Weekly Tuesday Tournament Tip: The Power of Volunteers 🙋‍♀️

How to Recruit and Manage Golf Tournament Volunteers

Behind every smooth golf tournament is a group of volunteers making it look easy. They staff registration, run the contest holes, spot for the longest drive, and keep the day moving — and for most charity and community events, you simply can’t run the tournament without them. As the founder of Colorado Under Par, I’ve learned that a great volunteer team doesn’t happen by accident; it’s recruited, prepared, and appreciated on purpose. Here’s how to build one.

Recruit the right people early

Start your volunteer recruitment well before the event, while people’s calendars are open. The best volunteers usually come from the communities already connected to your tournament:

• The cause or charity’s supporters — for a fundraiser, the people who care about the mission are your most reliable help.
• Local golf clubs and leagues — golfers love being close to the action and understand the game.
• Sponsor employees — companies often supply volunteers as part of their involvement.
• Friends, family, and past volunteers — your warmest, most dependable pool. Always ask last year’s crew back first.

Enthusiasm matters more than experience for most roles — someone who’s genuinely glad to be there beats a reluctant expert every time.

Define clear roles before the day

Nothing burns out a volunteer faster than standing around unsure what they’re supposed to do. Assign specific roles ahead of time so everyone knows their job and who they report to. Common volunteer roles at a golf tournament:

• Registration and check-in — greeting players, handing out materials and cart assignments
• Contest hole monitors — verifying closest-to-the-pin, longest drive, hole-in-one attempts
• Course spotters and marshals — keeping pace of play moving, helping players
• Refreshment/beverage stand — keeping players fed and hydrated
• Scoring help — collecting and tallying cards at the turn-in
• Setup and teardown — the unglamorous but essential bookends of the day

(For how the paid and assigned operational roles fit together, see our guide to staffing a golf tournament.)

Hold a quick volunteer orientation

A short orientation — even 15 minutes the morning of, or a note emailed the day before — prevents most day-of confusion. Walk through the schedule, each person’s duties, the course layout, who to call when something goes wrong, and any contest-hole specifics. It’s also a chance for volunteers to ask questions and meet each other, which makes the whole team run smoother.

Show real appreciation

Volunteers give you their Saturday — make it worth their while and they’ll come back. Meaningful thank-yous:

• Free meal and drinks during or after the event
• A volunteer shirt or branded keepsake (which doubles as visible, identifiable staff)
• A complimentary or discounted round at the course
• Public recognition at the awards ceremony

The goal is for volunteers to leave feeling valued, not used. That’s what turns a one-time helper into a regular.

Build a team that wants to come back

Your best volunteer pool next year is the one you treat well this year. Foster a little camaraderie — a pre-event coffee, matching shirts, a post-event gathering to celebrate and gather feedback — and your crew starts to feel like a community rather than free labor. Keep their contact info, ask what worked and what didn’t, and reach out to them first next year. A returning volunteer team is one of the most valuable assets a recurring tournament can have.

Final thoughts

Volunteers are the difference between an organizer running ragged and an event that feels effortless. Recruit early from the communities closest to your cause, give everyone a clear role and a quick orientation, and thank them like you mean it — and you’ll build a team that not only makes your tournament shine but comes back to do it again.

When you’re ready to run your next one, you can list your golf tournament free on Colorado Under Par and reach players across the state.

Best regards, Andrew Mueller, Founder, Colorado Under Par