Behind the scenes

--Claudia Figueroa

* WHO: Dave Kahal and Paul LaPiana

* AGES: 30

* JOB TITLE: Course service assistants

* THEY ARE: Equipping the players with necessary supplies, such as golf

balls.

* DAILY DUTIES: Kahal and LaPiana, who have volunteered at the tournament

for five years, are the golfing equivalent of customer service

representatives. Their No. 1 priority is to deliver supplies to the

golfers, who often need hats, Frisbees, water coolers and beverages.

“It’s called ‘player hospitality,’ where you kind of have to see yourself

as a customer service person,” Kahal said. “The players need to depend on

someone to have their questions answered and their needs taken care of.”

“We are the middle men between the corporations and the sponsors and

players,” LaPiana added.

The pair are also the tournament’s youngest volunteers.

* DID YOU KNOW? There are more than 1,100 volunteers at this year’s

event. Most of them are active in Professional Golf Tournaments

throughout Southern California. The rest, like Kahal and LaPiana, are

longtime supporters of Hoag Hospital. The tournament proceeds will go to

the hospital’s foundation.

Hoag Hospital not only benefits from money raised, but from its

supporters’ helping hands, too.

“The volunteers really make this event happen. It’s also the kind of

experience where the volunteers look forward to seeing others return each

year,” Kahal said.

LaPiana agreed: “I think the tournament is great because it makes the

community aware of who we are [at Hoag] and how we’re trying to

contribute to the community. I’m not a huge golfer, but I like being

involved in the community.”