Off Course

Cameron Morfit

May 25, 1998

Olympic-Sized Pool of VolunteersMore than 3,500 unpaid workers will spend 70,000 person-hours to help stage the 98th U.S. Open on June 18-21 at San Francisco's Olympic Club. Volunteers serve on 52 committees devoted to everything from hospitality, which may mean getting restaurant reservations or Giants tickets for Tour pros, to golf course operations, which includes keeping tee-box refreshment containers stocked with candy bars for John Daly. This week volunteers for the '98 Open—some from as far away as England and Japan—are attending training sessions. The most envied of them are the walking scorers, who follow the action from inside the ropes. "Volunteering gives thousands of people who love the game a chance to take part" says tournament coordinator Jon Barker. But working free is no free ride. Those lucky enough to be chosen must cough up $110 for their uniforms.