U.S. Open volunteers share what drove them to come to Oakmont this year

Karen Beeken assured a volunteer arriving early Wednesday at Oakmont Country Club that they would get their credentials.

“I’ll take care of ya,” said Beeken, 72.

Beeken of O’Hara is one of more than 4,000 volunteers working the 125th U.S. Open. They come from near and far, from all across not only Pennsylvania, but the nation, with some hailing from as far away as Texas, California, and the Northwest.

Beeken’s assignment is taking care of the needs of some of her colleagues. Her day started at 5 a.m. to check on other volunteers.

“I enjoy doing this,” she said. “I’ve done it for years. I just like to be involved in the chaos.”

But the event is hardly chaotic with people like Beeken behind the scenes. She described her duties as taking care of the volunteers so they can better assist the guests.

“Reporting to me, I have, like, 30 (volunteers) … but any volunteer can come here.”

They have a wide range of jobs, from driving accessibility carts and providing directions for lost visitors to serving as hole marshals, like Fox Chapel resident Ben Kessing.

Kessing, 47, said this year is his third time volunteering for the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He already expects to do it again when the U.S. Open returns in 2033 because, “it’s a special event that only comes, like, once every 10 years, so just kind of the opportunity to be right where the action is happening.”

While the action is what attracts many volunteers to the world- famous course, the experience is what drew Patrick Kochanowski back.

Kochanowski of Murrysville said he loved his experience working the 2007 U.S. Open so much that he shared it with his son and his daughter, Rachel.

Eighteen years later, all three are working together.

“I probably wouldn’t have volunteered a second time if it wasn’t for (my daughter),” Kochanowski said. “Once they decided they wanted to do it, then, for me, it was part of that experience.”

Rachel said the volunteer application process began in April 2024.

Along with dedicating their time, volunteers were required to buy a $200-plus package that includes two Oakmont U.S. Open golf shirts, a matching hat and pin, plus other items they’ll need for the event.

Helping the general public buy a wide variety of products at the merchandise tent was 26-year-old Tristan Lesheim.

The Pittsburgh native said he volunteered because he’s a golfer.

“I wanted to be able to experience Oakmont firsthand,” he said. “I’ve never played the course, so this is my opportunity to see it.”

Lesheim has been golfing for 15 years.

“Initially, my dad got me into it, so I knew how to play golf from an etiquette perspective. But it just kind of turned into a fun pastime.”

Lesheim struggled to put the volunteer experience into words.

“I don’t know what I was expecting,” he said, “but it’s pretty hard to even imagine the scope of what all this entails.”

Erik Carlberg, also working in the merchandise tent, said because he’s an Oakmont resident, he felt it was his duty to volunteer.

“I’m proud to be from Oakmont … and host everybody from around the country — and around the world — and show off the course and town as well,” he said.

Along with the gear, the volunteer package included free admission to the U.S. Open events, which Kessing said he plans to take full advantage of.

“I’ll be able to take my family for free as well, so I’m looking forward to taking my kids on Friday,” he said.

The tournament kicks off at 6:45 a.m. Thursday.