Volunteer!

by Pam Boyd

VSWGA Volunteers

Volunteering is fun, easy and rewarding! 
Part of our aim at VSWGA Golf is to represent, promote and serve the best interest of women’s golf in Vermont. We cannot accomplish this mission without the help of volunteers who are so important to our success. Volunteer opportunities are limitless, whether on site at any of our championships, helping with tournament planning or lending a helpful hand to any of the various VSWGA committees. To volunteer, contact VSWGA by email or the Committee Chair listed here (contact information in your handbook).  

“I really enjoyed volunteering as a spotter for the men’s tournaments at my club for the past three years. It is such a unique experience and opportunity to be involved in the energy and excitement of the sport. Volunteers make a difference in the quality of the event and help make the tournament memorable and successful.” 
                                                     — VSWGA member Dee Lamberton

Here are some of the volunteer tasks you might consider:

Tri States:

  • Helping to educate the team on the rules and strategy of match play;
  • When Vermont is hosting: negotiating accommodations, designing and implementing center pieces, choosing tee gifts.

Pace of Play:
Being on the Pace of Play committee is a great way to help without a huge time commitment.  Weekly the committee reviews the Pace of Play (PoP) reports that are emailed to us for each State Day to be sure everyone is keeping up with their pace.  If there is an issue, we first check with the Rep to be sure there are no extenuating circumstances (or this is already shown on the report), and if not we send out a warning letter via email to the group. This is a seasonal committee with little to none off season work. As of 2025 season our committee consists of 2 people and ideally we would like 2 more for a total of 4.

State Days

  • Club Reps need help from another member of the host course so there are at least two people at the scoring table. 
  • For larger events, it can be helpful to have a volunteer at the turn to keep foursomes moving

Rules Committee:
Video helpers (1-2 hour video shoot, date/location TBD). We might need ‘on-screen’ actors, camera holders, and/or anyone with video expertise to make some ‘rough and ready’ VSWGA rules explanation videos.

Major Tournaments:
Spotting, starters, registration desk, scoring

Communications

Course Rating
VSWGA and the Vermont Golf Association review and update course ratings. To determine the course slope rating, a team of members works to measure the course, assessing course length, the location of hazards, green size and contour, and overall difficulty for a scratch golfer, which dictates how much a bogey golfer’s handicap should be adjusted based on the course’s difficulty.  Anyone can volunteer  to rate courses. 

Junior Golf:

  • Mentors to assist junior girls with their various competitions (coaches and parents cannot) or simply course play (rules, etiquette, fun), and also help drive them as needed.
  • “Coaches” or assistants to help with clinics to be held throughout the state. Coaches might be those with teaching experience (of any kind) and somewhat lower handicaps. Assistants could be anyone who is willing to lend a hand at clinics run by club pros or “coaches.”
  • Spotters to help on courses during junior events sponsored by the VGA, public school events, or casual tournaments that we may host.