Ahead Of U.S. Open At Brookline's Country Club, Volunteers Needed

BROOKLINE, MA — If you live in Brookline and are hoping to get a chance to volunteer at the U.S. Open golf tournament held here next year, now's your chance to volunteer.

Brookline residents will have an early opportunity to register to volunteer for the 122nd U.S. Open Championship, which will be held at The Country Club between June 13 and June 19, 2022.

The first 500 Brookline residents to submit a volunteer application through the U.S. Open website at 9 a.m. March 29 and use the code “2022BrooklineRes” will secure a position in the championship’s volunteer program.

After those first 500 spots are filled, Brookline residents will still have the opportunity to register with the general public at 9 a.m. Monday, April 12.

The U.S. Open needs about 3,100 unpaid volunteers to fill positions on more than 13 committees, including Fan and Hospitality Services, Marshals, Merchandising, On-Course Operations, and Scoring. Slots are largely granted on a first-come, first-served basis and will require at least committing to four shifts, with each shift between four to six hours during the week of the championship.

But lest you get carried away with thinking you'll have a front row seat at one of the most famous golf tournaments for free: You still have to pay.

Those who get chosen to volunteer their time and effort still have to dish out $244.45 for the "Volunteer Package," which include a uniform, personalized credentials, and a meal voucher for each assigned shift.

What's the uniform? Two Ralph Lauren golf shirts, a Ralph Lauren jacket, a Ralph Lauren quarter-zip, a piece of headwear. You'll also be buying a water bottle, a commemorative lapel pin, and a transparent drawstring bag with that.

US Open Tennis tickets can be found for as low as $103.00, with an average price of $247.00, according to seatgeek.com. But you don't get all the fancy swag.

One of the most famous moments for The Country Club (aside from that time they denied Tom Brady membership) was in 1913, when Francis Ouimet, a 20-year-old amateur and former club caddie, defeated British professional stalwarts Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in an 18-hole playoff.

Ouimet was the first of five amateurs to win and his win "stands as one of the greatest upsets in sports history," according to the USGA.

The Country Club is one of the USGA’s five founding clubs.

Got a question about the volunteer program? You can send an email to USGA’s Championship Office at 2022usopen@usga.org.