If you’re here I assume you enjoy watching golf, or at least find joy in attending tournaments – particularly the majors. While this type of event is never cheap, I’ve to find it can be – especially if it’s in your own town. Check out this article to find out how you can attend every day of major or local event at a fraction of the price.
A few weeks prior I found the coveted secret while attending the PGA Championship (link) back in my grandparents home town of Rochester. This event was not the same experience, but is something I will not soon forget.
My dad, the type who can and will talk to anyone, started up a chat with a man behind the checkout out counter. Curious about how they staffed their events he asked “How do you get a job here, are you employed by the PGA?” The three word answer is the only reason I could afford to attend this years Open: “I’m a volunteer.”
The Volunteer Sign-up Process
It’s about as easy as it sounds. You google the tournament with the word “volunteer” and this is likely a link to their volunteer portal. While some tournaments don’t take volunteers, like the Masters, most of them do. Keep reading for trips on how to make the most of your volunteer experience.
For starters, sign up as early as you can! Most positions are filled with volunteers and there is a chance to be out in the action. The field Marshall spots fill the quickest, but there are all sorts of other roles as well, both on and off the course. About 1/3 of all volunteers will end up in one of the major merchandise tents, which is where I ended up.
The Volunteer Shifts – The Merchandise Tent
You might be thinking working for the tickets isn’t a good deal, but this may have been the easiest work I’ve ever had to do.
Over the course of the week you are required to work just 4 shifts at 5 hours each. The organizer takes your schedule preferences into account. Despite signing up late myself, I got exactly the shifts I request and worked Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday after work from about 4:00 – 8:00 PM, and Sunday morning from 7:00 to 11:00 AM. Why are the times I listed only 4 hour shifts? Because that is what I actually ended up working.
The event is over staffed to accommodate no-shows and external factors that may cause you to miss shifts. Most of the time I felt there were more volunteers than needed, which left not much work to be done. My actual job usually consisted of stocking items – sometimes from the side storage rooms to the floor and sometimes from the trucks to the storage rooms. One day, all I did was walk around to find and break down cardboard boxes. Easy work.
The Perks of Volunteering
The caveat to all of this: you have to pay to volunteer. For this event the price was $300 but it came with some pretty great perks.
First off of course is the tickets. You get a credential that allows to leave and reenter any time. You get access to every day of the event as well as a volunteer tent that was on the course, which had waters and snacks that were free after your shifts. I may have also grabbed some snacks on days I wasn’t working.
Included in this price you also get the volunteer merchandise. While all tournaments give the volunteers merchandise, I think the US OPEN does it the best. For starters, there brand parter is Peter Miller, which makes great quality gear. I also loved that none of the gear said “volunteer” on it. Instead of labeling the cloths to distinguish who was volunteering, the event simply didn’t sell the apparel that the volunteers got, making the merchandise exclusive. So many customers asked where to buy the jackets I was wearing and I love being able to tell them they weren’t for sale. We got the following items; 2 x US Open Polo’s, 1 x US Open Quarter Zip, 1 x US Open Light Weight Jacket, 1 x US Open Hat (Choice between visor, bucket hat, and baseball cap) , 1 x US Open Water Bottle, and 1 x US Open clear drawstring bag.
Other perks we got were; meal vouchers for each shift we worked (4 that could be used when we wanted at any concession stand), parking for the days we worked, discounts on volunteer apparel, and entry into a few raffles for the volunteers as well.
The Summary
It was an amazing experience. I really felt like the USGA treated the volunteers as well as anyone could hope, and getting to experience LACC and watch all rounds of the championship for $300 was the deal of a lifetime.
I was able to attend every day, and work my 4 shifts after work (for 3 of them) and Sunday morning – which allowed me free parking that day, and I was done working before the lead players tee’d off.
I would recommend volunteering to all the younger fans out there or anyone who finds the price of tickets to be a little much for their current situation. It is certainly a better deal when the US Open is in your neighborhood and you don’t need to travel or rent a place for the week. The next US Opens will be held at; Pinehurst Resort and C.C., North Carolina (2024), Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania (2025), Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, New York (2026), and Pebble Beach, California (2027).