Question: I want to volunteer for the 2020 U.S. Senior Open Championship. How do I sign up?
Answer: Organizing a volunteer force of more than 2,100 individuals is an enormous task that necessitates long-term planning. Volunteer registration will be available online beginning May 2019. Volunteer applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the USGA Championship Office at 2020ussenioropen@usga.org for more information.
Question: It costs $95 to be a volunteer. What do I receive for volunteering and the volunteer fee?
Answer: Here is what you will receive:
- A volunteer credential that allows admission into the championship for all days the gates are open to the general public, including the days that you are not assigned to volunteer. Your volunteer credential is non-transferable.
- The 2020 U.S. Senior Open volunteer apparel package.
- Use of Volunteer Hospitality on the days you are assigned to volunteer. Meet other volunteers, relax before or after your shift and enter drawings for various prizes throughout the week of the championship.
Question: What’s included in the Volunteer Apparel Package? Who makes it and what are the sizes?
Answer: The volunteer apparel for 2020 will be provided by Cutter & Buck. Volunteers (within the continental U.S.) will be shipped the following:
- One (1) championship logoed golf shirt
- One (1) championship logoed jacket
- One (1) ball cap or visor
- One (1) clear drawstring backpack
- One (1) volunteer lapel pin
- One (1) volunteer water bottle
- One (1) volunteer credential valid for all days the gates are open to the general public
- Complimentary food, snacks and beverages on the days you volunteer
Question: What color pants should I wear? Can I wear shorts?
Answer: Men may wear their own khaki pants, or shorts if it is extremely hot. Women may wear khaki skorts, bermuda shorts, pants or skirts of appropriate length.
Question: My child is interested in volunteering, are their opportunities for Juniors?
Answer: Yes, youths ages 14 to 21 years old may serve as a volunteer on the Standard Bearers committee. All other committees require volunteers to be 18 years or older.
Question: What is the time commitment for volunteering?
Answer: All volunteers for the 2020 U.S. Senior Open Championship will be required to volunteer a minimum of four (4) shifts with each shift lasting approximately five (5) to six (6) hours. Volunteers will be responsible for arriving at their assigned positions on time.
Question: Can I select the committee that I want to be a part of?
Answer: On the application volunteers have the opportunity to select up to three committee preferences. Assignments are largely granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Every attempt is made to assign a volunteer to one of their preferences, but many committees are popular and fill up quicker than others. All committees are important to the championship and play a vital role in the overall success.
Question: Can I select my shifts?
Answer: At the appropriate time, the Championship Office will ask for your shift availability information. Once this is provided, your committee leadership will strive to place you on shifts that meet your schedule. In the event that a conflict presents itself you will be able to communicate with your committee chair to help make an adjustment.
Question: When will I find out my volunteer schedule?
Answer: Volunteers will be emailed availability information toward the end of 2019. We will use the information collected to create the volunteer schedules for each committee. You will be notified of the dates you are scheduled to work in the spring of 2020. As always, we will make every effort to accommodate your availability preferences; however, we cannot guarantee each request will be granted. If you are traveling from out of state and made travel arrangements, please indicate that on the form.
Question: If I don’t like my committee assignment, can I move to another committee?
Answer: All volunteer committee assignments will be final once made available. We will attempt to assign each volunteer to one of his or her committee preferences; however, in many cases this will not be possible due to the requests for certain committees greatly outnumbering their respective staffing requirements. If the committee preferences you selected are full, we will assign you to another committee that still has availability.
Question: If I am no longer able to volunteer, may I receive a refund?
Answer: Yes, you will be issued a full refund if you can no longer volunteer. If you decide you cannot volunteer after you have received your volunteer apparel package, you will be required to return your volunteer apparel package prior to a refund being issued. Please contact the Championship Office to request a refund at 2020ussenioropen@usga.org or 401-239-1620.