BAY HILL, Florida – The family connection runs deep amongst the volunteers at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
No PGA tour can operate without it’s volunteers and this event is no different. Whether its assisting cabbie registration or selling raffle tickets to fans, the volunteers are unsung heroes of the event.
Sue Wenslick and Peggy Gurdinski are a mother-daughter pair that are such a case.
“This is my 11th year” said Peggy, who is 81. “It just looked like fun and I had friends that were doing it, and when I started, I got hooked.”
Her reason to volunteering was touching:
“This is volunteering for something that’s good: The Winnie Palmer (Hospital) and this was just something to do. This is all for a good cause.”
Her daughter, Sue, 51, followed suit after leaving her home state of Maryland.
“She (Peggy) told me when I moved down to Florida that I had to come to volunteer,” Sue said.
This was Sue’s third year and the feeling of being starstruck keeps bringing her back.
“I think it’s great because I see the guys on TV, and it’s good to see them in person.”
Golf also brings people of all stripes and ages to the courses.
College student Ronnie Machado, who loves the comradery the annual event brings had only positive things to say.
“I live around the area and its always a good time around here, “she said. “It’s always a good atmosphere and a good vibe so I come every year. It’s a nice place to be.”
“I started coming when I was very little with my parents and then I started coming regularly by myself with my friends or whatever since I was 12 or 13.”