Volunteering at tournaments - a gateway to growth and fresh perspectives

Have you ever dreamed of working at a major golf event? Volunteering is much more than just cutting grass and raking bunkers, it’s a chance to gain insider experience, connect with top professionals, whilst being in the thick of it and part of the action!

From perfecting championship conditions to seeing the game’s best compete up close, volunteering offers an unforgettable opportunity to grow your professional skills and career while playing a vital role in the event’s success.

Of course there are some challenges:

• Long hours and physical demands
  Expect early mornings, long shifts and physically demanding work in all weather conditions.
• High expectations and pressure
  Maintaining elite course conditions means working under strict first-class standards and tight schedules.
• Costs and expenses
  Some tournaments require volunteers to pay for travel, making it a financial commitment.

That said, it is widely recognised, from those who have earned their ‘tournament stripes’, that putting yourself forward for such an experience pays dividends not only for their personal growth and development but also more commonly recognised, their professional and career enhancement.

In a recent trip to this year’s U.S. Open event at the amazing Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, I caught up with a wide range of volunteers. The range of age and experience (from seasoned superintendents with decades of knowledge to younger assistants just starting out in the industry) were poles apart. I was curious, I asked myself, “What was their motivation for signing up to the gruelling routine of tournament support?” I soon realised they had all volunteered for varied reasons, but all knew the value of participation would help them reap a multitude of benefits from their involvement.

As an aspiring turf professional, volunteering at major golf events can be a stepping stone for your career in several ways:

• Experience at prestigious events enhances your credentials, setting you apart in job applications.
• Firsthand exposure to best practices, equipment handling and tournament organisation.
• Job offers after impressing their supervisors at the host club.
• Using new equipment for the first time (plus seeing new equipment).
• Travelling abroad enriches perspectives, cultural appreciation, enhances adaptability through immersive experiences in diverse environments.
• Self-discovery by challenging limits and resilience and courage. It broadens perspectives, deepens self-awareness and cultivates confidence.

As an established turf professional and leader, diving into these experiences not only enhances your existing abilities and skill levels, but can also position yourself amongst your peers as a dynamic, well-rounded manager who is prepared for the ever evolving challenges of golf course management.

Volunteering benefits in several ways:

• Connects you with inspiring individuals, reminding you why you love what you do.
• Experiences fuel motivation, renews purpose and cultivates a lasting drive for re-evaluating your personal and professional priorities.
• New tips and tricks! No two courses are alike, each one delivers fresh insights, unexpected wisdom and helpful strategies.
• Finding tomorrow’s talent at high profile events can be useful when you need to build for the future.
• Cutting-edge operational strategy exposure, advanced turf care methods and high-level event coordination insights.
• Observing professionals in action fosters adaptability, enhances problem-solving and introduces innovative ways to optimise efficiency.

The knowledge and insights gained from volunteering at a major event can be brought back to your home club. The benefits can be considerable, enhancing every aspect of course management and, therefore, playing experience for members and guests alike by integrating innovative practices and advanced techniques taught whilst working on a top-tier event. Members and guests will appreciate the elevated quality of meticulously cared for surfaces, while the infusion of fresh ideas and best practices foster a culture of continuous improvement, instilling pride among maintenance staff and inspiring an environment that supports excellence, environmental stewardship and unity, ultimately redefining the standard of excellence at your club.

The necessity of having a clear vision of high standards can inspire success. When excellence is clearly visible, it acts as a powerful catalyst that encourages us to surpass our current limitations. Without this visibility, we risk accepting mediocrity and remaining unaware of the possibilities for extraordinary performance. This insight pairs naturally with the idea that “You don’t know what you don’t know,” reminding us that our growth is restricted by our ignorance of better methods or higher benchmarks. By embracing these concepts, we learn to seek knowledge and opportunities for improvement and innovation.

Regardless of your ultimate career goals, volunteering is a prime opportunity to work alongside and observe the strategies of top professionals. Volunteering offers invaluable exposure to high-level operational excellence, industry-leading techniques and offers first-hand insight into the mindset of experts, igniting your ambition or simply elevating your ability and shaping your future success.

Thanks to Mike McCormick (superintendent) and the Oakmont team.