Leading up to this year’s 3M Open, I had the opportunity to connect to 3M Open/3M Championship veteran Jen Hines. Jen started her career with the 3M Championship progressing up the ladder to Tournament Director and has continued with the 3M Open as the Assistant Tournament Director.

Joe Stansberry: With this new COVID-19 protocol your duties have likely changed immensely this year. Can you outline a few of the things that have changed in your priorities from the past to what you’re doing currently?

Jen Hines: With the limited number of people that are part of this year’s tournament, we had to rethink all of our volunteer committees, and unfortunately we had to ask some of our longtime volunteers to have patience and not be with us this year because we will be operating in this so called “bubble.”

JS: What are the most difficult tasks.

JH: We had to design a plan to operate a PGA event without so many people and still put on a successful tournament!

JS: In the past how many volunteers did you have for the tournament and how many are you down to now? What duties will these volunteers have this year?

JH: We’ve had approximately 2,000 volunteers over the years. This year we are down to a number close to 325. The majority of them will be walking scorers and marshals, however we had to add a new “Health and Safety” committee, basically a cleaning and sanitizing group for the different areas. Fortunately, our chairperson for corporate hospitality is wonderful, and was willing to take on that roll! They will be cleaning everything from the volunteer areas, golf cars, press tent and even a player equipment liaison – the players or caddies are not allowed into the equipment trailers so they hand off to a volunteer who cleans the clubs before and after any tweaking. We are taking every precaution we can. Even the players now rent their own cars from Avis! We do not have a player transportation committee because the players families are no longer allowed!

JS: Are you aware of how the PGA protocol changed since the Colonial event earlier this year?

JH: Absolutely everything is evolving! For example, originally the testing for the players was done onsite. The last couple of weeks they now have gone completely offsite testing.

JS: Walk me through as a player what is the process that a player must go through. 

JH: Let’s assume they are not flying in on the charter, they would fly in, pick up their own vehicle and go to the testing facility at the National Sports Center through Sanford Health. They cannot register for the event until they have a negative result! And that could take from 90 minutes to 3+ hours. Once cleared they can use the facilities.

JS: Do the players need to be tested every day or once they’re cleared are they OK for the week?

JH: Every day the players and caddies are thermal screened and have to answer a few health questions. In fact, anybody in the “bubble” who comes onsite must have that screening?

JS: So the PGA TOUR has leased a charter plane to transport the players from the last tournament to the upcoming tournament? And if a player misses the cut do they have to hang around until the end of the tournament?

JH: Yes, one flight in and one flight out. So it’s the player’s option whether or not they want to stick around after they have missed the cut. So you are likely to see some players hanging around and taking advantage of the TPC Twin Cities practice facilities.

JS: What about the volunteers like Charlie Anderson who is in scoring? Do they get tested?

JH: They are considered outside of the bubble because if they were not in direct contact and can socially distance doing their job then they do not have to be tested.

JS: What was the reduction in your budget – 80%?

JH: I’d say we have had far greater reduction than 80%. We had to work with the TOUR, and still have a lot of expenses into the event. Luckily with 3M as a title sponsor they get it and have been extremely supportive of our financial situation.

JS: Any other major or minor changes that are unique this year?

JH: It’s rethinking everything. With no buffets we’ve had to create to go options, not only for the players, but for all the volunteers. So its box lunches – luckily the TPC Twin Cities staff has been great with regard to a plan for options on meals and everything else to go! Another big change is that masks are mandatory, and volunteers are supplied with sanitary wipes.

Not having ANY hospitality and other structures is so, so strange. Also in lieu of not doing any Pro-Ams we are scheduling virtual zoom calls with players and our sponsors. There won’t be honorary observers walking along – we have to figure out how to keep these people engaged. Another change is that the military will not be able to hold the flag and be recognized – it’s going to be very strange. But we hope it will be a success!

Don’t worry Jen. It will be a success, you and your team always come through.