Call for volunteers for NZ PGA Pro-Am Championship in Queenstown

Queenstown: The call has gone out for volunteers to come forward and be part of the NZ PGA Pro Am Championship to be held at The Hills in Queenstown later this month (March 29 – April 1).

With more than 150 keen volunteers already heading to The Hills from as far away as Auckland, Invercargill, Dunedin and Ashburton, the call is now going out to Queenstown locals.

The event needs at least another 50 to 75 volunteers to don the PGA T-shirt and cap and take their place working alongside some of the world’s best pro golfers and celebrities.

Volunteer roles on offer vary from carrying scorecards, marshalling on course and ‘ball spotting’, overseeing the leader board, or inputting data in the media centre, to working as a shuttle driver for the duration of the week, which is an extended Monday to Sunday role.

Keen golfer Sue McFarlane said she had been organising volunteers for golf tournaments since 2002.

“I really encourage people to get involved if they enjoy this sport. Its loads of fun and incredibly rewarding,” she said.

Ms McFarlane said anyone was welcome to apply for a volunteering role as long as they were “fit and able”.

“An interest in or knowledge of golf is helpful, but not actually essential to all roles,” she said.

Volunteers are asked for a minimum commitment of six hours on any given day, and if they donate between one to three days will benefit from a uniform, cap, free lunches each day and a special ‘volunteers barbeque’ at the end.

Those who volunteer for all four days will receive all of the above plus a complimentary round of golf at the prestigious The Hills course.

Over the last ten years Ms McFarlane said she had volunteered at NZ Opens, PGAs, Women’s Opens and Kiwi Challenges (at Cape Kidnappers), often meeting the same people every year.

She said the best part of volunteering was that it was “simply good fun”.

“It’s also a great way to make long-lasting friendships,” she said. “You meet an amazing bunch of people from all walks of life.”

Volunteers have until March 19 to sign up. Prospective volunteers should visit www.pgachampionship.co.nz  or www.volunteernet.org.nz to register as soon as possible.