Army of volunteers to greet professional golfers at Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship in Hurricane

Peggy James-Garcia, with microphone, speaks at a volunteer appreciation lunch at Big Shots Golf, St. George, Utah, March 22, 2023

ST. GEORGE — “If we didn’t have them, it wouldn’t happen.”

Peggy James-Garcia, middle, talks with workers at a volunteer appreciation lunch at Big Shots Golf, St. George, Utah, March 22, 2023

Penny James-Garcia needed only that statement to summarize the impact of the legions of volunteers who will help conduct the Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship.

The women’s professional golf event will be conducted for the third year in a row April 24-29 at Copper Rock Golf Course in Hurricane. 

James-Garcia, volunteer and events coordinator at Copper Rock, was conductor of ceremonies at a volunteer appreciation luncheon Wednesday at the new Big Shots Golf facility in the Desert Color subdivision in south St. George.

“Every year we’ve done something to show our volunteers that we appreciate their help, because we couldn’t hold the event without them,” James-Garcia said.

She went on to say that in the event’s first year, volunteers were treated to a box lunch. Then last year it was a step up to dinner at Sun River’s ballroom.

“And then this year we were fortunate to have Big Shots Golf come in as a sponsor,” James-Garcia said. “Volunteers get to come and pick up their shirts and hats, which is part of their volunteer gear, and then they get to play all the games they want to and have lunch.”

The rate of volunteers working the championship skyrocketed since the first event in 2021, which had 115 volunteers. In 2022 that number climbed to 300.

And then this year’s voluntary force surpasses 460 members. 

James-Garcia said the volunteers have multiple reasons for participating.

“They love golf. They love women’s golf in particular,” she said. “They appreciate having the opportunity to work a professional golf tournament essentially in their backyard. Doesn’t happen anywhere else in the state right now, and that’s a pretty cool adventure to go on.”

According to a press release, 425 of the volunteers are part of the team that handles scoring, marshals, spotters, food and beverage, leaderboards, ecology, corporate hospitality, guest services and player services.

Another 20 volunteers are from Dixie Technical College Healthcare Sciences and they provide a medical response team.

An additional 25-40 youth volunteers from Utah high school golf teams participate and get the experience of working for a professional tournament.

Mark Loveless, left, and Kris Cook, right, at a luncheon for volunteers at the Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship, St. George, Utah, March 22, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Kris Cook is one of the volunteers. Before she retired full-time to play golf, Cook was the first woman native of Utah to make general officer in the U.S. Air Force, earning the rank of Brigadier General.

“I was almost 30 years on active duty, one of the first women in aircraft maintenance,” Cook told St. George News. “I loved it. And that’s why I stayed with it. A great opportunity.”

Cook found her way to a townhome in St. George after working for Lockheed Martin and teaching at Sacramento State University.

She was living in Alaska and teaching classes remotely when she decided to get out of the snow and ice and move to St. George, where she has family connections.

“I was flunking retirement, so I decided it was time to really retire,” Cook said.

She joined two ladies golf leagues in town and said that as long as she can walk the course – “I try not to use carts,” she said – she’ll keep playing golf because it keeps her healthy and active.

Cook said she is an unofficial scorer during the championship and enjoys getting to know the golfers she follows around the links at Copper Rock.

“This is so exciting, to see professional women golfers,” Cook said, noting how satisfying it is to see women go from the Epson Tour to play on the LPGA. “And they play so, so well. Their play is inspiring.”

There’s a reward to volunteering that is hard to find elsewhere, Cook said.

“It’s a payback,” she added. “I played golf most of my life and it’s a payback to have a chance to do something for up-and-comers who are going to be professionals.”

Members of the Dilly Dilly Club, golfing buddies from SunRiver, at a luncheon for volunteers at the Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship, St. George, Utah, March 22, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

For SunRiver resident Mark Loveless, volunteering at Copper Rock is a way to spread the word about women’s golf.

“You look at the quality of the golf and how hard they’re working and how little money they make,” Loveless said. “We got to do whatever we can to help these ladies get up onto the (LPGA) Tour.”

Loveless and some golfing buddies from SunRiver even formed an informal club, the Dilly Dilly Club. Membership requirements include kilts and a love for golf.

“Our goal is just to go out and have fun and promote this tournament, and try to get as many people involved as possible,” Loveless said, noting that the rapid growth in the number of volunteers is a success story.

“That says a lot for the community. It really does,” Loveless said.

St. George News will have player profiles and tournament previews as the Epson Tour Copper Rock Championship starts next month.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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