The world’s finest junior golfers are returning to the Pinehurst area for the seventh consecutive year, and the volunteer chairman for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship needs help.

Richard Lawson, who has served as volunteer chairman all seven years, hopes that residents from Moore County will help support the event. The championship will bring more than 1,700 kids and young adults from 40 countries and all 50 states to the Pinehurst area from July 26 to Aug. 4.

“The World Championship will require 700 volunteers during its two weeks of play,” Lawson said. “Volunteer positions are mostly filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is important to register soon.”

Specific committee needs include volunteer uniform distribution, scoring, shuttle carts, volunteer control, supply, pace marshals and standards. Some tasks require golf knowledge with experience, but others only require a friendly face and a willingness to help.

“We have some of the most seasoned volunteers in the country,” Lawson said, “and we’re asking community groups, service organizations, members of our local clubs and folks who enjoy the international flair that this tournament brings to please consider helping us this year.”

A specialized need is volunteers who are fluent in different languages. Young golfers from 40 countries participated last year, and some players and their families faced a language barrier.

“One of the most memorable moments for me was during registration,” Lawson said, “when a family from China was greeted by one of our volunteers who spoke fluent Chinese. The smiles on their faces spoke volumes about the benefit of trying to make this a special event.”

The Teen World Championship will be played on Pinehurst Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8 and Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club. The Kids World Championship will be played on Pinehurst Nos. 3, 4, 8, Southern Pines Country Club, Longleaf Golf and Country Club, Talamore Golf Resort, Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Midland Country Club, and Little River Golf Resort.

The economic impact of this two-week event brings more than $6 million to the community.

Volunteers do not have to pay to serve and are given volunteer shirts and lunch. Volunteers can register through an online system, allowing them to see the availability of positions and venues. This system is accessible at www.uskidsgolf.com/volunteer, and a confirmation email will be sent to each volunteer based on the positions they have selected. Paper applications are also available.

For more information, call the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship Volunteer Hotline at (910) 235-8228.

The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a Georgia-based nonprofit charity, was created in 2001 and provides services that include family involvement with competition and instruction.

The Foundation organizes more than 600 golf tournaments for kids each year, including local tours in more than 40 cities, 10 qualifiers across the nation, six regional championships, a European championship, and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen World Championship.

Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.