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Volunteers sought for Staal Foundation Open

Four-hundred volunteers and 100 caddies needed to help Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada tournament run smoothly.
Marvin Donna Pupeza
Marvin and Donna Pupeza have been long-time volunteers at the Staal Foundation Open. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY – Volunteers and caddies are in high demand during Staal Foundation Open week and organizers have put out a call to encourage them to sign up.

Tournament director Ken Boshcoff on Wednesday said they are looking for 400 volunteers and a further 100 people to caddy, adding knowledge of golf is absolutely not a requirement.

Boshcoff added while the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada event has enjoyed plenty of success over its first four years in attracting people to help out, it never hurts to inject some new blood into the tournament.

It helps keep thing fresh, the former mayor said.

“You don’t have to be a golf expert to volunteer. This is a community, fun event. In the most serious way, this is the most fun you can have volunteering,” Boshcoff said.

“Every organization needs a revitalization and the fact that the response has been so positive so far, augers well. But volunteers are something you always need more of and now people know that there is a strong core of volunteers, they know they can learn and it won’t so difficult and they don’t have to, literally, carry the ball by themselves.”

There are plenty of volunteering opportunities available, including in hospitality and scoring, a chance to walk inside the ropes with some of the top up-and-coming players in the game, such as 2015 champion J.J. Spaun, who finished third in this month’s AT&T Byron Nelson event and sits 40th in the FedEx Cup standings.

New York Rangers defenceman Marc Staal also lent his voice to the volunteer call, saying how much the help is appreciated come tournament week.

“We raise a lot of money for some good causes,” said Staal, whose family foundation is the tournament sponsor. “That’s why we’re doing this, trying to give back to community and that happens because we have people who give up their time.

“We hope they have a good experience when they do, and I think most of them do.”

Long-time volunteer Marvin Pupeza concurred.

“I have been here since the first year. It is hard to explain how wonderful it is to be a part of this year after year, but it is definitely rewarding and a lot of fun. I encourage anyone who is interested to come on board.”

Caddies must be 15 or older and able to carry a heavy golf bag for an 18-hole round, which takes about five hours. “

Tournament officials also announced on Wednesday they’ve brought on several new sponsors this year, including BDO, which has taken over the volunteer sponsorship. ScotiaBank has also jumped on board as the title sponsor of the celebrity pro-am.

The tournament runs from July 9 to July 15 at Whitewater Golf Club. Sign up at www.staalopen.ca/volunteer. 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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