Volunteers wanted for BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand golf tournament

Organisers of the New Zealand Open are once again on the hunt for keen golf enthusiasts to volunteer.
The BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open tournament, a tier one event on the PGA Tour of Australasia, will be held from March 10 to 13 2016 at The Hills and Millbrook golf courses in Queenstown.
 
The growth in tournament size - with both The Hills and Millbrook hosting the event for the third year running - means up to 450 volunteers are needed over the first two days of the four-day tournament.
 
Some love the ‘job’ so much they keep coming back year after year, such as 71-year-old Cromwell farmer John McDonald and wife Joy. They look after the 15^th hole with a fantastic 20-strong handpicked team of golf enthusiasts.

A nifty golfer who plays off an average of 11, John’s name was drawn from the hat last year as the winner of an amateur player’s place - worth over $11,000 - in next year’s tournament.

“You too could have similar opportunities if you volunteer,” says John.

“It’s a privilege to a volunteer at the New Zealand Open and it’s great to be appreciated as part of the team. Thank you to the team from our team, we’d recommend anyone to be a volunteer.”

Tournament Director Michael Glading says volunteer assistance is ‘key’ to the success of the event. 


Millbrook Resort Queenstown. Photo courtesy of Southern PR

“The 2016 event needs the support of enthusiastic volunteers to ensure successful delivery throughout tournament week, and across both golf courses,” he says.

“We’re looking for anyone from across New Zealand and further afield with enthusiasm, motivation, passion. You don’t have to be a golf lover to be a volunteer, though that does help.”

A fleet of volunteers are needed to carry out roles such as carrying scoreboards, marshaling on course, shuttle drivers, ‘ball spotting’, overseeing the leader board, walker scorers and inputting data in the media centre.

Keen golfer Sue McFarlane of Christchurch is once again organising the volunteer brigade and still has vacancies left in most roles.

“Every year we’re blown away with the interest we receive and feel incredibly privileged people want to donate their time. It’s a great atmosphere,” says Sue.


450 volunteers are needed across both The Hills and Millbrook golf courses. Photo courtesy of Southern PR

Tournament organisers are looking for ‘vollys’ for either the entire four days of the event or for just Thursday and Friday at Millbrook.
 
Volunteers are asked for a minimum commitment of six hours on any given day, and in return will benefit from free tournament admission and parking, a commemorative shirt and cap, and lunch each day.
 
All volunteers will once again go into a draw to win a space as an amateur player in the 2017 tournament, and there are complimentary rounds of golf on offer too.

Prospective volunteers can register by contacting Sue McFarlane at volunteer@bmwnzopen.com  and all details are at http://www.nzopen.co.nz/volunteers.html