LPGA tournament calls for volunteers

LPGA tournament calls for volunteers

Blythefield Country Club in Belmont features an 18 hole, 6,859-yard course. Photo via fb.com

It’s volunteer sign-up time for golf fans.

The Meijer LPGA Classic, presented by Kraft, said today that it’s looking for volunteers to help run its second-annual tournament this July 20-26 at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, just north of Grand Rapids.

Last year, more than 700 volunteers helped during the inaugural tournament. This year, it’s expected the tournament will need more than 800 volunteers to run smoothly.

“Hosting the top women golfers in the world would not be possible without the help of the hundreds of volunteers needed to make every aspect of the tournament run seamlessly,” said Lesley Baker, tournament director, Meijer LPGA Classic. “We were overwhelmed by the positive support we received from the community last year, and this year we need even more.”

Volunteers

Volunteers will be needed for a variety of tasks, ranging from marshals to media assistants.

Volunteers can choose their top three choices, which will be assigned on a first come, first-serve basis.

There is a $55 volunteer fee. Volunteers will be given two tournament golf shirts, a hat, a badge for week-long access and parking, four weekly grounds tickets for guests of the volunteer, an annual volunteer appreciation party and meals and beverages during assigned shifts.

Volunteers can register online.

The tournament

The tournament will host a full field of 144 players during 72 holes of play during the competition.

This year, Meijer helped raise the tournament’s purse to $2 million, up from last year’s $1.5 million.

Mirim Lee of South Korea won the tournament in 2014.

Last year, the Meijer LPGA Classic raised more than $600,000 for Meijer’s Simply Give program, which helps food pantries in communities served by the retailer.

Meijer President J.K. Symancyk said the company is “dedicated” to making the tournament “a notable stop on the LPGA tour.”

“The community really embraced the tournament last year, and we look forward to partnering with the LPGA to make every aspect even better,” Symancyk said.