Humana Challenge

The Humana Challenge in La Quinta, CA was previously known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic. It is one of the 'West Coast Swing' tournaments and played early in the season. Going back to the Bob Hope Classic, the tournament was loaded with celebrities and played as pro-am for 5 consecutive days, until Humana changed the format (in 2012) to the more traditional 4-round play. The first 3 days, it is played as a pro-am with the chance to make the cut and play in Sunday's final round. As many other PGA Tournaments, the Humana Challenge is also all about Charity. Since way back in 1960, Desert Classic Charities (the nonprofit entity, that organizes the tournament) has donated over $52million to numerous local nonprofit organizations, with a large share of the contributions going to the Eisenhower Medical Center.

We are so excited about this tournament (of course, all the other tournaments as well) and the volunteer opportunities being offered at the Humana Challenge. Below you will find the Humana Challenge Volunteer Committee Descriptions for all the committees available for you to participate in. We also have details about the volunteer package (including uniform, tickets, etc.). At the bottom of this page, you will find a link to the 'official' tournament's volunteer website, where you can register to volunteer. Check out the latest updates towards the bottom on this page. Get tickets for the tournament before they sell out. Check out hotel accommodation in and around La Quinta for tournament week with our comparison tool.

2015 Humana Challenge

The 2015 Humana Challenge will be held from January 21 - January 25, 2015 at La Quinta Country Club, Arnold Palmer Private Course and Jack Nicklaus Private Course - all in La Quinta, CA. The format for this year is as follows:

Pro-Am play for the first 54 holes (Thu-Sat). Each of the 156 pros will play with a different amateur partner each day on different courses for those three days. On Sunday, the low 70 professionals and ties will play the final round of the 72-hole tournament at the Palmer Private at PGA WEST. 
Just as last year, the top three low net and low gross amateurs will play alongside the pros on Sunday to determine who the overall winners will be. The overall low net amateur and low gross amateur playing on Sunday will be awarded crystal as the 2015 Humana Challenge Amateur Champion after play on Sunday. Defending champion is Patrick Reed, who comes off a victory at the 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Humana Challenge Volunteer Package

The 2015 Volunteer Package ($40) includes the following:

  • Polo shirt
  • Hat or visor
  • One guest badge
  • Parking pass
  • Commemorative pin
  • Daily refreshments after shift
  • Continental breakfast, boxed lunch, and beverages
  • Two (2) invitations to post-tournament volunteer appreciation party

Humana Challenge Volunteer Committee Descriptions

Below are the descriptions for the 2015 Humana Challenge

      • Volunteer Services

         – Assist with setting up and supervising the distribution of volunteer clothing and credentials. Duties include distribution of credential packets, uniform sizing and exchanges, and inventory. This position requires minimal walking or standing and is an indoor job. Volunteer Services volunteers must work a minimum of three days from Thursday the week prior to tournament week through Tuesday of tournament week at PGA WEST.

        Committee Days: Thursday the week prior to tournament week through Tuesday of tournament week

      • Merchandise Tent

         – Assist in the set up and operation of the Official Humana Challenge Merchandise Tent. Duties will include running checkout, managing stock and maintaining displays. Other responsibilities will include greeting and assisting patrons as they enter and exit the tent. Customer service experience is preferred, but not required. A friendly and helping attitude is a must.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

      • Club Marshal

         – Provide gallery control for the tournament and ensures PGA TOUR safety and movement around the golf course. Responsibilities include: controlling patron noise, camera and cell phone usage and crowd control around tees, greens, fairways, and ranges. Marshals should be in good physical condition and able to walk to-and-from their respective assignment. Some marshals may be assigned to the Mobile Device Team or TV Detail. Marshals must work a minimum of three or four days Thursday through Sunday depending on course assignment. All returning club marshals should be available to work one additional day Monday through Wednesday. All new club marshals should be available to work one additional day (Wednesday).

