Golf tournament volunteering gives lovers of the sport chance to rub elbows with pros

Watching golf is fun for many. Volunteering to work the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open just might be even more fun.

Ask Todd Gainley. He has volunteered with the event, which is slated for Sept. 25 through Oct. 2, for the past 18 years and is the current general committee chairman for operations.

Gainley may oversee the volunteers now, but 10 years ago, he was driving a cart and bringing soda and bottled water to others. It kept him on the golf course from 4:30 a.m. until the evening, so his wife and son, Jacob, then 5, would stop by with lunch. One day, Jacob was playing with a blue plastic tee club he'd brought as the family watched the pros putting.

Professional golfer Billy Mayfair asked to speak to Jacob, got on one knee, pulled out a ball and signed it for the child. It was a stellar moment.

"He hooked my son (on the game) forever," Gainley said.

Fast forward eight years, and Jacob volunteered and was one of those assigned to look after Timberlake and his entourage.

The tournament can have from 500 to 700 volunteers working on any given day. A total of 950 are needed for this year's event.

They range in age from 18 to senior citizen and are assigned to 25 committees. Duties include working admissions, gallery control, standard bearers, caddie services, transportation and corporate hospitality booths.

"Without volunteers, we couldn't pull off an event like this," said Donna Millwood, volunteer coordinator for Shriners.

Gerri Forbes began volunteering for the tournament 19 years ago for the fun of it. It was just about the time her granddaughter was in need of medical care for cerebral palsy.

"No other organization would help her but Shriners," she said. "So that was a double incentive."

Forbes is now the committee chairwoman of the marshal committee. Marshals are stationed at each tee, landing areas, putting greens and crossovers.

She recalled acting as marshal for professional golfer Davis Love III, who gave her a heart-stopping moment when he said he wanted to have a word with her after the event. She was sure she'd done something wrong.

But he ended up complimenting her on her ability to fade into the background but being on top of any problems that cropped up. He signed his hat and glove and gave them to her.

As many as 20 percent of the volunteers are not locals. They are out-of-town golf fans using vacation hours to come to Las Vegas and help out. Repeat volunteers are not unusual. Some of them opt to work every day of the event.

"Our volunteers have become like family," Millwood said.

Those who fulfill their volunteer hour obligations get free access to the tournament when they're not working.

Sherry Corsello has volunteered for the tournament every year since 1994. She began as a walking scorer for professional golfer Jim Furyk, last year's $10 million FedEx champion. The following year, she scored for a player who was new to the professional ranks -- Tiger Woods.

What keeps her coming back year after year?

"I enjoy seeing golf played on a level that I will never reach," Corsello said.

Now she is the committee chairwoman for scoring and has dozens of people reporting to her as walking scorers, 75 laser reporters and 40 standard bearers. About 60 percent, she said, are retuning volunteers.

Bob Andrews is the chairman of event services and oversees special events within the tournament, such as the Goodie Two Shoes walk and the Team Smile dental care for schoolchildren.

"Some of these kids have never seen a dentist," he said. "It's something we take for granted."

His hours ramp up as the tournament gets closer, and he's pulled in many directions, working from 5 a.m. to dark. But he said it's not really work, not when the event funds the pro bono work at Shriners Hospitals.

"If I make it alive to Saturday, then I (can relax)," he joked. "It's an opportunity to wind down and watch the golfers play. There's no other sporting event where you can get within two feet of a professional athlete who's earning millions of dollars."

He said events such as this bring the city recognition that Las Vegas is more than just gambling.

Volunteers are required to work a minimum of three shifts. There are normally two shifts a day, and each lasts about six hours. Shifts also are available the week before the event for set-up needs.

This is one volunteer effort that requires a fee -- $50. The money helps pay for the uniform, ID, hot meals, water and beverages, plus a kickoff party and end-of-event gathering.

Volunteers must be 18 or older, and training is provided. Volunteers may register online at jrshrinersopen.com or contact Millwood at dmillwood@jtshrinersopen.com.

Contact Summerlin and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.