National Links Trust Finds New Homes for Internship Program in 2026
Amidst uncertainty, non-profit announces continuation of life-changing program
Washington, DC, April 3, 2026 — National Links Trust (NLT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Washington, DC dedicated to positively impacting local communities and changing lives through affordable and accessible municipal golf, has announced that the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program will return in 2026 after finding new partner facilities to host the internship component of the program. Due to privacy concerns, both new sites will remain unnamed at this time. This news comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the future of the program following the abrupt of NLT’s 50-year lease of Washington, DC’s three golf courses where the program originally held.
The Vardaman Program is NLT’s paid internship and junior caddie program that provides high school students in grades 9-12 with a unique opportunity to learn critical workforce skills, gain real world experience applicable in and out of the golf industry, and further develop soft skills that enable future academic and career success. To date, the program has included more than 120 interns and 60 caddies. More than $400,000 worth of college scholarships have been awarded to participants. The junior caddie component is currently being operated at Langston Golf Course, the program’s original headquarters, though that is subject to change given the developing situation in regard to NLT’s operation of the facility.
“Given the uncertainty of our future at the Washington, DC golf courses and knowing how impactful this program is, it was incredibly important to us to find a way to continue the internship program this summer, “said Damian Cosby, NLT Executive Director. “We are thankful to our new partner facilities for their willingness to work together and help us continue to change our interns’ lives through the program.”
Following the termination of NLT’s lease, the future of the program was in doubt. Founded in 2021 at Langston Golf Course (one of the courses under NLT’s lease), the program has developed into a unique, powerful opportunity that uses municipal golf as a tool to help change lives. Through their time in the program, interns are provided paid experience learning all aspects of golf course operations and basic business skills, as well as further improving communication, teamwork, and accountability.
Select interns have been awarded scholarships through NLT’s Bancroft Gordon Memorial Scholarship, as well as the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholarship, a full housing and tuition grant. This past winter, two interns and junior caddies were awarded the Evans Scholarship – a truly life-changing achievement. With the program’s continuation, even more kids will continue to have these opportunities.
“Things like the Bancroft Gordon Memorial Scholarship and Evans Scholarship truly change these kids’ lives. To be able to continue to provide that opportunity this year, despite the instability of our future at the courses, is crucial. We are thankful to our new host facilities and our community for their continued support,” said Cosby.
About National Links Trust
National Links Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to positively impacting our community and changing lives through affordable and accessible municipal golf.