Volunteers are still needed for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen Champ-ionship hosted by Pinehurst Resort this summer.

Volunteer Chairman Richard Lawson said they are about halfway to their goal so far.

"We are privileged to have an outstanding group of volunteers to assist in running the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships each year," he said, "and the success of these events really does rely on an army of volunteers. With 350 volunteers already signed up, we still have a long way to go to get to our goal of 700 volunteers for the World Championships."

Both events will bring kids and their families from all over the world.

The Teen Championship will be held first, from July 30 to Aug. 2, for ages 13-18. The boys will play Nos. 2, 6 and 8, while the girls will play at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, which has hosted three U.S. Women's Open Championships. Between 450 and 500 teens are expected to participate.

The U.S. Kids World Championship is the next week, Aug. 5 to 9. The event will feature some 1,300 participants ages 6 to 12 who will play at Pinehurst Nos. 3, 4 and 8, Talamore, Midland Country Club, Mid Pines, Forest Creek, Little River and Longleaf.

Peter Stilwell, Pinehurst Resort's director of business development, said that a large contingency of volunteers is necessary to manage such a big field. He said while there's a lot of interest in the event, folks aren't beating the doors down to volunteer like they would for a U.S. Open or U.S. Amateur.

"It's two straight weeks of golf," he said. "This is certainly an event that people want to volunteer for, but I don't think there's an urgency."

Volunteers handle tasks such as registering players, scoring, course evacuation during inclement weather and supply -- making sure the kids are hydrated in the summer heat.

Many of them work inside the ropes of the tournament, and get a front row seat to the unique event.

Last year's Championships brought some 5,000 people to the area and generated an estimate $4 million in revenue for the local economy.

Pinehurst Resort has hosted the event for the past three years, and it has experienced a steady growth over that time.

In March, it was announced that the resort and U.S. Kids signed an official partnership agreement that will keep the championships there through 2013.

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to visit this Web site and download an application.

Contact John Krahnert III at 693-2473 or by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.