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

      • Mobile Device Team

         – Members of this committee are assigned to walk with player groups. Most members will be assigned to one of the three courses and walk with a different player group each day. Some members will travel with the same player group all three days of pro-am play. Duties for all members will include: ensuring no photos or videos are being taken anywhere on the golf course, communicating with spectators regarding the PGA TOUR cell phone policies, assist the players when moving from green to tee ensuring that gates and ropes are in use, assist other marshals with gallery control on tees, fairways and greens. They will also assist the gallery by answering questions and directing spectators to designated Mobile Device Zones. Volunteers must be in excellent health and physically able to walk 18 holes for three or four consecutive days. Volunteers must also have good people skills. Team members are part of the marshal committee. Mobile Device volunteers must work a minimum of three to four full days Thursday through Sunday depending on course assignment.

        Committee Days: Thursday - Sunday

      • Club Security

         – This committee will monitor main spectator course access points, clubhouse and player entrances, practice facilities, media area, and on-course hospitality areas to ensure that only properly credential individuals have access to those areas. Club Security volunteers must work a minimum of four days AM or PM shifts Monday through Sunday.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

      • Hospitality

         – Assist in the many clubhouse and on-course hospitality functions of the event including: sponsor, contestant, and guest relations. Volunteers need to be knowledgeable, helpful, courteous and possess an outgoing and vibrant personality. Hospitality volunteers must work a minimum of three days Monday through Sunday depending on course assignment.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

      • Concierge

         – Responsible for offering tournament and community information, directing guests to tournament courses and events, making dining reservations, accepting deliveries and assisting with transportation and spa arrangements. Volunteers should be self-starters, organized, possess an outgoing personality, have customer service experience, basic knowledge of the game of golf, and are familiar with the Coachella Valley. Concierge volunteers must work a minimum of four days Monday through Sunday. Hours may vary depending on shift assignment.

        Committee Days: Monday - Sunday

      • Transportation

         – Responsible for transporting PGA TOUR professionals, their families, and other VIPs around the Coachella Valley, including to-and-from the airport and golf courses. Transportation volunteers will also assist in transporting other volunteers utilizing 15-passenger vans. Local knowledge of the area is strongly recommended. Transportation volunteers must work a minimum of four days AM or PM shifts Sunday through Sunday. Drivers transporting volunteers must work three days AM or PM shifts Thursday through Saturday.

        Committee Days: Pre-Saturday - Sunday

      • Admission / Will Call

         – Responsible for selling tickets and assisting at Will Call. Volunteers duties include: providing spectators with appropriate credentials and tickets at a pick-up/drop-off location and greets spectators upon arrival at the tournament. Admissions volunteers must work a minimum of three to five days Wednesday through Sunday depending on course assignment. Hours may vary depending on shift assignment.

        Committee Days: Wednesday - Sunday

      • Scoreboard Operator

         – This committee keeps scores updated on manual scoreboards at designated holes during play. This positions requires minimal walking or standing. Operators are part of the marshal committee. Operators must work a minimum of three to four full days Thursday through Sunday depending on course assignment.

        Committee Days: Thursday - Sunday

      • ShotLink

         – assists with the ShotLink scoring system that is stationed on the fairway and green of each hole. This device records information about the players’ shots and disseminates real-time scoring and statistical data. All ShotLink volunteers are required to attend at least one (1) training session to review the ShotLink system with a PGA TOUR representative. ShotLink is part of the marshal committee. ShotLink volunteers must work four full days Thursday through Sunday on the Palmer Private course only.

        Committee Days: Thursday - Sunday

      • Walking Scorer

         – Responsible for walking with each group to keep statistics and hole-by-hole records for each player. Scorers must enter information on each shot into an electronic palm-pilot. Volunteers must have knowledge of the game of golf and score keeping is necessary. Volunteers must be in excellent health and physically able to walk 18 holes for three or four consecutive days. Walking Scorers must be available to work three or four full days Thursday through Sunday depending on course assignment.

        Committee Days: Thursday - Sunday

      • Registration

         – Responsible for assisting with amateur and pre-tournament player registration. Registration volunteers must work full day shifts Sunday through Wednesday.

        Committee Days: Sunday - Wednesday

Register on the 'official' Humana Challenge website or contact us with any questions.

