The 125th US Open finished last week at Oakmont Country Club with golfer JJ Spaun emerging victorious as the only player under par for the tournament. While the tournament ran from Thursday through Sunday, fans and volunteers flocked to the course beginning Monday for practice rounds. More than 200,000 patrons attended, and behind the scenes, an army of volunteers ensured the tournament’s success. Several Mt. Lebanon residents were among them.
Tim Jones, Academy Place, attended the US Open at Oakmont in 2016 as a fan and decided to volunteer this time around. Volunteers worked in shifts but were free to walk around the course and take in the Open any time, whether they’re scheduled that day or not, without having to pay for a ticket.
Jones worked at the merchandise tent, which he described as “totally different from my day job, but a chance to do something new and have a unique experience.”
The United States Golf Association (USGA) accepts volunteer applications up to a year in advance of the tournament. They’re now accepting volunteer applications for 2026 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
This year, more than 3,000 people volunteered their time at Oakmont. Bonnie Frear, Driftwood Drive resident and four-time volunteer, worked at the bag check. She recounted changes to the course during those decades — specifically, when the course was filled with trees, most of which are long gone.
Volunteers pay USGA to be part of the team but receive merchandise of an equivalent value. Jobs included work in merchandise or concession tents, or on-course opening ropes for spectators or spotting errant drives that went into Oakmont’s patented rough and numerous bunkers. With the rain over the weekend making the rough even denser, ball spotters kept the play moving, cutting down on the time players spent searching for their balls.
Mt. Lebanon’s Finance Director Andrew McCreery volunteered as a cashier in the merchandise tent. “This is a great opportunity to be able to get into the Open and be able to see the top players in the world.”
McCreery strategically scheduled his shifts on Saturday and Sunday mornings so he could stick around and watch as the leaders finished their rounds.
On Saturday morning, 1962 US Open Champion Jack Nichlaus and 1973 Champion Johnny Miller spoke at a joint press conference. When asked what it takes to win the US Open at a challenging course like Oakmont, Nichlaus touted patience, while Miller discussed handling pressure and hitting drives in the fairway.
The rainy conditions and dense rough made all three of those traits tantamount to success. As the leaders struggled Sunday evening, Spaun emerged from the field as the most consistent player throughout the week. He was the only player under par after sinking a 65-foot putt on the final hole to secure victory and add his name to the legendary Champions from the toughest course in golf.
All the volunteers spoke highly of the experience working and seeing top golfers compete. USGA accepts volunteers from all over the country, so people looking to attend future tournaments may want to consider the opportunity.
Future US Open sites within driving distance include Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York (2026), Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York (2028), Pinehurst Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina (2029) and Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania (2030).
Oakmont Country Club is a USGA anchor site and has hosted the US Open a record ten times. Their next US Open will be in 2033. Don’t want to wait until then? Good news: the US Women’s Open will be hosted by Oakmont in 2028.