THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola

Last Update: January 25, 2007

It takes hundreds of volunteers and thousands of hours of support to ensure the success of THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola.  THE TOUR Championship provides us the opportunity to give back to the community.  Since 1998, over $6.3 million has been raised for our charities which primarily benefit the East Lake Foundation and the First Tee.  It is with our volunteer support and effort that we are able to give so much back to charity, the heart of the PGA TOUR.

2007 Volunteer Recruiting Timeline

January 2007:

• In mid January, applications were sent via email and U.S. Mail to all volunteers from the 2006 TOUR Championship. Volunteers with an email address in the database will receive both.
• Priority for assignments will be given to those volunteers who worked THE TOUR Championship in 2006, provided their application is received by March 1, 2007.
• After March 1, committee chairmen may fill openings on their committee with new recruits until April 1.

April 1, 2007:

• Remaining positions will be open to anyone and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. 
• Applications will be sent to all volunteers in the database who did not volunteer in 2006 and to new volunteers who fill out the Volunteer Application Request form.
• Volunteers from the 2006 tournament may still sign up at any time, but after the March 1 deadline their positions from the previous year will not be held for them.  It is first come, first served.  

Please note:

• Positions can only be filled with a paid application.  We cannot hold spots with just a name.

Return Volunteers: (People who volunteered for THE TOUR Championship in the past at East Lake Golf Club, no matter what year)

To apply on line, click here:  On-Line Application for Return Volunteer.  This allows you to input your information directly into the computer and submit your information on line.

To print a copy of the current application for Return Volunteers, click here:  Printable Application for Return Volunteers.  This allows you to print a copy of the application which you would then need to fill out manually and submit to the tournament office by fax or mail.

New Volunteers:

We had an incredible recruiting year in 2006.  Almost all positions were filled after the application was out for just 8 weeks.  As THE TOUR Championship continues to grow, it has become more difficult to get your first committee choice as a first year volunteer.  Our best suggestion is to become a volunteer now, even if the committees available are not your first choice, so that when we renew for the following year, you are included in the first round of applications and have a better chance of switching to your desired position.  Best of luck and thank you for your interest in becoming a TOUR Championship Volunteer.

To submit your information to receive an application on April 1, click here: Volunteer Application Request.

Committee Descriptions

It takes 62 volunteer committees to successfully run THE TOUR Championship.  Click here to see the list of all committees and a brief description of what each one does.

For More Information:

For questions regarding volunteering for THE TOUR Championship, please call 404.378.8687. Thank you for your interest in volunteering for THE TOUR Championship!

Photos of the 2007 Uniform will be available soon. 

Please note, this year we are switching to BLACK pants with the uniform.

Check back to the website for updates.

2006 Billy Payne Volunteer of the Year Award Winner:

Tom Kesler

Tom Kesler has volunteered on the Scoring Committee for THE TOUR Championship in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006.  Tom runs the monster board and has been invaluable to his chairman in recruiting, scheduling and follow up as the need arose regardless of the time involved and without being asked.  Congratulations Tom and Thank You for your support.

Pictured left to right:  Vice-Chairman of the Scoring Division that oversees the Scoring Committee, Donna Brown; and Tom Kesler

2005 Billy Payne Volunteer of the Year Award Winner:

Dr. David Apple

Dr. Apple volunteered on the First Aid Committee for THE TOUR Championship in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004. He was instrumental in securing the First Aid support in the inaugural year of the tournament at East Lake and played an important part in facilitating the relationship between the hospital and the tournament throughout his tenure. Congratulations Dr. Apple and Thank You for your support.

The Award

The Billy Payne Volunteer of the Year Award was created during the 2004 Championship.  As East Lake Golf Club is now the permanent home of the Championship, the tournament organizers knew it was important to recognize an outstanding volunteer every year.  The award was named after Billy Payne, in recognition for the work he done for THE TOUR Championship and in the Atlanta community.

Payne was the inaugural recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award and it was presented to him during the Greenside Chat in 2004.  The award will be given to the volunteer that best displays Payne's qualities which include leadership, service, hard work, humility, camaraderie, respect for people, love of the game and desire to enhance local community.  Chairman, Hole Captains and Vice Chairmen will be asked to cast their vote for their Volunteer of the Year candidate at the completion of the tournament.  Nominations will be reviewed by the General Chairman, Vice Chairmen and the Championship Staff.  The Volunteer of the Year winner will be announced at the Greenside Chat and will receive a replica of the Bobby Jones Calamity Jane Putter. 

