Comedian George Lopez, center, and his caddy, Michael Collins, left, help Bev Taylor, of Stuart Draft, Va., line up a putt on the third hole Wednesday afternoon during The Greenbrier Classic Pro-AM at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs. Lopez pulled Taylor from the crowd and let her hit his putt.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Maybe it’s the sprawling green fairways, stately white structures or even the fan-favorite fried green tomato sandwiches, but one thing is certain: Something about The Greenbrier Classic has endeared the annual golf outing into the hearts of families and friends near and far.
Now in its fifth year, many of the visitors who attended the PGA Tour event in its 2010 debut continue to make the trek to White Sulphur Springs year after year to catch some sun, fun and sport.
While father-and-son spectators Mike and Wyatt Hendrix, of Bangor, Maine, said that this year marked their first time at the Classic, they’re already planning to make the event an annual tradition.
No strangers to West Virginia, Mike lived in White Sulphur Springs until he was 8, and he and his family make annual trips to visit his parents who moved back here for their retirement.
While the Hendrixes usually partake in Fourth of July festivities in Maine, Mike said that they chose to spend their holiday at the Classic this year.
“This is our vacation,” said Mike. “The Greenbrier is beautiful; we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
While most people regard the tournament as a leisurely outing, some of the most convicted golf fans on the grounds opt to employ the “work now, play later” approach.
Sporting either red or periwinkle blue polo shirts, even the Greenbrier Classic volunteers seem to follow the trend of being linked to their roles by family or friends…