Northern Trust Open

The Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades (near Santa Monica, CA) is where we met in 2013 volunteering in the Transportation Committee. We are so excited about this tournament specifically (of course, all the other tournaments as well) and the volunteer opportunities being offered at the Northern Trust Open. Below you will find the NTO Volunteer Committee Descriptions for all the volunteer committees available for you to participate in. We also have details about the volunteer package (including uniform, tickets, etc.). The next NTO will be held from February 18 till February 22, 2015. At the bottom of this page, you will find a link to the 'official' tournament's volunteer website, where you can register to volunteer. Check out the latest updates towards the bottom on this page. Get tickets for the tournament before they sell out. Check out hotel accommodation in the Santa Monica area for tournament week, using our comparison tool.

2015 Northern Trust Open

The 2015 Northern Trust Open will be held from February 18 - 22, 2015 at - as usual - Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, right outside of Santa Monica, CA.

NEW Volunteer Rewards Program

New for the 2015 Northern Trust Open, the tournament staff has created a rewards system to include in our volunteer program. This rewards program is designed to keep volunteers engaged throughout tournament week in assisting our spectators with general questions, directions, etc. in an effort to make the Northern Trust Open the "friendliest sporting event in the Los Angeles area".


Northern Trust Open Volunteer Committee Descriptions

      • Admissions (Tickets / Will Call)

        – Sells Northern Trust Open tournament tickets to patrons and assists with Will Call ticket pick-ups and drop-offs. Provides spectators appropriate credentials and tickets at a pick up/drop off location.

        Committee Days: Wednesday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Lisa Grimm
      • Ambassadors

        Welcome and provide general information to spectators at the Main Entrance and at various locations and booths throughout the Northern Trust Open course. Will need to become extremely familiar with course layout, restroom and concession locations, hospitality tent locations, starting times and pairings, first aid, etc.

        Committee Days: Wednesday - Sunday.

        Committee Chair: TBD
      • Caddie Services

        – Assists with the professional caddie registration. Distributes and collects towels, caddie bibs, etc. Acts as a concierge for the caddies. Maintains the caddie lounge area and answers questions. Assists with cleaning the caddie bibs nightly. Committee days: Monday – Sunday.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Bill & Kathy McKenney
      • Carts

        – Allocates golf carts to PGA TOUR staff, Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs and Operations staff. Maintains a sign in/sign out sheet. Assigns cart signage to individual carts. Ensures cart keys are returned, carts are charged and cleaned daily.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Tom Asper
      • Communications

        – Assist with taking phone calls and answering questions on the Northern Trust Open tournament general question hot line. Coordinate and distribute tournament radios to tournament staff, volunteers and vendors. Must have good people skills and adequate phone operation skills.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Linda Shaw
      • Corporate Hospitality

        Provides information and assistance to corporate clients. Ensures that only properly credentialed clients are allowed in private hospitality areas. Assist Marshals with noise control when players are approaching hospitality areas.

        Committee Days: Thursday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Keith Evans
      • Golf Events / Pro-Am Services

        – Greets and checks in Pro-Am contestants at club house prior to play, then distributes gift bags and assists as needed during post-play hospitality/awards presentation.

        Committee Days: Monday & Wednesday Only

        Committee Chair: Isabel Cervello
      • Marshals

        The Marshal Committee is broken down into several subcommittees by hole location or area of responsibility on the golf course:

        • Holes 1-18

          - Marshals are assigned to a specific Hole (1-18) where you will be responsible for maintaining crowd control, guiding players and caddies from one hole to the next, protecting arrant golf shots hit outside the ropes, monitoring cart movement on cart paths and assisting with the evacuation of players during inclement weather delays or whenever deemed necessary.

        • Driving Range

          - Marshals assigned to the Driving Range are responsible for distributing and cleaning range balls, changing practice bay name plates, stocking drinks for tournament participants and checking credentials for permitted access to the Driving Range.

        • Putting Green

          - Putting Green Marshals are responsible for maintaining spectator control around the Putting Greens, guiding players and caddies from the Putting Green to the Scoring Area and Locker Room, as well as overseeing the player autograph area for spectators.

        • Walking Marshal

          - Walking Marshals are assigned to a specific, high profile group of golfers for the all 18 holes of their round. Walking Marshals assist hole marshals with crowd control of large galleries and guiding players and caddies at major crossings between green and tee.

        • Special Needs Shuttle

          - Special Needs Shuttle volunteers provide cart transportation for disabled spectators, VIPs and corporate hospitality guests to and from the 14th and 17th hospitality suites and the main entrance. Requires U.S. issued valid driver's license and mandatory golf cart safety training session on Sunday, February 15th.