The information and criteria for the award will be available during tournament week in Volunteer Village.  The Volunteer Tent committee will be available to help answer any questions.

Pictured left to right are:  Executive Director of THE TOUR Championship, Todd Rhinehart; President of East Lake Golf Club, Ray Robinson; 2004 General Chairman and Inaugural Award Recipient, Billy Payne; the Coca-Cola Company, Kasia Horner and Vice President of PGA TOUR Championship Management, Ron Cross.

2006 Tom Cousins Leadership Award Winners:

Jane Franklin

Jane Franklin started off as a Transportation volunteer in 1998 and in 2000 was made chairman of the Special Needs Committee for THE TOUR Championship.  She has been chairman of that committee in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006.  Jane has a very bubbly personality and is great at making people feel comfortable and appreciated.  She is always eager and welcomes the opportunity to take on extra tasks, including helping every year with Uniform Distribution.  Congratulations Jane and Thank You for your support!

Pictured left to right:  East Lake Foundation Visionary and Philanthopist, Tom Cousins; Chairman of Special Needs Committee, Jane Franklin; and Vice-Chairman of the Facilities Division that oversees Jane's Committee, Andy Crockett

Hoyt Smith

Hoyt Smith is the Atlanta golf marshal guru!  Hoyt started off as chairman of Hole #1 back in 1998, then in 2000 was chairman of the Marshals on the front 9, and in 2002 was made chairman of all the Marshals - a position which he has held since then in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  Hoyt has been instramental in building our excellent marshal leadership team, and works closely with all of the hole chairmen to ensure their highest level of performance.  He also runs orientation for the volunteer marshals every year and is one of hte very first people to arrive every morning and one of the last to leave the course daily.  Congratulations Hoyt and Thank You for your support!

Pictured left to right:  East Lake Foundation Visionary and Philanthopist, Tom Cousins; Marshals Chairman, Hoyt Smith; and Vice-Chairman of the Marshals Division that oversees all Marshals, Tom Coco

The Award

The Tom Cousins Leadership Award was established in 2005 to recognize an outstanding Committee Chairman or Hole Captain each year who exemplifies the ideal team leader in terms of service to the tournament, an energetic spirit, perseverance, flexibility, hard work and who shows exceptional dedication to the tournament.  The award was named after Tom Cousins, in recognition for his leadership in the Atlanta community.

Cousins was the inaugural recipient of the Leadership Award and it was presented to him during the Greenside Chat in 2005.  The Volunteer of the Year will be announced each year at the Greenside Chat and the winner will receive a special award which includes a replica of the feather from the Native American bust which resides at East Lake Golf Club.

Picture:  Inaugural Award Recipient, Mr. Tom Cousins (left), and 2005/2006 General Chairman, Rob Johnston, pose at the dedication of the native american bust.

It takes 1,200 volunteers to run THE TOUR Championship.  Ever wonder how they are all organized?

Volunteer Positions

There are five different types of volunteer positions:

Volunteers - are assigned to work on a committee.  They report to their committee Chairman.

Chairmen - are in charge of managing the committee they are assigned to.  There are 62 total committees.  Chairman report to their Vice-Chairman.

Vice-Chairmen - are in charge of managing the committees in their division.  There are 8 total divisions.  Vice-Chairmen report to the First Vice-Chairman and the General Chairman.

First Vice-Chairman - is in charge of overseeing all the committees and divisions at THE TOUR Championship.  The First Vice-Chairman reports to the General Chairman.

General Chairman - is in charge of overseeing all the committees and divisions at THE TOUR Championship. 

The PGA TOUR staff meets monthly with our "Executive Board" of volunteers which includes the General Chairman, First Vice-Chairmen, and all Vice-Chairmen.  We meet to discuss all aspects of tournament operations and volunteer issues.  We don't get to see most of our chairmen and volunteers until closer to the tournament.

To see where your committee is located on the Organizational Chart, click here.

Click on the following issue of Inside THE TOUR Championship to read the Volunteer Newsletter.

Volume 3, Issue 1 - June 2006

Volume 2, Issue 2 - July 2005

Volume 2, Issue 1 - February 2005