SOUTH BEND — A golf tournament is only as successful as the people who stage the event.

With the inaugural Four Winds Invitational last August at Blackthorn Golf Club in the books, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, owners of Four Winds Casinos, are looking forward to putting on another successful tournament.

The 2013 Four Winds Invitational at Blackthorn will be held in June, running from Friday, June 21, through Sunday, July 23.

In order to put on such a tournament for the LPGA’s Symetra Tour, nearly 300 volunteers are needed.

In fact, 250 volunteers are going to be needed for this year’s event.

“Volunteers at the Four Winds Invitational will receive a polo shirt, hat and one round of complimentary golf at Blackthorn Golf Club,” said Tim Firestone, General Manager, Blackthorn Golf Club. “During the Four Winds Invitational, volunteers will be able to help out as caddies, cart drivers, sign builders, driving range assistants, food and beverage servers, main gate and parking attendants, marshals, spotters or scorers and as first aid caregivers.”

All selected volunteers must be at least 16 years of age prior to June 19 and are required to pay a $25 fee prior to May 1. Food and beverages will also be provided to volunteers on each day of service.

Volunteers must attend a training session and complete nine total hours of service before receiving their free round of golf.

For questions regarding volunteer opportunities, please contact Ben Mesaros at (574)232-4653 or at ben@blackthorngolf.com. More information, and a volunteer application, is available at www.fourwindsinvitational.com/volunteers.

The Four Winds Invitational features a field of professional women golfers from around the world competing for the largest purse on the Symetra Tour – Road to the LPGA.

The $150,000 total purse is the largest on the Symetra Tour.