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Volunteering is chance to get in on the action at CP Women’s Open

August 2, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Brock Weir

The world’s best female golfers are set to descend on Aurora this month for the CP Women’s Open, and if you want to get in on the action, consider volunteering for the week-long tourney.

Set to take place at the Magna Golf Club August 19 – 25, the CP Women’s Open is heavily reliant on volunteers, needing more than 1,000 to make the event a success, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved, says tourney organizer Ryan Paul.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of this event,” Mr. Paul tells The Times, noting they hope to call upon up to 1,200 volunteers this month.

There are over 20 committees potential volunteers can choose from, something that fits everyone’s needs.

“If you’d like to be right in on the action, it doesn’t get better than being a marshal,” says Mr. Paul. “You would be inside the row, see every player come through, and you would be designated to a particular hole. If you want to be more behind the scenes, we have corporate hospitality opportunities, you can be on the range, or even standard-bearers or scorers, walking the holes with the groups.”

Volunteering is an $80 entry fee, but with that fee, you get a uniform, a pass for yourself that gets you in for the week, as well as an additional pass for a guest that is transferrable for the week, so you can bring someone with you each time.”

Mr. Paul has been involved with golf tournaments from a young age. The son of Bill Paul, tournament director of the RBC Canadian Open for more than 20 years, he first became involved with Golf Canada as a summer student, learning the ropes by working tournaments, putting up grandstands, and having a hand in on-course logistics.

Given his time with the organization, he says the best volunteers are individuals who are “passionate not just about the game of golf, but also of volunteering.”

“We find that we get a lot of people who sign up from referrals, their friends are golf fans, but they have never golfed, and come out with a big appreciation for the game, especially the women’s game,” says Mr. Paul. “The best volunteers are the energetic, enthusiastic ones. You don’t have to be a scratch golfer or anything like that, but just someone who is eager to support, loves volunteering and loves sports.”

It is also a chance to be a part of history. The RBC Canadian Open has taken place in York Region in the not-too-distant past, but the CP Women’s Open is the first in York Region in nearly 20 years.

Being involved in an “international event of this magnitude” is “really something special” and shouldn’t be understated, he adds.

“Volunteers are a group of people who are really special and nobody notices that more than the players,” he says. “They really understand that without the volunteers the event doesn’t happen. You can be a marshal who keeps the peace on the golf course. If you’re working the Player Transportation Committee, you can drive the players around and have access to them. Even if you’re not inside the ropes or Player Access Committee, what’s great about the LPGA Tours is the players are always willing to give back. They will make trips back to the volunteer centre just to say hi and say thanks. They really make you feel special for volunteering and it is not just something you have done because you like to volunteer. You see what kind of impact you’ve made and the players really make that impact known.”

If you’re interested in signing up as a volunteer, the entry fee is $80. Mr. Paul says he realises that that might be a hindrance to some people stepping forward, but there is a reduced rate for high school students looking to gather community service hours and, for those who have to pay the full entry fee, the underscores the fact volunteering gets you access for the week – and all you need to do is put in three shifts.

“We’re here in Aurora and York Region for the first time since 2001,” says Mr. Paul. “We don’t know if it is another 19 years or five when we come back, but this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. The value of what you’re doing versus what you’re paying for, the pros outweigh the cons. This is such a special week. Without the volunteers, we can’t make it happen.”

For more information on the CP Women’s Open, including how to volunteer, visit cpwomensopen.com.

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