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How do you direct 4,000 Ryder Cup volunteers? Q&A with Eric Wilkinson
As players from the American and European teams prepare for the 41st Ryder Cup Matches Sept. 27-Oct. 2, so too are crews from the PGA of America, which will stage the event at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.
At the center of the action is Volunteer Operations Coordinator Eric Wilkinson, who until taking the job in early 2015 spent six years at the Colorado Golf Association. “You couldn’t find a better group of people to work with,” he says.
Wilkinson took time from his busy schedule to discuss his role in this year’s biennial competition, in which the European team has triumphed three consecutive times.
Q: What were you doing at the CGA before joining the Ryder Cup staff?
A: Most of my time was spent as junior tournament director. Each day brought a different golf course and a new challenge. I was lucky enough to watch the transformation of many of Colorado junior players—going from “Age 11-13” events to signing their letter of intent to play collegiately. That alone was very rewarding.
Q: What does your current job entail?
A: As my title would suggest, I spend much of my time directing volunteers on what to expect when they arrive on-site and their responsibilities during the event. We’ll have approximately 4,000 volunteers from more than 41 states and 13 different countries—including several from Colorado.
Q: What can you tell us about Hazeltine National Golf Club and what goes into putting together an event of this magnitude?
A: Hazeltine National, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1964 and modified numerous times since then, was founded and built with the purpose of conducting national championships. This mission is woven into the fabric of the club and its membership. In preparation for the event, the clubhouse underwent a complete renovation several years ago. More than 500 of our 4,000 volunteers are Hazeltine members—and 74 of those sit on our Ryder Cup planning committee. It really is staggering the amount of preparation needed to conduct this six-day event. Some members of our PGA staff have been on the ground for more than three years. It is astonishing to watch a golf course transform into a city in the span of a few months.
Q: Many Colorado AvidGolfer readers have served as volunteers at major events. What’s the most challenging part of organizing volunteers?
A: With 4,000 volunteers come 4,000 different personalities. It is an amazing experience to work with people from all over the world. Naturally, you need to find a consistency in communicating to such a large group and making sure everyone is working towards a common goal of outstanding customer service.
Q: What have been your favorite experiences leading up to the event?
A: The “Year to Go” celebration was fantastic. This is a traditional event held exactly one year prior to every Ryder Cup. Both team captains, Davis Love III and Darren Clarke, were in town conducting interviews that culminated with the Feherty show in downtown Minneapolis.
Q: Any insider stories you can share in being associated with this hallowed event?
A: As many people know, the Ryder Cup is one of the most coveted trophies in sports. Its value is actually priceless. I was thinking about that one day while chauffeuring it to a local appearance here in the Twin Cities. Although the trophy is safe and sound in an incredible case, it was nonetheless quite nerve-wracking knowing this priceless prize was locked in the trunk of my 2008 Ford Fusion! Even professional athletes get excited to see it. When we showcased it in the Minnesota Twins clubhouse prior to a game last year, players were gathering around it to take pictures and selfies less than an hour before game time.
This year’s Ryder Cup will mark the tenth national championship contested at Hazeltine (pronounced Hazel-TEEN). At press time, corporate hospitality and premium ticket packages were still available at rydercup.com. More than 250,000 spectators will attend this year’s event, many to see whether the Americans can snap a three-Cup losing streak. The last victory for the U.S. came in 2008, when Paul Azinger captained the team to a 16½ to 11½ victory over Nick Faldo’s squad at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The 2018 Ryder Cup will take place at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, and will return stateside in 2020 to Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.
[box]Ryder Cup 2016:
U.S.A. Proves Equal to Ryder Cup Task. Photos & Video from the 2016 Ryder cup
The Numbers Game: How data analysis is having an impact on the 2016 Ryder Cup
The Unseen Hours: The role of practice in preparation for the Ryder Cup
The State of Mind: How to ‘Get in the Zone’
How do you direct 4,000 Ryder Cup volunteers? Q&A with Eric Wilkinson
Dontcha Know? Ryder Cup Trivia[/box]
Ryan Smith is the managing director of development and communications for the Colorado Golf Association.
This article appears in the Fall 2016 issue of Colorado AvidGolfer. Subscribe today!
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Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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