2026 Platinum
Table of Contents
- How To Become A Volunteer At The Masters Golf Tournament
- How Many Volunteers Work At The Masters?
- Volunteering Roles At The Masters
- Requirements For Volunteering At The Masters Tournament
- How To Apply To Be A Volunteer At The Masters
- Do You Get Paid As A Golf Tournament Volunteer?
- The appreciation day: playing Augusta National
- How Much Of The Masters Tournament Do Volunteers Get To See?
- FAQs
How To Become A Volunteer At The Masters Golf TournamentThe Masters Tournament is the biggest golf competition in the world and needs hundreds of volunteers each year to deliver the experience patrons expect. With openings in security, concessions, hospitality, merchandise, marshalling and other positions, around 700 golf enthusiasts are selected to support the defining tournament of the year. Successful volunteers are also given the opportunity to play Augusta National on a designated appreciation day in May, which alone makes the application worthwhile. If you successfully volunteer once, you are far more likely to be invited back in future years. Many volunteers hold the same position for decades. Considering that The Masters is the second hardest sporting event in the world to obtain tickets for, this remains one of the most coveted positions in golf. |
How Many Volunteers Work At The Masters?
Approximately 700 volunteers are required for The Masters Tournament each year. However, this does not necessarily mean there are 700 vacant spots available. Once you have successfully worked at The Masters, you are likely to be welcomed back in the years following. There have been volunteers who have held the same position for decades.
We met one marshal in April 2026 whose job was to wave a yellow flag at the 15th tee, signalling left or right depending on where the ball had gone, helping the marshals further down the fairway shout fore and spot the ball. It was his 24th year volunteering, and he had played Augusta 23 times. There are very few people in the world who can say that.
If it is your first time applying, a position cannot be guaranteed. With many annual returning volunteers, the number of open positions can be small, and there is normally a long waiting list.
In addition to the volunteer roles, there are several paid positions that need to be filled at the tournament. These include paid roles in hospitality, concessions, security operations and merchandise. Current openings can be viewed on the Masters website careers page.
Volunteering Roles At The Masters
There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities at Augusta National during The Masters, from course set-up to locker room assistance. Although each volunteer is accepted to take on a specific role, every volunteer will be expected to take on a variety of different tasks.
The main volunteering roles available are:
Course set up
Assisting with the construction of the tournament infrastructure at the very start of the competition, day-to-day event set-up during the week, and the breakdown of infrastructure at the end of the competition.
Marshaling
Also known as spotters and gallery guards, marshals are positioned near the patrons to provide crowd control, customer assistance, and to ensure silence is maintained when the game is in play. Marshalls also help locate tee shots and assist players whenever necessary, including holding ropes to separate the patrons from the course. Some marshals have specific signalling roles, such as the yellow flag at the 15th tee, which directs spotters down the fairway based on the direction of each tee shot.
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Merchandise
Volunteers help with the sale of official Masters Tournament products, including shirts, hats, visors, outerwear, drinkware and home accessories. The Masters merchandise operation is one of the largest single-event retail operations in sport.
Security operations assistant
Helping the hired security team to keep the golf course and all other areas of the tournament safe.
Player registration
Player registration volunteers help check each player into Augusta National at the start of tournament week.
Practice facility assistance
The onsite Tournament Practice Range provides players with a 400-yard practice zone with similar terrain to that found on the official course. Practice facility assistants maintain the short game area, putting green and golf service building, while assisting players when necessary.
Locker room assistance
These volunteers help keep the locker rooms clean and assist with any problems players encounter. The locker room facilities at Augusta National also include a small dining area, which volunteers will also help to keep clean.
Pro-Ams
Pro-Am volunteers assist with amateur registration and special events that take place throughout the tournament.
Requirements For Volunteering At The Masters Tournament
Generally, applicants who are willing to perform a variety of different tasks and who come across as hard-working and enthusiastic about golf in their application will be considered for the role. Once accepted, volunteers are expected to be punctual, well-presented and alert. As the biggest golf competition in the world, The Masters expects exceptional customer service from every volunteer.
In addition, there are two firm requirements:
At least 16 years old
All applicants must be at least 16 years of age. For most volunteer positions, applicants must turn 16 before the end of March in the year of the tournament. If you are required to start work before the beginning of the competition, for example helping with the construction of the infrastructure, you will need to be 16 years of age on the first day of volunteering.
Willing to work long shifts
For the duration of the competition, volunteers are required to work long shifts to ensure the smooth running of the tournament. Generally, volunteers can expect shifts lasting between 10 and 12 hours during the week of the competition. Some volunteers may also be expected to work overnight shifts between the hours of 7pm and 9am. During these lengthy shifts, volunteers will do a lot of walking and spend most of the shift on their feet.
Apply before the deadline
Late submissions will not be considered. The deadline date changes annually, but it generally falls sometime in December, with applications normally accepted from October.
