‘A front row experience’: Myrtle Beach Classic organizers encourage first-time volunteers to sign up

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - The Grand Strand’s biggest golf event is set to tee off in May, and organizers want anyone interested in helping make it happen to sign up.

The event had about 40,000 spectators in its first year, and now organizers expect to beat that number for the second year.

“If we had 50,000 on-site year two, that would be a win for us,” said tournament director Darren Nelson.

But, with thousands of spectators comes the need for hundreds of volunteers.

“This is a big smile, go with the flow, we’re here to have fun, but there are rules in golf and etiquette in golf that we do need our volunteers and our spectators to adhere to,” said Joan O’Donnell, who is serving as the classic’s Volunteer Experience Coordinator.

O’Donnell told WMBF News organizers are already hard at work to make this year a good one.

“I think this year they’re gonna see a better-tuned event for them,” said O’Donnell. “It was our first year, we had a lot to learn. We’ve learned from, whether you want to call them mistakes or mishaps, but we’ve learned from that, so I think this year you’re going to see a more polished event.”

O’Donnell said over 700 previous volunteers have already signed up to return to the course.

“It’s a great sign, it’s a great beginning. We still need a lot of volunteers,” she said.

Organizers hope for around 1,500 volunteers in total-- which O’Donnell said will be split into 34 different committees.

Volunteers can do everything from assisting players to helping with spectator transportation, and more.

Nelson said no matter what volunteers sign up to do, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Whether it’s, you know, walking the fairways with the group and keeping their score, we’ve got opportunities for kids...to have this in our backyard is so cool,” said Nelson. “It’s a front-row experience to some of the best golfers in the entire world.”

If you volunteered last year, you can sign up now, and if you’re interested in volunteering for the first time, you will be able to sign up starting on Wednesday.

Anyone interested in volunteering can visit this website.