Journal Entry #67
We have a fantastic golf event coming to the Broadmoor July 28 through August 3, 2008. For us senior folks this tournament is a must and it will certainly be nostalgic to watch our favorites from days gone by. You'll see none of those pups who are on the pro tours that hit the ball 350 plus yards and then just wedge up to the greens. We can expect to see Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Colorado's own Hale Irwin, Craig Stadler, Jay Haas, Peter Jacobson and newcomers Nick Faldo, Mark O'Meara and Nick Price.
You will have a chance to go free if you decide to volunteer to be one of more than 3,000 bodies needed to put on this event. You will have a chance to select any number of areas to contribute. Some include admission/will call, corporate hospitality, course evacuation, gallery control, leader boards, merchandise, VIP/player transportation, walking scorers and many more. Now I said, free, but that's not exactly accurate. You will be required to purchase a volunteer package that costs $125 for your uniform, which consists of two special championship golf shirts, a windbreaker and a ball cap or visor. That $125 is half the price paying patrons will have to fork up should they wish these items as souvenirs.
There's more. If you volunteer you will receive a credential valid for all seven days, a commemorative pin and one invitation to the volunteer party. On the days you work, you will be provided with food and beverages in the volunteer headquarters. If you want to buy other goodies you will have a one-time discount on championship merchandise.
So, how much work to get all of the aforementioned stuff? Just 20 hours over four shifts. Of course you can work more shifts if you want to.
One of the most rewarding jobs I have experienced when working THE INTERNATIONAL and the US WOMEN'S OPEN, is being a marshal. This is the gallery control job. This sounds like you have to be a tough guy or gal to manage unruly crowds. That is not the case at all. Fans appreciate the players and the marshals. Marshals are basically those folks you see on TV raising their hands to quiet the crowd when the pros get ready to hit or putt their golf balls.
If you want a comprehensive view of what a marshal does, access www.SeniorFriendlyGolf.com and then search the archives for journal entry number 35. Senior Friendly Golf will have one of the 18 holes to provide gallery control. I will need a stable of at least 50 enthusiastic people to do the job. If you want to join my team, you will be well trained and even training is fun. Just send me an email, but first you have to volunteer. You can do this on the Internet http://usso.broadmoor.com. At the bottom of the application you will see "If you will be working with a group or affiliation, please enter their name here:" that's where you put in "Senior Friendly Golf & The Chamber." At the bottom of the application you will see "If you will be working with a group or affiliation, please enter their name here:" that's where you put in "Senior Friendly Golf & The Chamber." For more information, you can also contact the 2008 U.S. Senior Open office at 719-633-OPEN ext. 2 and ask for Liz.
John K. Darling may be emailed at GolfGuy@SeniorFriendlyGolf.com