Mark Blackwell knows En-Joie Golf Course like the back of his hand, coming to the course since he was 12 and going to the Dick's Sporting Goods Open since it came to Endicott.

"Even as a young boy, I attended it all the time. I always thought, 'Man, I wish I could get inside the ropes," Blackwell said. "So now I've I've made some great friends here. I've met a lot of golfers, and I get to get to see what the workings of a tournament is."

30 years ago, that wish came true, as Blackwell decided to start volunteering at the tournament, a job that would become a summer staple.

"It's a part of me," Blackwell said. "Like I said, it's the best event in the triple cities, hands down as far as I'm concerned."

Tournament preparation for the 30-year veteran and his crew is a year-long exercise, scaling out new ideas and additions months in advance. Two weeks before tee-off, Blackwell's team gets a head start by roping off the course and fencing off areas. 

With tournament week here, the 20-plus cabanas overlooking the 18th hole are the next job for the six-man team.

All that hard work beginning earlier this year paid off for Blackwell, winning the tournament's Volunteer of the Year award. 

"I was like, What? Are you kidding me? So it caught me totally by surprise," Blackwell said. "But I am totally honored and it's it's been my baby forever. You know, it's a place where I like to go and volunteer."

As Blackwell has grown over the years, he's also seen the tournament grow.

"I just have watched this tournament grow," Blackwell said. "I mean, it's we used to head now we've got a big Jumbotron over here, used to have a handheld masters type of scoreboard at one time. The course has changed."

The Dick's Sporting Goods Open tee's off this Friday, June 21 at 9:15 a.m.