Over 70 volunteers from this year’s Western Open participated in the two appreciation outings conducted last week Wednesday at Wheaton Park District’s Arrowhead Golf Course and Friday night at a Night Golf Outing at Bolingbrook Park District’s Boughton Ridge Golf Course. Thank you to Bruce Stoller at Arrowhead and Greg Sundstrom at Boughton Ridge for all of the accommodations that you made for the volunteers. This marked an end of an era, the last Western Open Appreciation outings as the tournament changes to the BMW Championship in 2007! Illinois Park and Recreation Association is excited to be involved with the 2007 BMW Championship!

Over 450 volunteers helped out with this year’s Western Open. The tournament is changing to the BMW Championship and will be held September 3-9. The tournament will be at Cog Hill in 2007 and will alternate between other midwestern cities and Chicago for the next 4 years (St. Louis 2008 and Indianapolis 2010). Volunteers will still be needed to assist with gates, hospitality, clubhouse, cartbarn, and drivers shuttle for the tournament. In addition, IPRA will help to provide volunteers for 18th Green Operations, player food/beverage, walking scorers and standard bearers.

“Ron Oestreich, Dan Kroger, and our Western Golf Committee did a great job with this year’s tournament, said Professional Services Director Mike Selep. “In 2007, it will be an even greater opportunity for a lot more people to get involved through IPRA. Our volunteers will even get inside the ropes to get a birds eye view of all of the action. We are excited about the changes in the tournament and excited about our continued involvement with the Western Golf Association.”