Boggs' Blog: An intern talks about working with the Bear and barely making it out of Baltusrol and her summer alive

Julie Boggs, a senior at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., spent her summer as an intern for the Nicklaus Companies in the Marketing & Communications Department. She shares her experiences with nicklaus.com visitors.

"The hot temperatures and high humidity at the Bayside grand opening didn't stop the 1,500 invited guests from coming to the event and definitely didn't keep Jack's shirt dry during his 18 holes of golf." (Photo by Jim Mandeville)

Last May, I completed my spring semester at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., unaware of the things I would soon learn during my summer with Jack Nicklaus.

As soon as I walked into the office on the first day of my summer internship, I was given the responsibility of editing copy for NICKLAUS Magazine, responding to requests from media professionals and putting together media kits about Jack and the company. All of these jobs were only the beginning.

I was able to observe and learn from so many of my involvements at the Nicklaus Companies. I watched the Nicklaus family as they filmed a commercial for the Stryker Corporation, a Nicklaus partner. I was able to be involved in the planning of a pre-British Open international conference call with reporters from newspapers and magazines from all over the world. And I sat and watched as Jack spoke with HBO's Bob Costas about his career, personal life and upcoming retirement from competitive tournament golf.

One of the experiences for which I am most grateful is my work with the Nicklaus Web site. I was given the opportunity to put into place the things I have learned in school about Web site design and company uses by reviewing the nicklaus.com. I met with the creators of the site and researched my ideas for improving its uses within the company. It was a long process that commenced in a meeting with the Nicklaus Marketing and Communications staff. I was able to explain my ideas to the group and give them my opinions about the Web site. It was a wonderful feeling when everyone responded well to my ideas and hard work--an experience I will not soon forget.

During the final week of my employment at Nicklaus, I was able to travel with Mr. Nicklaus for three days. The trip was filled with interviews, press conferences, ceremonies, and adoring Golden Bear fans.

It all began in Selbyville, Del., where I attended the Grand Opening of Bayside Resort Golf Club, the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Delaware. The hot temperatures and high humidity didn't stop the 1,500 invited guests from coming to the event and definitely didn't keep Jack's shirt dry during his 18 holes of golf.

After the front nine, my job was to retrieve Jack's perspiration-drenched shirt and hang it up to dry. The only thing that passed through my mind, aside from how gross it was to touch someone else's sweat, was how many people would give anything to be able to be close enough to smell the sweat of the greatest golfer of all time.

During our visit to Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., a collaboration between Nicklaus and Tom Doak that will open next spring, I was asked by Scott Tolley, Director of Communications at Nicklaus, to commandeer an open golf cart that we could use for a media tour of the golf course. As we pulled away, second in a caravan of media-filled golf carts, I could feel the wind in my hair and the dust in my teeth. Maybe it was the inexperience of a college senior but I just couldn't hang with these guys. I quickly moved from second to last in the line of eager writers who were hanging on Jack's every word.

"She's no Danica Patrick," Tolley said to the other passengers in our cart, demonstrating to them the close family-like feeling within the Nicklaus Companies that, in spite of the embarrassing teasing, brought comfort to me as I spent the summer away from friends and family.

So I hung up my golf cart keys and moved on to the job of saving my own life while attending the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club, in N.J., where Jack was Honorary Chairman for the championship. After Jack was honored at the 18th tee for his memorable and record-breaking performances on Baltusrol's Lower Course (he won the US Open there in 1967 and '80, setting scoring records each time), I was trampled by fans fighting to get autographs from Jack and I nearly ended my internship a few days early, as I was shoved away from the group by an overzealous and unknowing security officer. It was then that we all realized Jack was more like a 65-year-old rock star than a golf legend.

As I get ready to go back to school in preparation for my graduation, I have completed my summer internship at the Nicklaus Companies in North Palm Beach, Fla., and have been totally blown away by my experiences during the summer and my last week with Jack. I rubbed elbows with the rich and famous, flew in style and comfort on Air Bear, and came to the realization that I have learned more in two-and-a-half months with the Golden Bear than in the 21 years of my life.