JDC volunteers: 2,200 workers keep the show moving

Some of the volunteers at the John Deere Classic (JDC) wear t-shirts stating they are part of the “Grunt Crew.” Those crew members empty trash cans and keep the grounds clean at the TPC at Deere Run golf course in Silvis. Other volunteers give directions to lost golf fans, give shuttle rides from parking lots […]

Some of the volunteers at the John Deere Classic (JDC) wear t-shirts stating they are part of the “Grunt Crew.” Those crew members empty trash cans and keep the grounds clean at the TPC at Deere Run golf course in Silvis.

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Other volunteers give directions to lost golf fans, give shuttle rides from parking lots to the JDC, give medical help to people in need, serve meals and many other jobs. “They’re all crucial. … We couldn’t do this without them. We value every single one of them,” said Peter Zucker, project manager at the JDC. This year, the JDC expects to include 2,200 volunteers. That’s 500 more than last year and over its goal of getting 2,000 volunteers for the tournament, he added. Mr. Zucker said he believes so many people volunteer as a way to help a major sporting event in the region, and to help the community. “It’s a great opportunity to get involved and help out a great event,” he added. That sense of community pride is a motivating factor with many of the volunteers at the JDC this week. But many others have their own reasons and motivations for helping out at the tournament. The QCBJ asked several JDC volunteers why they take on the many jobs required to keep the tournament running. Veteran Angela Jacques of Rapids City, Illinois, was on the golf course Wednesday, July 6, working as a marshal on hole seven. (The marshal helps assure that players are afforded a quiet and uninterrupted opportunity to compete and move freely around the golf course.) Years ago, she got involved with the JDC as part of her duties with a local Rotary Club. Now, in her fifth year as a volunteer at the tournament, it's all about helping a first-class sports event in the community. “I just love being out in the community and helping out all I can,” she added. That same sense of community pride helps motivate another veteran volunteer, Matt Nielson of Bettendorf. On Wednesday morning, he was helping with the jobs on Hole 10 on the course. During the afternoon, he was guarding a pathway on the course. The Bettendorf man said part of the reason he has been volunteering for the past 15 years is his love of the game. “I’m a golfer. So, I like being here to watch some of the great golfers at work,” he added. The love of golfing also brought Charles Caldwell to the Quad Cities to help the JDC. This is the first year Mr. Caldwell, of Arcadia, Florida, has volunteered at the tournament. However, he has been a volunteer for more than 20 years at the FedEx St. Jude Championship tournament in Memphis, Tennessee. He keeps volunteering at PGA events because of all the many worthy causes the PGA events help. But part of his motivation is to see how the game is played at the top level. “I play golf, but real bad. … I’m getting to see people play golf who really know how it’s supposed to be done,” he added. Another rookie volunteer at the JDC this year is another visitor to the region: Kallen Alderman of Oxford, Mississippi. Ms. Alderman was working as a standard bearer on Wednesday during pro-am play. That job had her following a single group of golfers on the day. She helped carry the “standard” that displays the names of the golfers in the group and their scores. For Ms. Alderman, being a volunteer was all about helping the family. “I’m volunteering with my dad. We thought it would be fun to do this together,” she added.