How To Apply To Be A Volunteer At The MastersTo apply for a volunteer position at the Augusta National Golf Club Masters, visit the jobs section of the Masters tournament website and choose the position you wish to apply for. If online applications are closed for the year, sign up to the mailing list to be notified when the Masters administration team is taking applications again. Applicants can only apply for one position. If an individual submits more than one application, only the first one received will be considered. Chosen applications will be invited to attend a virtual interview and will be asked to join the volunteer team if it goes well. Successful applicants will be notified in January. Successful applicants must be available for the duration of the competition, which takes place during the first full week of April. The 2027 Masters will be held from Monday 5 April to Sunday 11 April 2027. Chosen volunteers will also need to attend orientation classes and other training prior to starting work, normally in the week before the competition. |
Do You Get Paid As A Golf Tournament Volunteer?
You do not get paid as a golf tournament volunteer at The Masters, but you do gain entry to one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. Considered by both golfers and fans to be the most prestigious major in the sport, The Masters is the only annual major that is played on the same course every year. Tickets are limited and therefore highly sought-after.
Other benefits of volunteering at Augusta National include the opportunity to interact with the players, particularly in marshalling, locker room assistance or player registration roles. There is also the opportunity to play Augusta National after the tournament on what is known as appreciation day.
Volunteers also get to spectate some of the world’s biggest players competing at Augusta’s springtime event, which always produces some legendary golfing moments.
The appreciation day: playing Augusta National
The appreciation day is the reward that draws volunteers back year after year. Held in May, after the tournament has concluded and the course has been restored to its everyday state, the appreciation day allows volunteers to play Augusta National itself.
The club takes the day seriously. Caddies are provided on each green to look after the volunteers as they play. Catering, hospitality and the full Augusta experience are extended to those who have given their time to make the tournament happen. For most golfers, the chance to play Augusta National is something they will only ever experience in their imagination. For Masters volunteers, it is an annual reward.
This is what creates the extraordinary continuity of the volunteer corps. Many volunteers have played Augusta dozens of times, simply through their commitment to volunteering year after year. The marshal at the 15th tee with 23 plays of Augusta to his name is not unusual.
How Much Of The Masters Tournament Do Volunteers Get To See?
How much of the tournament you see depends entirely on the role you take. Marshals have some of the best views in golf, positioned right beside the action and able to follow the leaders as they pass through their assigned area. Locker room and player registration volunteers have closer access to the players themselves than virtually any patron. Course set-up and security roles are less likely to allow extended viewing during the rounds, but volunteers in these positions still get to spend time on the property and watch what they can between shifts.
For the full experience of attending The Masters as a patron, see our Insider’s Guide to The Masters, which covers everything from the chair system to what to wear, the food, the merchandise queue, and how to apply for tickets through the official lottery.
FAQsHow many volunteers work at The Masters? Approximately 700 volunteers are required for The Masters Tournament each year. Many positions are held by returning volunteers, some of whom have worked the same role for decades. First-time applicants face significant competition and a long waiting list, but the system rewards persistence and enthusiasm. Do volunteers at The Masters get paid? No. Masters volunteers are not paid. The reward is access to the tournament itself, the opportunity to interact with players in certain roles, and most significantly, the chance to play Augusta National on appreciation day in May after the tournament. For most golfers, the chance to play Augusta is reward enough. What is appreciation day at Augusta National? Appreciation day is the day in May when Augusta National opens the course to its tournament volunteers. Caddies are provided on each green, and the full Augusta experience is extended to those who have worked the tournament. The opportunity to play the course is the primary reason many volunteers return year after year, with some having played Augusta over 20 times through long-running volunteer service. When can I apply to volunteer at The Masters 2027? Volunteer applications for The Masters typically open in October and close in December of the year before the tournament. For the 2027 Masters, applications would open in October 2026. Late applications are not considered. Sign up to the Masters careers mailing list to be notified when applications open. What roles are available for Masters volunteers? The main volunteer roles include course set-up, marshalling, merchandise, security operations, player registration, practice facility assistance, locker room assistance, and Pro-Am support. Each volunteer is accepted to a specific role but may be asked to take on additional tasks. Marshalling roles are particularly sought-after for the proximity to the action. How long are volunteer shifts at The Masters? Volunteer shifts at The Masters generally last between 10 and 12 hours during the week of the tournament. Some volunteers may be required to work overnight shifts between 7pm and 9am. Volunteers spend most of their shift on their feet and walking, so the role suits those who are physically active and comfortable with long days. How old do you need to be to volunteer at The Masters? All Masters volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. For most positions, applicants must turn 16 before the end of March in the year of the tournament. For roles that begin before the tournament itself, such as infrastructure construction, applicants must be 16 years of age on the first day of volunteering. Can international volunteers apply for The Masters? Yes. The Masters accepts volunteer applications from anywhere in the world, though applicants must arrange their own travel, accommodation and any necessary visas. International volunteers are responsible for being in Augusta for the orientation week before the tournament and for the full duration of Masters week. The application process is the same as for US-based volunteers. |
