I filled out the volunteer application for the US Open 2007 @ Oakmont. The cost to volunteer is $150, but you get a shirt, hat/visor, and a 7 day pass.

I have a few connections to guarantee that I do not get a crappy volunteer job (such as taking everyones cell phones at the gate or merchandise tents). I indicated that I would be willing to be a driver (players and officials to / from hotels and the course), leaderboard, or on course marshall.

Just curious, how many events make you PAY to be a VOLUNTEER?!? I know it is worth it since I will have the week long pass, but I find it a little bit strange.

I know at the Wachovia that you have to buy your clothes (shirt, hat, jacket, etc.) It isn't close to $150, though.

I volunteered at the Senior Players Championship at TPC of Michigan. It was $75. You got a Shirt, Hat, and a round of Golf at TPC which in and of itself it a $120 value. Not to mention a weeks pass.

$150 to work at an event is a good deal? Wow, I'd disagree. I understand buying the shirt, but for $150 you can buy tickets to see the darn thing on the days you want to go, and not, you know, WORK.

I was going to look into volunteering for a Senior Tour Event that used to be held in our state. Same thing. I thought it was about $75 that got you a shirt, jacket, pass and food.

I signed up to volunteer at the PGA this year. I signed up so long ago, but didn't get it, go figure. I digress...

The cost for this volunteer job was $170....ouch.

EVERY event makes you pay to be a volunteer. That money is used to pay for the 'soft goods' you get. The hat, shirt, jacket, etc.

I have a buddy that has volunteered at the local senior Tour event (when we had one). He volunteered at the Nationwide event this last year. It was about $100 for each event give or take. That was to pay for the jacket and shirt etc.

A great deal usually, because you get a $65 shirt, a $20 hat, and maybe a nice wind breaker that would be $80+ (at least here). In addition you get behind the ropes for the days you are working, and when you are not you can attend for free. A great deal just for the goods alone!!!

My dad and I used to volunteer at a local LPGA event, and the cost was $100 for the shirt and hat. The nice part? The tuesday after the event, you could play the course for half price, then they held a huge dinner for all the volunteers. Sometimes, they'd try and get a few players to join in and thank everyone.
Definitely worth it!

It costs about $75 to volunteer at our tournament as well. You get 2 shirts, a hat, a weeks pass, and free meals.

US open tickets are 95 a day for tournament days! So the 150 isnt bad. it is 80 i think for the soon to be gone 84 lumber classic.

i worked the Sony Open here in Hawaii for 4 years and I never paid to volunteer. Actually the year I caddied for the Pro-Am I got paid.

For majors, this arrangment is standard. Volunteers get a hat, shirt, pants, improved parking/shuttle arrangments, and their own full-time hospitality tent. Lunch, beverages, you name it.
You can question it if you want to, but they still have people lining up for these positions.

I volunteered for a Senior Euro Tour event and I got a week-long pass, free meal inside the ropes (I ate lunch beside Bernard Gallacher and Victor Garcia) and a free green fee for the course

I volunteered to work at the Nationwide Tour Championship in Prattville the last two years. It was I believe $50 for the shirt, hat, lunch each day, 7 passes, and a free round of golf at the RTJ. If you picked up your stuff on the date specified you got $5 back. I was lucky enough to work for The Golf Channel as a scorer/spotter and got their catered lunch and a TGC hat so it turned out to be a great deal.

I volunteered last year and this year as a standard bearer for the boeing greater seattle classic. Its a champions tour event. Last year i got in free, but this year I paid the $75. You get 2 shirts, one rain/wind jacket, a gym sack backpack, a hat, two week long passes, a parking pass, food vouchers, and a couple small freebies.

Considering that the two shirts and jacket cost $155 retail I would say its worth it.

We just held the Canadian Womens Open here in London ON and the charge was $60. You got a shirt, hat, 2 day passes for friends and a parking pass. This wouldn't be bad if you got a round at the super exclusive Hunt Club, but they are only having draws for volunteers to play. Of the 1600 people that came to help out, only 15 will get a round it. Tisk, tisk.

Here in The Netherlands it's much better arranged! Worked in both the LAdies and mens Europeantour event and got a cap, shirt, jacket and food all for free! Not to mention they invited you to play the course once at one particular day (for all volunteers)!!! (and the clothing are good too, Scapa Sports shirts and jackets!!)

for a PGA Tour event to charge a volunteer is just ridiculous.

I used to help run one of the more high profile events on the regular tour, and it was also known as one of the more stingy events on tour in terms of charity give/treatment of caddies/players/sponsors, etc...

...but even this event never charged a volunteer a dime (at least not while I was there).

we gave each volunteer a:
- couple shirts and a hat, required them to wear a certain color pant/short/skirt and if they didn't have them made those available for wholesale.
- gave 'em a few tickets.
- gave 'em food vouchers on the days they worked.
- gave 'em coupons for golf at cart fee only during the off-season (summer).

given the size of the budget at the tour events these days I think it's embarrassing that they charge a volunteer...especially The US Open.

JD

I learned this year through my GFs father, who is good friends with a Winged Foot member, that the USGA "owns the course" for the week after the open, which is for staff and volunteers to play. Not sure if it's all volunteers, or a draw as some one else mentioned...

I think the Tour should be arrested for charging people to help them out... I cant beleive that someone would be dumb enough to pay to go sweat their a** off doing slave labor (99% of those jobs are NOT glamorous). Take $10,000 out of the $8Miliion purse to pay for the hard goods you give them... let the shirt and free food be their pay for being enslaved for the week. Shirts and hats that I wouldnt be surprised if they got them for free from the makers of the gear to get their label on there with the tournamnet logo. This is an OUTRAGE!!

Although I agree it is ridiculous to charge people to "volunteer", it does have merit. If there was no fee, more people would sign up on a whim and then not show. Most people hate to waste money, so if they are willing to pay to volunteer, they are going to show up. Despite the crappy task, intense heat, people want to be a part of something if they pay for it.
We had the Senior PGA here a couple of months ago and it was hot and dry. Pretty miserable for the parking people with the dust and wind but there was plenty of staff to take care of business. They were all volunteers who paid for the privilige of the crappy job. Most likely would have walked off if they had just volunteered without paying.
Rules: if you work the required shifts, you are re-imbursed your fee. Fail to make your shifts and the money gets donated to charity.

That is a very good point. I never thought about that. How many people would volunteer, pick up there stuff and then not show. My guess would be at least a quarter of them.

You could just as well...volunteer, pay, pick up your stuff, and still never show up if you are doing it just to get the stuff. I dont think the paying part makes much differance. imho