WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — With The Greenbrier Classic coming up in late July, the drive is already on to secure much-needed volunteers.

One of the volunteers will be Dennis Vass, 52, of Beckley.

Vass, an accomplished amateur golfer himself, has already experienced volunteering at a pro event, having worked the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh in 2007.

He’ll take a vacation from his job as an assistant manager for Food Lion to head to White Sulphur Springs for the FedEx Cup Series event at The Greenbrier.

“It’s a pretty big thing,” Vass said. “We’ve had the Nationwide Tour in Clarksburg at the Pete Dye Course, too. I’ve volunteered there for the past three years. But there’s no crowd there. There are some really good golfers, though. They’re just a step below the FedEx Cup golfers. But this is big-time. The big players will be coming. It’s a chance for fans in West Virginia to see them without having to drive several hours away. It’s pretty exciting.

“I just like being around the good players and seeing how they do things,” Vass added. “I like to see how they practice and warm up before they go out and play.”

For golfers who look up to the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, it’s a chance to see the world’s best golfers up close.

“You’re rubbing elbows with them,” Vass said. “It’s a unique opportunity. I even talked to some of them. Most are pretty nice guys that don’t mind talking as long as they’re not busy. You don’t want to bother them when they’re working. That’s their job.”

Vass recalled an experience with Lefty himself.

“I like Phil Mickelson,” he said. “One of my friends was there also, and he had his 11-year-old little girl with him. Phil saw her standing there and waved to her. She said, ‘Phil, you’re my favorite golfer. Throw me a ball.’ And he smiled real big and reached into his bag and pulled out a ball and threw it to her and said, ‘I bet you say that to all of the players that come through here.’ And she said, ‘No, you’re my favorite.’

“Fred Funk was playing with him that day and he said, ‘Phil, you ought to run for president. You’re so nice, everybody will vote for you.”

The importance of a successful inaugural Greenbrier Classic is not lost on Tim McNeely, the tournament director.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of any PGA event,” he said. “You can’t be successful without them. We’ll need about 2,000 volunteers over 35 committees. We’re gathering support and the volunteer response so far has been good. We have about 850 in just a few short weeks.

“Mr. (Jim) Justice wants The Greenbrier Classic to be the best event on the tour. That’s what we’re shooting for.”

Volunteers will pay an $85 fee, but get a substantial amount for their money.

The fee goes toward The Greenbrier Classic volunteer package, which includes a golf shirt and wind jacket by Polo Ralph Lauren, a choice of a cap or visor, a $12 meal voucher for each shift worked, a weekly badge allowing grounds access each day, complimentary weekly parking and an opportunity to purchase a Grounds Badge for one guest at half price ($73.50).

Other perks await the volunteers.

Volunteers who work three full days or six half-day shifts will receive a voucher for complimentary golf on the Old White, Meadows or Greenbrier courses. Volunteers must work at least four of the six shifts on the Thursday through Sunday of tournament play. Volunteers working four full days or eight half-day shifts will receive a voucher for a $79 one-night stay package at The Greenbrier, including complimentary golf for two. Volunteers must have worked at least six of the eight shifts Thursday through Sunday.

“You don’t have to know golf to help out,” McNeely stressed. “There are only six or seven opportunities that are golf-specific. But there are a lot of different volunteer opportunities with parking, clubhouse, tents, range assistants and others. The bottom line is that you’re giving back to the community.”

For more information about volunteering, contact volunteer coordinator Jim Sweetwood at 304-536-5322. Volunteer registration forms are available online at greenbrierclassic.com.