Love golf? Love kids? Looking for something fun and rewarding to do with a little of your spare time this summer?

Have we got a deal for you! With the U.S. Kids Golf championships fast approaching, tournament organizers are actively seeking volunteers. And you may be just the kind of person they’re looking for.

This will be the sixth year for U.S. Kids Golf World Championships. Last year, the complex of activities attracted more than 1,700 players from more than 36 countries. This year, U.S. Kids Golf will host six events in the area, including the teen championship for youths ages 13 to 18, the kids championship for those ages 6-12, a Ryder Cup-style World Cup for kids and teens, and two parent-child tournaments. These exciting tournaments will play out on 12 courses.

Here are the dates: Teen World Championship, July 28-30. Teen World Cup, July 31. World Parent Child, Aug. 1. World Championship, Aug. 4-6. World Cup, Aug. 7

Easy to Sign Up

Peter Stilwell, founding partner of Tarheel Communication Solutions, anticipates needing to get about 700 people like you involved. “The demand for volunteers seems to increase every year,” he says. “Right now, we are about 250 short.”

Richard Lawson has served as the volunteer chairman for the tournaments since they came to Pinehurst five years ago. He says it is usually tough to fill out the final volunteer spots. “The last couple of hundred volunteers are always hard to come by,” he said.

Volunteers are responsible for a variety of tasks, including player registration, scoring, pace of play, on-course shuttling and supply, and making sure there is adequate water for the players on the course.

You can sign up online. Just go to www.uskidsgolf.com/volunteer to see the available shifts and register with a few clicks. Those without computer access can obtain a paper registration form by calling (910) 235-8490, though Lawson says about 80 percent of volunteers now sign up online.

‘So Much Fun to Watch’

A volunteer meeting is set for 4 p.m. July 12 at the Carolina Hotel. The session will last about two hours and will feature an overview of the tournament rules, guidelines and volunteer training.

The kids’ world championship will feature about 1,300 youths, while the teen world championship will attract about 500 participants. This year’s opening ceremony, which features the parade of nations, will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 2 in downtown Pinehurst.

Stilwell and Lawson both anticipate a total of about 5,000 people to come to the village for the tournament. Last year, the events generated an estimated $6 million in revenue for the local economy.

“It is a very good event for the local economy,” Lawson said, “and the golfers are so much fun to watch.” Stilwell added that he loves to see these kids from all across the United States and the world come out and play golf at such a high level.

If you think you’d love to watch too, be sure to put the U.S. Kids Golf championship events on your calendar. Or better yet: Instead of just being on the outside looking in, take advantage of this opportunity to become a participant yourself.

Make a difference in some young lives. Sign up as a volunteer.