Life of a volunteer

By Neville Idour

The life of a volunteer at the New Zealand Open is a rewarding experience.

I know because my wife Philippa and I have done it since the days the New Zealand PGA was first held in Christchurch when aligned with the Nationwide Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour ) in the United States.

We have always enjoyed being walker-scorers, keeping the various stats with a group. It can be an eye opener inside the ropes and up close and (almost) personal.

Experiencing the shotmaking up close is quite breathtaking at times. You get to pick up on the differing personalities, friendliness and reactions of, particularly, the professionals. For the most part their behaviour is without reproach.

Rarely have I experienced bad language or unseemly conduct. One professional in my second day group at the New Zealand Open bogeyed the final hole to miss the cut by one shot. His demeanour did not betray his disappointment.

The popularity of the event this year saw the required volunteer numbers of around 450 achieved by the end of 2019, two months before the tournament started.

There were 520 volunteers at the event and their contribution is always highly valued and acknowledged by John Hart at the volunteers' barbeque evening also attended by some of the golf ambassadors.

There are so many different roles for volunteers, it is well worth taking the plunge. Some roles are active, others reasonably passive plus there are drivers required for transport. Volunteers are well looked after with lunches and a quality shirt, jacket and cap. There is also a complimentary round of golf at one of the open courses.