Hosting a tournament of the magnitude of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship takes a volunteer workforce numbering in the hundreds, and Vero Beach was up for the challenge. John’s Island residents were joined by volunteers from all over Indian River and surrounding counties – from the young up-and-coming players in the Indian River Golf Foundation to retired golfing fans, and all were unanimous in their praise of Tournament Director Mark Mulvoy and the entire John’s Island Club staff and facilities.
“It’s very exciting. It’s been challenging, but it’s been a good challenge,” said Susan Hoover. She and fellow John’s Island employee Christine Gerry had the herculean job of coordinating more than 600 volunteers at the West and North courses respectively, assigning them to a variety of jobs; the majority in transportation and hospitality or as walking scorers and spotters.
“John’s Island is doing this right,” said Sea Oaks resident Gene Wheeler, a transportation volunteer. “They have invested heavily in the organization and the quality of the golf course. John’s Island always knows how to do things in a manner that’s fitting to a tournament like this.”
Last Thursday evening, players, their spouses and USGA officials were given a warm welcome at a poolside Players’ Reception at the John’s Island Beach Club to kick off the week’s activities. Laurie Gaertner, who chaired the gorgeous beachside bash, expected somewhere around 550 guests to attend.
Happily dressed in casual wear – not a tie in sight – guests relished a lovely ocean breeze, calypso music, bountiful buffet stations and passed hors d’oeuvres, as they mingled with some of the John’s Island residents who would be assisting them as volunteers over the course of the tournament.
“I have a 5:45 a.m. assignment; I have to be there at 5:30,” said Connie McGlynn, assigned an early morning hospitality shift.
“I’m going to be a walking scorer,” said Trish Mulvoy. Scorers and spotters were two of the more physically demanding jobs, with scorers walking alongside players to record accurate hole-by-hole results, and spotters searching for balls hit out of bounds.
“Every single volunteer job had a fabulous video that outlined what we were supposed to be doing. I was very impressed,” said Nancy Lynch, another walking scorer.
A few residents had returned a little early from northern abodes, including Marlynn and Bill Scully, who summer in Vermont. Assigned to hospitality, they had spent the day giving tours of the facilities to players, including Phil Mickelson’s younger brother Tim.
“My husband volunteered me,” said Marlynn Scully. “We’ve been volunteers at the U.S. Open in Baltusrol, and he said this was a perfect thing for us to do.”
Some of the volunteers spoke about the experience Sunday evening at a rain-plagued BBQ at the West Club.
“I loved it; I thought it was great,” said Lynch. “We got to see the players up close and personal. As a golfer, I loved seeing what they did. And very honestly, realizing that as good as they are, they can make mistakes too.”
“It was nice talking to everyone; the people who came out to watch were very much impressed,” said Janet Baines, who had worked hospitality at the North course. She came to the BBQ with Wheatie Gibb, who spent the day training walking spotters on the West course.
“I think it’s fantastic; the nicest players and volunteers I’ve ever seen,” said Gibb.
“I will tell you, this group is so adaptable to every environment,” said Marlynn Scully, commenting on how everyone had been thoroughly soaked by drenching rains, yet continued to persevere. “Mark Mulvoy has done an amazing job putting this together, and the groundskeeper has done an amazing job on these two courses. It’s just another wonderful thing to happen to Vero Beach.”
Kathy Kemp spent two days volunteering as a spotter on the north course. “I took it very seriously; it’s important,” said Kemp, noting that a lost ball meant a lost point. “I didn’t lose any; I’m really happy. The rough is so deep, you have to really hustle.”
Jarrett Wolfe, age 13 and a member of the Indian River Golf Foundation, and his grandfather Clifford Wolfe volunteered as spotters on 36 holes and also never lost a ball. “We thought it was great; can’t get any better than this,” said Clifford Wolfe.
Photos:
Players’ Reception
Mindy and Bill Williamson (Cincinnati)
Jack and Kathy Kemp with Bill Grealis
Trish Mulvoy, Bill Winston, Ron and Connie McGlynn
Mike and Anne Rhoads
Doug Cook, Fred Gaertner and Mark Studer
Mark Passey, Bill McCartney, Mark Mulvoy, Loren Singleterry and Jim Bunch
Brian Kroh with Wheatie and Bob Gibb
Fritz and Gay Blaicher, Ellen Ferro, Marlynn and Bill Scully
Laurie Gaertner and Bill MacDonald
Nancy Lynch, Trish Mulvoy, Roger Lynch and Liz Schroeder
Cliff Shahbaz, Shawn Hoffman, Malcolm and Ann Holland
Malcolm Holland, Tom O’Toole, Jr., Fritz Blaicher and Jim Schneithorst
Sunday BBQ
Sue and Charlie Thomas with Anna Bain Slater
Leo and Eve Pierce, Annette Rodriguez, Leida Rosenburg, Paul Simson and Denise Fahnestock
Tom Dunlevy, Gene Feinour, Bill Rose and Biggs Tabler
Mark Mulvoy