Volunteer Leadership Society

In 2017, THE PLAYERS Championship Volunteer Leadership identified the need to create a lasting recognition program for the tournament's most long-serving and distinguished senior volunteers — individuals who have contributed, throughout their volunteer careers, to the growth and development of THE PLAYERS. Many of these volunteers have played significant roles as Committee Chairs, Assistant Committee Chairs, or deeply committed regular volunteers, developing a substantial amount of institutional knowledge along the way. While they may have been honored individually over the years, most of those recognitions were one-time awards for a specific year's achievement. The Volunteer Leadership Society (VLS) was established as an emeritus program to provide enduring recognition and a dignified path for these exceptional volunteers as they transition out of active service, while preserving their relationships within the volunteer family and the knowledge they have built over years — and even decades — of dedication.

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Selection Criteria

The Volunteer Leadership Society consists of two categories:

Veteran Category: Nominees must have a minimum of 25 years of volunteer service at THE PLAYERS and a minimum of 15 years in a committee leadership role (Chair or Assistant Chair).

Lifetime Achievement Category: This category does not require a minimum length of service or a leadership role. It recognizes volunteers who have provided exceptional volunteer service over their tenure at THE PLAYERS.

Nominees in both categories must demonstrate exceptional volunteer service — including availability, time committed, willingness to take on additional responsibilities, flexibility to serve where needed, and positive and enthusiastic interaction with fellow volunteers and staff — as well as support of PLAYERS Pride values. Nominees must declare their intent to retire from active volunteer service. The maximum induction class size is five selectees per year.

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VLS Benefits

Each Volunteer Leadership Society inductee receives two years of benefits beginning in their induction year, including:

• Retired Volunteer Badge
• Access to Volunteer Village and parking
• Two weekly grounds tickets
• Two Volunteer Party tickets
• One Volunteer Medal
• One Volunteer Handbook
• Recognition at the induction year's Volunteer Party
• Name displayed yearly in Volunteer Village
• Polos and hats available to purchase

Inductees are announced and honored at the annual Volunteer Party, with additional recognition through press releases, all-volunteer emails, the volunteer website, and social media. A permanent banner in Volunteer Village is updated each year to recognize all VLS inductees.