WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — The place to be for fans seems to be the grandstands and hillside viewing area around the 18th green.

With grandstands and luxury boxes, it’s as close to a stadium atmosphere as you’ll find.

“It’s great to see all of the pro golfers up close,” said Jimmy Fox of Hinton. “I’ve been to a couple of other tournaments, and the access you have here is incredible. You’re right on top of them. It’s been phenomenal.

“It’s a great atmosphere. It’s been off the charts. It’s better than anyone can imagine.”

Fox and several friends from Hinton had a viewing strategy in mind when they arrived.

“We set our chairs up (on 18) because there is a lot of action,” Fox said. “It’s one of only two places on the PGA TOUR to have a Par 3 finishing hole. It has the amphitheater atmosphere. It gets the fans connected to the golfers. I think the golfers enjoy it as much as we do.”

The crowd watched as the PGA TOUR players hit their shots from the tee 162 yards away, placing the ball on the green in front of the gallery.

Several good shots drew cheers and plenty of “oohs” and “aahs.”

“When it comes down to crunch time Sunday, when it’s a 1- or 2-shot lead, this place is going to be electric,” Fox predicted. “It could be a party atmosphere. Hopefully, that’s what we’ll get at The Greenbrier Classic.”

Ed Burke of Roanoke, Va., chose to sit in the grandstands on 18 with his family.

“It’s really an exciting place to be,” he said. “It’s a very interesting hole, it really is. I love it. We’re up high, looking down. Everyone can see. The seats are staggered, so you’re not blocking the view. Earlier, we were down on the grass, and that was a great place to be — the hillside view.

“This is the first PGA tournament that my wife has been to,” Burke added. “We’re so happy that The Greenbrier has come back to life again. It only takes about an hour from Roanoke to get here. We’re having a great time. We look forward to coming back next year. You can count on us being here.”

“The crowds have been great,” said The Greenbrier Classic tournament director Tim McNeely. “It seems like they know their golf. They’re very respectful and they’re showing a lot of excitement.”

On top of being a prime place to view the finishing hole, 18 has another importance. The Greenbrier owner and chairman Jim Justice has pledged a $1 million donation for a hole-in-one on 18 this week — $250,000 going to the golfer and $750,000 going to charity.

In addition, each fan seated around 18 with a “golden ticket” will get $100 for the first ace, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third ace.

“Trust me, as a fan that’s an added incentive to sit around the 18th green,” Fox admitted. “The excitement of seeing them hit these shots into this green and then you add on the prize money. That shows what a shrewd businessman Mr. Justice is.”

“It’s very nice of him to do that,” Burke said. “It’s very rare to get a hole-in-one, but if you’re lucky enough to be here when it happens, it’d be really nice. That wouldn’t be a bad day. I think there will be one before it ends Sunday.”

“Even when the tournament was first announced, Mr. Justice said that he wanted No. 18 to have an exciting feel to it,” said McNeely. “He wanted it to also have a classy look and feel, and I think he’s accomplished that.

“We have a lot of people around 18, so we’re hoping for a hole-in-one.”

A final round ace? How would that energize the crowds?

“It would be really exciting to see someone win the tournament with a hole-in-one (today),” said McNeely. “That would be unbelievable … and very fitting.”

— E-mail: jworkman@register-herald.com