Golf was never really on Yordan Villalon’s radar when he was growing up in Miami. The native of Cuba was a four-sport athlete in high school before continuing his basketball and volleyball careers at Lasell University in Auburndale, Mass.
Four sports, none of them golf – until he was selected as one of 25 students in the inaugural Pathways Internship class at the 2022 U.S. Open.
“I value competition,” said Villalon, 29. “I played basketball, football and volleyball and ran cross country, but I never played golf. Being a Pathways intern exposed me to golf on a championship level and catapulted my interest. My peers and some of their previous experiences with golf made me feel like the game was also for me.”
The internship is designed to provide diverse undergraduate and graduate college students with exposure to careers in golf while addressing industry imbalances. Of the more than two million jobs in the $84 billion industry, underrepresented communities hold a small fraction.
Villalon is back for the program’s second year this week at The Los Angeles Country Club, one of three returnees serving in a mentor role to this year’s class.
“I thought it was an incredible offer,” said Villalon, who went on to earn his MBA at Lasell. “I felt like it was a result of my dedication to the internship during my first year. I was grateful that they called me back.”
“The USGA rolls out the red carpet for us,” Villalon added of his advice to this year’s interns. “So invest in yourself in terms of being present in every single moment and understanding that this is likely one of the most powerful occasions in your life and career. Everyone you meet is ready to help get you to your next level. The game of golf is excited to have us be a part of it.”
Villalon believes the connections that he made last year at The Country Club will lay the groundwork for him to start his own golf business.
“What I value most is relationships, and I know I have real connections thanks to Pathways,” said Villalon. “I feel like I’m connected with the coolest people around the U.S. who all happen to be peers of mine, and I know I have good friends for the rest of my life.”