        Please identify if you would like to work as a Marshal on a Hole (1-18), Driving Range, Putting Green or as a Walking Marshal. Volunteers are asked to attend a training session on Sunday, (2/15). Shifts are ONE FULL DAY. Starting times may vary due to assignment.

        Committee Days (Driving Range & Special Needs Shuttle): Monday - Sunday

        Committee Days (Putting Green): Tuesday - Sunday

        Committee Days (Holes 1-18 & Walking Marshals): Wednesday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Mike Allison
      • Media Services

        Assists PGA TOUR media officials with registration and the welcoming of local, national and international journalists to promote the image of the Northern Trust Open to the public as a world class event. Some volunteers from this committee will be asked to chauffeur media officials throughout the golf course during tournament days.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Don Heinbuch
      • Mobile Device Task Force

        – Volunteers will work with the public to understand the mobile device policies and procedures and how they apply. Responsibilities will include communication with the public, answering questions, and directing spectators to mobile zones where they will be allowed to use their mobile devices. Volunteers need to have good people skills, while implementing such policies and procedures.

        Committee Days: Wednesday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Larry Bryant
      • ShotLink

        – Assists with the ShotLink scoring system by “shooting” the player’s ball with a laser to measure the exact location. The ShotLink system collects and disseminates real-time scoring and statistical data. Volunteers must be able to attend a MANDATORY training session with PGA TOUR officials on Sunday (2/15).

        Committee Days: Thursday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Dennis Wright
      • Standard Bearer

        – Helps maintain accurate player scores while assisting each professional's group. In depth knowledge if golf scoring is mandatory. Must be able to carry a standard sign (approximately 15 lbs. with a shoulder strap) and be able to walk all 18 holes (approximately 4.5 miles).

        Committee Days: Thursday - Sunday

        Committee Chair: Spencer Smith
      • Transportation

        – Assists with the pick up and return of golf professionals and management staff to local and regional airports. Assists with the deployment of courtesy cars from local dealerships. Drives players, family members and other VIP’s to and from hotels and other destinations to and from the Northern Trust Open grounds at Riviera County Club. Must be 21 years of age and provide a valid driver’s license. "Our favorite committee"

        Committee days: Wednesday, February 11 - Monday, February 23

        Committee Chairs: Nick Bunkua & Benjie Hernandez
      • Volunteer Hospitality

        – Assists with the assembly and distribution of volunteer uniform packages. Assists with the management of the Volunteer Headquarters tent during tournament week by moving volunteers to and from shifts. Answers questions, replaces coffee and snacks and maintains the hospitality/lounge area.

        Committee Days: Saturday, February 14 - Sunday, February 22

        Committee Chair: Traci Torok
      • Walking Scorer

        – Record statistics and scores for players on a symbol (hand held device) as part of the PGA TOUR ShotLink system. Must have knowledge of golf scorekeeping and statistics and be able to walk all 18 holes (approximately 4.5 miles). New volunteers are required to score for the Wednesday Pro-Am. All volunteers must attend a MANDATORY training session with PGA Tour officials on Saturday 2/14 or Sunday 2/15.

        Committee Days: Wednesday - Sunday.

        Committee Chair: Duane Doucette
      • Warehouse / Sponsor Services

        – Responsible for the distribution of on course refreshments and snacks to players, staff and volunteers. Helps to deliver and distribute water, food and ice on course and to the office trailers, tournament office and volunteer hospitality tent. Receives and inventories daily packages and shipment arrivals for the tournament staff, Golf Channel, etc. Responsible for the distribution of spectator information (programs, spectator guides and pairing sheets). Must be willing and able to do minor lifting.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday.

        Committee Chair: Doug Shaw

Register on the 'official' Northern Trust Open website or contact us for further questions.


Latest Updates:

  • 2/6/2015:
    Volunteers: There is NO PARKING at the VA Hospital

    Volunteer parking for the 2015 Northern Trust Open will be in two convenient locations with shuttle service to the tournament.
    Parking and shuttle service are complimentary for all volunteers. Shuttle buses will operate on a 15-minute cycle
    between the volunteer parking lots and the Main Entrance at Riviera Country Club.

    - Wednesday-Friday, February 18-20 2015
       Santa Monica Public Parking, Lot 4 South
       2030 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica
    - Saturday-Sunday, February 21-22 2015
       Will Rogers Historic Park
       1501 Will Rogers State Park, Pacific Palisades

  • 8/3/2014: Registration is now open for the 2015 Northern Trust Open golf tournament.  Because of all the time and effort that you all put in the tournament has been a great success and we would like to see you back in 2015.  

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We can't wait to read about your golf volunteering experience and tips for other volunteers. Thank you in advance for sharing.

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When you're in customer support, you get the weirdest requests and hilarious, but sometimes, biting complaints. But so far, the most memorable one I have …

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