3,400 Volunteers Power U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills

Sixty-five friends from the same golf club are spending this week on their feet for 10-hour shifts, and they couldn't be happier about it.

The North Fork Country Club members volunteered to run the 12th hole at this week's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. They're part of a 3,400-person volunteer force making the championship possible.

These aren't paid positions. Volunteers pay a $225 registration fee, buy uniforms, complete training videos, and stand all day managing crosswalks, holding "Quiet Please" signs, and protecting players from the crowd.

"Our championships simply couldn't run without the help of volunteers," said Colleen Fink, assistant manager for the 2026 U.S. Open Championship. The USGA organizes the event, but volunteers make it happen each day.

Peter Sabat, 61, from Cutchogue is one of three captains coordinating the North Fork team. He started planning last fall, working through meetings, credentials, and the challenge of putting the right people in the right spots at the right times.

"It's a lot more work than we had projected," said fellow captain Don Wilcenski, 65, who has known his co-captains nearly all his life. But the effort pays off with an inside view most fans never get.

Marshals stand inside the ropes, close enough to hear players discuss strategy with their caddies. They watch Rory McIlroy and other pros navigate Shinnecock's wind and fast greens from just feet away.

The 12th hole presents unique challenges. Two crosswalks sit near a major entry point where buses drop thousands of spectators. During practice rounds, the hole needs 15 to 20 marshals per shift. Once tournament play begins, that jumps to 25.

The Ripple Effect

The volunteer program draws people from 42 states and eight countries, but 1,900 volunteers hail from Long Island. About 500 come from the Hamptons area alone.

The USGA partners with local golf clubs because members already understand the game's rhythms and etiquette. This creates community connections that run deeper than a single event.

Third captain John Stype, 70, said the work matters beyond golf. Volunteers become the first faces fans see, creating the welcoming atmosphere that defines the championship experience.

For Sabat, whose parents and grandparents were North Fork Country Club members, this week represents generations of connection to both his club and Shinnecock. He's volunteered at previous U.S. Opens and knows the course well.

The job requires constant attention: avoiding camera lines, managing tracking technology, watching rope lines, and creating space for players moving between holes. At its core, Wilcenski said, it's about two things: crowd control and protecting the players.

When 8,000 people gather around three holes, marshals keep everyone safe while preserving the magic of championship golf. They're the machinery most spectators never see, making one of golf's biggest stages move smoothly from shot to shot.