SPECIAL FOCUS

"Once Upon a Western Open..."

How IPRA formed a winning threesome with the
Western Golf Association and Motorola, Inc.

BY KAY KASTEL FOREST, CAE

For the past three years the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) has joined with the nonprofit Western Golf Association (WGA) and the business community to assist with the largest professional golf tournament in the Midwest—the Motorola Western Open at Cog Hill in Lemont. The tournament, which is the oldest on the PGA TOUR, annually draws one of the best fields of golfers in the country to compete for $2 million in prize money. The proceeds of the tournament benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides millions of dollars in college scholarships to high school students who are caddies. IPRA got involved with the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation when one of its Facility Management Section members met tournament director Gregory McLaughlin. Since McLaughlin had worked on a small scale with recreation professionals in Orlando, Florida, he inquired whether a similar group existed in Illinois. After discovering more about IPRA and its members, a partnership was formed.

The Western Golf Association contracted with IPRA in 1994 to recruit, organize, train, and supervise volunteers to work in the clubhouse, the hospitality areas, gates/ticket operations, and in VIP/ Player parking. This was done on a trial basis for one year, after which both IPRA and the WGA would assess the results.

It is an extremely successful partnership that has continued for three years. Not only has IPRA demonstrated its ability to effectively use volunteers to help manage a major event, the talents, and skills of the park and recreation professional have been shown to the business and corporate community. Our members have been recognized and commended by both the PGA TOUR and tournament officials for efficiency, volunteer management, problem solving, and customer service skills.

When challenges arise during tournament week, the organizers have come to IPRA to assist in solving them. Every year the tournament officials have asked IPRA to take on more responsibility.

Due to the magnitude of supervising more than 450 volunteers, IPRA staff developed a golf tournament operations and training manual. Although IPRA volunteers don't have the glamorous positions traditionally associated with golf tournaments, such as marshals and green-side score keepers, they are the ambassadors of the Motorola Western Open—the first people that the 170,000 attendees see at the tournament. Most of the IPRA positions involve checking credentials and welcoming people to the tournament.

46 / Illinois Parks and Recreation

"ONCE UPON A WESTERN OPEN..."

Although IPRA volunteers have minimal contact with players, most have indicated that being involved with the tournament is a fun and rewarding experience. They have an opportunity to interact with both the general public and the employees of the corporate sponsor. Motorola, Inc.

Each volunteer receives a uniform and pass for tournament week. The volunteers that IPRA supervises are composed not only of members, but more than 60 percent are those interested in golf. IPRA has tapped local golf courses, recreation program participants, senior citizen clubs and employees of Motorola for our volunteer force. Interacting in this way has helped IPRA to spread the message of the benefits of parks and recreation within local communities.

IPRAs partnership has reaped benefits to both the WGA and IPRA. According to Barry Deach, associate tournament director, "We now have an IPRA credentials volunteer force that we can count on. Their organizational and people skills have improved our efficiency and public relations. Their volunteers are our ambassadors."

IPRA, too, has benefited both financially and by showcasing the park and recreation profession. This partnership enhances working cooperation not only between associations but between the profession and the corporate sector.

KAY KASTEL FOREST, CAE
is the executive director of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

Left: Tiger Woods is expected to compete in the 1997 Motorola Western Open. Photograph by the Western Golf Association. Right: Dressed in identifying T-shirts, IPRA volunteers play a key role in the success of the Motorola Waslern Open.

May /June 1997 / 47