end of his tour, he presented a $20,000 check to First Tee – Seattle.
Breaking News. I am on the home page of Wisconsin Golf modeling hard. Read the full story on the upcoming @WSGAGolf internship. https://t.co/qyEnauTUla pic.twitter.com/qo3N7QZrBO
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 1, 2021
“I got about 20 people who sent me the opportunity because it was very similar to what I did (before),” he told Wisconsin.Golf, “and the decision to apply was a no-brainer.” In his application, he included both serious and light-hearted content, even noting that his ex-wife could testify to his passion for golf.
Stricker, the oldest daughter of U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker and occasional caddie Nicki, graduated last month from the University of Wisconsin where she played on the women’s golf team and was named a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
“There are so many great public courses in the state that I’ve never played and I’m looking forward to visiting,” she said, noting Whistling Straits, site of this year’s Ryder Cup, the Sand Valley courses and SentryWorld because, “my dad won something there when he was an amateur or a junior.”
Stricker will hit the road first. She started her internship on June 1 at Erin Hills Golf Course. She’ll play 15 rounds of golf at some of Wisconsin’s top courses throughout the summer in addition to her competitive schedule, which includes Symetra Tour Qualifying School and the Wisconsin Women’s State Open and State Amateur.
First @WSGAGolf internship stop. Thank you @ErinHillsGolf for such a fun day! Second time being here, first time playing and it was a blast. See you soon! pic.twitter.com/5dwzMs4CzU
— Bobbi Stricker (@bobbistrick) June 2, 2021
Koenig will play 50 Wisconsin courses in 50 days starting on July 14 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course in Milwaukee. In addition to Wisconsin’s top golf destinations, Koenig will be shining a spotlight on all types of courses in all parts of the state in search of the perfect photo and interesting stories and people along the way.
Wisconsin is home to nine courses on Golfweek’s recently released list of top-100 public courses in the United States.
“I’m proof you’re never too old to be an intern,” said Koenig, who has carved a niche as a golf course photographer and social media influencer. “I’ve long said that Wisconsin is the best state for public golf in the United States and I’m looking forward to showcasing the beauty of its courses this summer.”