Latest Updates:

  • 1/11/2015: Volunteer Appreciation Party
    Who: You (the 2015 Volunteer) and a guest
    What: Volunteer Appreciation Party
    Where: Palm Springs Air Museum
    When: Tuesday, January 27, 2015
    12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

  • 1/11/2015: Uniform Distribution
    Please find below the uniform distribution schedule. Schedules are also available online.
    All volunteers must wear the official Humana Challenge uniform while working during the tournament. All volunteers are required to wear khaki pants, capris, knee-length skirts, or skorts. No shorts of any kind will be permitted. Volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes; some type of tennis or sneaker type shoe is best – golf shoes are acceptable. However, if you wear golf shoes they must have soft spikes. The polos for this year will be white and from AHEAD. Please note that the green Puma polos from last year will not be allowed to be worn this year. Uniforms, hats and credentials will once again be given out in the volunteer trailer at PGA WEST. The schedule is as follows:
    
    Thursday, January 15
    8:00 a.m. to Noon & 1:00 p.m. to
    3:00 p.m.
    Palmer Marshals (Anytime)
    La Quinta Country Club Walking Scorers (Any Day)
     
    Friday, January 16
    8:00 a.m. to Noon & 1:00 p.m. to
    3:00 p.m.
    Walking Scorers - Nicklaus (a.m.)
    and Palmer (p.m.)
    Nicklaus Marshals (Anytime)
    Transportation (Anytime)
     
    Saturday, January 17
    8:00 a.m. to Noon & 1:00 p.m. to
    3:00 p.m.
    Club Security (a.m.)
    La Quinta Country Club Marshals (Anytime)
    Registration (Anytime)
    TV Detail (Anytime)
     
    Sunday, January 18
    8:00 a.m. to Noon
    1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
    Hospitality (p.m.)
    Registration (Anytime)
    TV Detail (Anytime)
    Amateur Registration (p.m.)
     
    Monday, January 19
    8:00 a.m. to Noon
    1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
    Mobile Device Teams (a.m.)
    ShotLink (p.m.)
     
    Tuesday, January 20
    8:00 a.m. to Noon
    1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
    New Marshals (a.m.)
    Admissions/Will Call (p.m.)
    Merchandise Tent (p.m.)

  • 12/22/2014: GOLF IS BACK!
    At the Humana Challenge, we recognize that without the generous contribution of time, talent and positive energy from our dedicated volunteers, we would not be able to run such a highly regarded event. Each year, we make our best effort to thank our enthusiastic volunteers. We are pleased to offer a special golf discount to each volunteer and a guest. After you complete your shift requirements at the 2015 Humana Challenge, you will receive a certificate that is redeemable for 50% off the posted rate for one round of golf at the PGA WEST Greg Norman Course, PGA WEST Stadium Course, PGA WEST Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course or The Mountain and Dunes Courses at La Quinta Resort.  This rate is available to you and one guest; additional guests must pay the normal posted rate. This certificate is valid from the time you receive it, through December 31, 2015. Tee times must be booked at least three days in advance. We thank you once again for your time and commitment to this tournament. We truly could not do this without you!

  • 12/22/2014: Early Commitments!
    We are excited to announce that we already have a strong contingency of world class players lined up to tee off in the 2015 Humana Challenge. At Media Day, Executive Director/CEO Bob Marra revealed that Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson will be returning to the desert for this year’s tournament. Additionally, we welcome a few notable players from across the pond, including European Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter of England, Francesco Molinari of Italy, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain, and former world No. 1 Luke Donald, also of England. Defending champion Patrick Reed, who picked up an impressive win at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and a berth on the 2014 Ryder Cup team following the 2014 Humana Challenge, will also be returning. Other notable players include Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, reigning FedEx Cup champion Bill Horschel, past FedEx Cup winner Brandt Snedeker and other players in the top 50 in the world rankings including Chris Kirk and Kevin Streelman. All in all 12 of the top 50 players in the rankings are committed to the event    .

Share your Humana Challenge volunteer story with us and all the visitors of golf-volunteers.com. We can't wait to read about your golf volunteering experience and tips for other volunteers. Thank you in advance for sharing.

Share Your Golf Volunteer Story

We can't wait to read about your golf volunteering experience and tips for other volunteers. Thank you in advance for sharing.

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