Jim Justice Opens Up Greenbrier Classic With Astounding Offer

Greenbrier owner Jim Justice (left) is joined by 2015 champion Danny Lee and Greenbrier pro-emeritus Lee Trevino on Media Day June 6th to announce all entry badges will be free in 2016.
Greenbrier owner Jim Justice (left) is joined by 2015 champion Danny Lee and Greenbrier pro-emeritus Lee Trevino on Media Day June 6th to announce all entry badges will be free in 2016.

Don’t underestimate the vision and determination of Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice.

The billionaire industrialist who is known for successful ventures in coal, agriculture and hospitality always finds a way to pull an ace from the deck.

Justice would call it determination and refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.

Things became political for this year’s Greenbrier Classic PGA TOUR golf event being played out July 4-10 at the historic White Sulphur Springs, WV resort’s Old White TPC Course.

Justice, currently the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for the November election against Republican Bill Cole, announced in mid-May that he was going to push politics to the back burner and avoid any confrontation with the opposition party. It would be hard to argue that he put his money where his mouth is.

On June 6th during the Greenbrier Classic Media Day, Justice was joined by Greenbrier pro-emeritus Lee Trevino and last year’s Classic winner Danny Lee as he explained his decision to open up the tournament to the public for free. It was an unheard of move on the PGA TOUR.

Justice acknowledged that he made the move in disgust over criticism by the opposing party about the state’s support of the tournament and the associated delay in passing a state budget. Justice requested that lawmakers remove a $1.75 million state sponsorship of the tournament.

 Since 2010, the first year of The Greenbrier Classic, the tournament has received just over $10 million from the state. During that same period it has been estimated that the tournament had brought substantially more in tourism dollars to the state, the purpose of the sponsorship in the first place.

“This tournament is too good to be tossed around like a political football,” Justice noted. “I don’t want to turn something that’s as great as this in any way political. It means too much to me, too much to the people and too much to our state. The state should be promoting this tournament. I decided to drop out of state participation because of the things being said. I’m not going to let politicians delay the (state) budget or bash me over the greatest economic opportunity West Virginia has ever seen.”

Justice went a huge step further by making the weekly entry badges free to everyone. Last year a basic weekly badge cost $179.

“We want to welcome everyone to come to this event,” Justice said. “The free entry badges will also give the public the opportunity to visit the hotel, its shops and restaurants, and go to the casino. We welcome everyone with open arms.”

Justice estimated that 15,000-20,000 spectators could easily be on hand Monday and Tuesday. For Wednesday’s Pro-Am and the four rounds of the tournament Thursday through Sunday, he said those numbers could grow to 40,000 or over each day. All that Justice asks is for each spectator to bring a can of food to be distributed to those in need. To get the free weekly badges, go to www.greenbrier.com.

“We’re going to have to watch it because we’re going to have to cut it off at some point and time,” Justice pointed out. “But, we can handle up to 50,000 people here without any trouble across the grounds. Tell everyone they need to sign on quick.”

So what was the reaction by the PGA of this unprecedented gesture?

“”I think the feedback so far is they’re astounded,” Justice noted. “They’re astounded that it’s a goodness gesture. It’s something they’ve never seen before.”

” We do it on the Senior Tour; we don’t do it on the regular tour,” Trevino added. “I don’t know if the commissioner (Tim Finchem) was very happy about this. I’m excited. This is my second year here and I’ve done everything except pick up range balls.”

Justice compared it to the lofty goal he had that brought the Greenbrier Classic to the PGA TOUR lineup in 2010.

“Remember when I went to the PGA and said I wanted to have a tournament here? And, they said ‘you’re crazy, we have a 20-year waiting list. You may be able to get a Champion event or maybe a ladies event .’ I said no, I want the best you’ve got. Now, we’ve got one of the top tournaments and it’s going to keep getting better.”

As usual, the tournament will include many of the top professionals in the world. Those competing include Lee, Bubba Watson and the always flamboyant John Daly, who recently began playing on the Champions Tour, and always a fashion statement in

Loudmouth attire. Five of the six defending champions, including Stuart Appleby (2010), Scott Stallings (2011), Jonas Blixt (2013), Angel Cabrera (2014) and Lee will be in the field.

Justice also announced  a list of both confirmed and invited guests for Wednesday’s Pro-Am. Shaquille O’Neal, Robert Griffin III, Jeff Hossteller, Nick Saban, along with NASCAR’s Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick, who will caddy for her driver/boyfriend Ricky

Stenhouse are all committed. Invited celebrities include Michael Jordan, Bill Murray, Billy Crystal, Charles Barkley, Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, Justin Timberlake Tom Brady and Steve Harvey.

One big change for 2016 will be the absence of the concert series which had previously included the likes of Aerosmith, Rod Stewart and Blake Shelton.

Justice said the concert series wasn’t discontinued because of a lack of attracting acts.

“I was on the phone with the guy who puts on the concerts,” Justice noted. “We were working on all that, and another snide comment came across the TV and I said, ‘I’m not doing this anymore. I’m not going to mess this thing up for that (politics).”

“The most exciting thing is this will be the greatest Greenbrier Classic we’ve ever had. This is going to be phenomenal.”

Bill Turner

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