The hundreds of volunteers working the Coates presented by R+L Carriers at Golden Ocala are needed to fill the myriad of vital roles necessary to pull off an event of this magnitude. Many of the 850 volunteers are golfers themselves, so this is an opportunity for them to see their LPGA favorites and be a part of this inaugural event.

It takes a few hundred volunteers to staff LPGA Coates Golf Championship at Golden Ocala.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers are working in just about every area of the tournament such as staffing hospitality areas, admissions and even carrying the scoreboard for each group of golfers as they play the course.

A volunteer carrying the scoreboard for the LPGA players.

The regional call for volunteers went out several months ago with many coming from adult living communities in Central Florida. The largest volunteer group, representing 40 percent, is residents of The Villages which is approximately a 40 minute drive south of Ocala.

Volunteers can be spotted in their matching attire of navy blue vests or jackets with white shirts and beige slacks. They also have white hats embossed with the Coates Golf logo. They are indeed a friendly group, excited to get up close to a game they love and that the event is so close to home.

A group of friends from nearby Golden Hills Country Club quickly signed up for volunteer spots. The guys are staffing the Media Center and have seen interviews with LPGA stars Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis.

The driving range is also a busy volunteer spot as players are practicing various long shots. Volunteers are responsible for putting player names on the board behind their spot on the driving range, also with stocking their ball trays or “whatever else is needed to make players comfortable.”

Monitoring the crowd during an LPGA players swing.

Not to mention, the volunteers are observing and picking up a few golfing tips to try out when they hit the greens again.

While riding the shuttle buses or walking to their posts, volunteers can be overheard trading stories of which golfer they saw during their shift and what they thought of their game.

The Coates Golf Championship continues through Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 and the dedicated group of volunteers will be on duty until the last play is made and the tournament champion is awarded at Hole 18. Follow us on social media to get updates on the latest action.