The name changed last year. The date has changed beginning this year.
This September, expect an extraordinary event.
“A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier”, known from 2010 through 2017 as The Greenbrier Classic, takes center stage in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia September 9-15 as the new date on the annual PGA TOUR FedExCup schedule moves the stop at America’s Resort to the beginning of the PGA 2019-2020 season.
The tournament name was changed in 2018 in order to honor a deep connection between the United States Military and The Greenbrier. This year’s tournament will benefit Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen, as well as first responders as the event recognizes the anniversary of September 11, 2001.
“Our commitment is toward not only staging a world-class golf tournament, it’s also focused on honoring the heroes that allow us to celebrate events like this throughout the country,” Executive Tournament Director Robert Harris noted in late May. “We have made it a goal to make “A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier” the most fan-friendly event on TOUR. Our sponsors and our spectators will help us support organizations that make a difference in the lives of these military members and first responders.”
The military focus of the tournament will be obvious throughout the week, with events taking place to honor the sacrifices of these selfless men and women. The entrance to the tournament will be lined with military and first responder vehicles, as well as interactive expos that educate on the organizations’ missions.
Tuesday’s Salute to Service Dinner inside the main hotel will feature a military band and a nationally- recognized guest speaker. During the popular Wednesday Pro-Am on September 11, golfers will pause to remember the September 11th attacks during a ceremony at 9:46 a.m. That same evening, a parade honoring military and first responders will make its way through White Sulphur Springs and the grounds of The Greenbrier.
The tournament itself, which has drawn top-level golfers including Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Tom Watson and many other to the historic Old White TPC Course, begins the 4-round, 72-hole play on Thursday.
A new ticket format is available this year. Weekly grounds tickets are now on sale for $125 that provide access to the Monday and Tuesday practice rounds, Wednesday’s Pro-Am and all four days of tournament action. Single day tickets are also available for any of the seven days at a price of $40.
For those who want the ultimate tournament experience, premium ticket options are available beginning with a clubhouse ticket for $3,000 that includes access to Sam Snead’s and Slammin’ Sammy’s inside the clubhouse as well as premium seating overlooking the green at #18 along with complimentary food and drink for the entire week.
Also available is the Eisenhower Club, a premium venue on the course that includes air-conditioned facilities, seating and snacks all seven days, and food and beverage Thursday through Sunday. These can be purchased in a two-pack for $1,200, four-pack for $2,200 or eight or more tickets for $500 per ticket.
“We are excited to offer options for every type of golf fan,” Harris said. “If you just want to come for a day and follow a group, you can do that. If you want to bring friends, family or clients and entertain them in a premium environment, we provide that as well.”
Those who attend the tournament also have the availability to access the unparalleled amenities in the historic main hotel that dates back to 1778, and other activities located throughout the 11,000-acre Greenbrier playground. They include shopping at the Retail Collection comprised of 36 boutiques, shops and hand-crafted works of art, enjoying food and drink at 20 restaurants, cafes and lounges, as well as access to The Greenbrier Casino, Americas’s only private casino, which features the full array of table games, slot machines and simulcast racing.
Visitors to The Greenbrier will take a walk back in history. Twenty-six presidents have stayed there, with The President’s Cottage Museum offering exhibits about these visits. In the late 1950s, the U.S. government approached The Greenbrier for assistance in the construction of an Emergency Relocation Center, a bunker or bomb shelter, to be occupied by the U.S. Congress in case of war. Excavation began in 1958 and construction was completed in 1962, where by secret agreement with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, a new addition to the resort, the West Virginia Wing was built and the bunker was surreptitiously built under it.
The huge 112,000 square foot facility, with concrete walls up to five feet thick, was built to house 1,100 people. For 30 years it was operated by government technicians posing as employees of a dummy company, Forsythe Associates, keeping things from cafeteria and medical facilities to scientific equipment and even updating magazines ready in case of war. Today, visitors can witness the expansive, preserved facility through paid tours offered by the resort.
Bill Turner