The golf world is totally focused on the 126th U.S. Open currently underway at the iconic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. While the patrons in attendance are there to watch the best professional golfers vie for the coveted championship trophy and lay claim to one of the four major championships, the event itself would not happen without the 3,000 volunteers who line the 7,440-yard course and expansive surroundings.
Volunteers come from Europe, Canada, South America, and other far-flung locales, but a big chunk of them live on the East End.
“We pride ourselves on running the most exemplary championships in the world, something that would not be done without the tireless support of our volunteers,” said Mike Whan, chief executive officer of the United States Golf Association. “We owe a ton of gratitude to each and every one of them.”
The assignments for the volunteers vary greatly. They work the scoreboards, scan entrance tickets, man credit card machines in the merchandise tent, provide directions to wayward spectators, assist in the hospitality tents, manage crowd control, and even locate golf balls that land in the thick, punishing rough.
“It’s really great to be a part of the experience,” said Mark Haslinger of Sag Harbor. A member of the nearby Southampton Golf Club, Haslinger will work as a marshal with approximately 60 of his fellow club members to man the first hole in four-to-six-hour shifts. “I will do a double shift on Thursday, so that will be a long day, but it’s really great to be inside the ropes and be close to the golfers. They are amazing athletes.”
All volunteers are required to attend a training session and read about or view videos on their respective roles in advance from the U.S.G.A. Volunteers also have to pay a registration fee of $225, which includes shirts, jacket, and a hat from Peter Millar, the official outfitter. All are also required to wear khaki-colored pants or shorts when on duty.
Over at Montauk Downs, widely acclaimed as one of the finest public golf courses in the country, the club professional, Kent St. Luke, said that 24 players will assist on the third hole. “It’s a point of pride to be a part of the tournament,” he said. “Shinnecock is one of the finest courses in the world and it’s great that some of our players here will be involved. It’s a special experience.”
St. Luke, though, will not be able to break away from Montauk Downs to attend the event. “It’s going to be extremely busy here at our course,” he explained. “It’s tough to just drop things, but it’s important to serve the players who are coming here to play a round or take lessons.”
Pat Gunning, the general manager and club professional at the Noyac Golf Club, said that about 25 members will man the challenging 10th hole at Shinnecock, along with members of the Westhampton Country Club and the Bridge Golf Club.
“We started to prepare almost a year in advance to solicit volunteers,” he said. “A number of them served as volunteers in prior tournaments at Shinnecock. Everyone enjoys the experience.”
For Gerry Cox of Springs, an enthusiastic golfer and fan who was born in Ireland, his duties involve driving a cart to various tee boxes to replenish coolers with bottles of cold water for the players. “I had the same job back in 2018 and I’m really glad to do it again,” he said. “Shinnecock is such a beautiful links course and watching the best players in the world never gets tiring.”
This will be the fifth time that Cox has volunteered at Shinnecock for the U.S. Open, going back to 1986. He volunteered last year at the Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black Golf Course.
“For six straight days I got up at 3 a.m. in East Hampton to drive to Bethpage and return home at 10 p.m., only to do it again a few hours later,” he said, recalling his 75 mile commute each way to Bethpage Black. “But the experience was well worth it.”
At the age of 87, Lee Dion of East Hampton is still a hard-core golfer. Like Cox, he has also volunteered at all four of the previous modern-day U.S. Open tournaments at Shinnecock.
“I’m probably the oldest marshal that will be there this week,” he said with a chuckle on Saturday morning while sitting on a wicker lounger at the Amagansett Golf Club. “I really enjoy doing it, and being at Shinnecock is special.”
Dion previously served as president of the Amagansett Golf Club for 10 years and also was a science teacher for 35 years at East Hampton High School, where he coached the golf team.
Dion plans to volunteer for four days on the 11th hole for a shift that could last as long as six hours. “At my age, it’s not easy to stand for such a long period of time. But I will be there!”