Frequently Asked Questions

1. What's the relationship between the John Deere Classic, Deere & Company, the TPC Deere Run, and the PGA TOUR?

The John Deere Classic Tournament, Deere & Company, the TPC Deere Run and the PGA TOUR are all separate organizations. In 1997 the PGA TOUR, Deere & Company, and Quad City Open Inc. (a not for profit organization that puts on local PGA TOUR event) entered into 9-year agreement. John Deere agreed to supply equipment to all courses in the PGA TOUR's Tournament Player's Club (TPC) network, donate land for the construction of the TPC Deere Run, and become title sponsor of the Quad City PGA TOUR event and rename it the John Deere Classic. In 2002, that original agreement was extended to make John Deere the official golf course equipment supplier, landscape products supplier, and golf course equipment credit company to 23 courses in the TPC network while extending Deere's title sponsorship of the John Deere Classic to 2010.

2. Why do players tee off on #1 and #10 on the weekend?

Under normal conditions, weekend play is scheduled to end at 5:00PM local time and players tee off on the #1 tee only. There are two situations where this can change. TV scheduling or the weather may force modifications to the normal schedule. If the scheduled TV air time ends at say 3:00PM, the tournament would like to complete play by that time and this means we have to use both the both the #1 and #10 tees to finish on time. If weather delays the start of play, we may also have to compress play by starting on both the front and back.

3. Why do we have to pay for uniforms?

As stated previously, it keeps getting more expensive to set up the golf course and keep ahead of mandatory purse increases. Volunteers are critical to the tournament's success and although a few events on TOUR offer free uniforms, most charge a nominal fee. We work hard to get the best prices possible for the uniforms and to pass those items on at their wholesale cost.

4. Why do you run out of some shirt sizes?

Uniforms are ordered based on the size information from the previous year. Unfortunately, there is often a difference year to year in how a garment is cut so some people will size up or down as necessary. We try not to over order because those extra garments have little value after tournament week so there always seems to be a shortage in one size or another by the end of the volunteer pick-up process. Each year we still have hundreds of shirts left over. For everyone to be guaranteed the size they prefer our overages would have to be 2 or 3 times what they already are. Considering this is charity money, we don't feel this would be the responsible thing to do.

5. Why do shirts have to change every year?

With each volunteer expected to work at least three shifts each year, and the understanding that volunteer shirts are also worn after tournament week, a reasonable life-cycle is about one year. Plus, special programs during the last two years have keyed shirt colors to special charity initiatives.

6. Why doesn't every volunteer get a free round of golf at the TPC Deere Run?

The TPC Deere Run is a separate entity from the John Deere Classic. Since moving the tournament in 2000, the John Deere Classic has paid for 920 rounds of golf for volunteers. Each year, 200 volunteers are chosen at random to receive a round of golf for themselves or someone of their choice. Offering 1500 rounds (one per volunteer) a year is something the tournament can not afford.

7. Why don't we use the parking at the Stone House for volunteers?

After the 2003 Saturday washout the tournament has moved to hard surface parking. This ensures a consistent experience for patrons and volunteers, regardless of the weather.

8. Why don't we have more food and water on the course?

The Volunteer Cart was introduced as a way to say thank you to volunteers. It was never intended to be the sole source of food or drink. The reality is that it has to cover 385 acres and may not come around more than once a shift. With that, volunteers are reminded to make sure they have their own supplies and not depend exclusively on the "Thank You" cart. The Volunteer Center should help this in 2008.

9. Why doesn't Deere offer time off to volunteers?

The John Deere Classic is completely separate from Deere & Company. Deere & Company independently decides human resources policies for their employees with respect to time off from work for volunteering.  How volunteers manage their free time is completely up to them and the John Deere Classic Tournament is very grateful for the efforts of all our volunteers.

10.Why do we have to wait so long for buses?

The shuttle system is designed to handle large crowds, but sometimes the space and time it takes to load, cycle, and unload buses backs up the system. The tournament often adds extra buses during the week to handle larger than expected demands but there can never be a guarantee that a patron or volunteer will not have to wait for a bus. Our goal is to make those waits as short as possible.