She’s not here for the golf. Doesn’t play it, doesn’t really watch it much.

“I had one lesson and I was so bad,” MaryAnne Long said, as we sat in a hot tent Thursday at Ko Olina Golf Club while the LPGA did its thing around us during the second round of the Lotte Championship. “I’d never want to do it. It’s just not my thing, to hit a ball, chase it and hit it again.

“I watch Kahuku (football) games and Patriot games, and that’s it.”

Then what is this 70-year-old retired school teacher originally from Cape Cod, Mass., and now Hauula the last 25 years doing here?

The answer is, a lot.

All of the 700 volunteers here are important, but Long is a legit MVV candidate. She’s the glue that keeps communication strong among the various committees. “I go to every meeting, take all the minutes. Make sure there’s a paper trail of everything at every single meeting, and email it to everyone so they’re all on the same page.”

Out on the course her energy is boundless as she handles all types of errands from dawn to sundown.

“It’s a long day, but I want to make sure everything’s done and I’m here if anyone needs me,” she said. “These people love doing this, and that makes it fun.”

Monday wasn’t the most enjoyable, though. Because of where she is from, Long was touched more than most in Hawaii by the explosions at the Boston Marathon.

“I have so many friends who are involved with the marathon, it’s too close to home,” she said. “It scares you to think you’re in a place that seems so safe, but it isn’t. My sister’s a nun in Boston, and one of her parishioners lost a leg sitting in the stands.”

LONG HAS been involved with golf tournaments for about 10 years, going back to when the Champions Tour held an event at Turtle Bay.

“A lot of the charity went to Kahuku (High School) and I felt obligated to help,” she said.

Long is a co-founder of kahuku.org, which sells Red Raiders gear online and at a few North Shore outlets, including a store at the school. Proceeds benefit the non-profit Ko‘olauloa Educational Alliance Corporation.

That led to volunteering with the Sony Open in Hawaii and Friends of Hawaii Charities.

“She doesn’t mind working the long hours during golf tournaments and does not complain about the small yet important tasks such as filing, mailings and answering phones,” said Ray Stosik, president of 141 Premiere Sports and Entertainment, which produces the Sony Open and Lotte Championship.

Her dedication is year-round. Once a week she rides a city bus from the North Shore to town and back to help at the tournaments’ office.

“I don’t know one thing about golf. All you have to do is care about people and charity and what the money can do for people who need help. I have good skills and I’m retired. I want to do something constructive every day,” she said.

MaryAnne Long has, however, learned a lot about golf tournaments, and the teamwork it requires to keep one going.

“It’s fun to see it all come together.”

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.