Editorials

The organizers of the Toshiba Senior Classic golf tournament rolled a

lucky seven this year.

It was the seventh year that we have been treated to seven days of the

exciting golf event and, as it has been the last few, it was a lucrative

venture yet again.

Unlike last year, when a windy rainstorm barreled through town and

spoiled the fun, Mother Nature was kind this time around and provided a

full three days of fair weather for the final rounds.

For the players and spectators alike, it was another memorable and

successful show.

Much credit needs to be doled out.

From the hundreds of eager volunteers, to the groundskeepers at the

Newport Beach Country Club, to the tireless organizers such as Hank Adler

and Jake Rohrer, to the players themselves, they have all contributed

mightily to the event becoming a respectable stop on the senior golf

tour.

Even the top names in golf continue to drop by -- last year Arnold

Palmer, this year Tom Watson -- to join the already top-notch talent that

plays in the tourney.

And Newport Beach is all the better for it.

Over the last four years, the golf classic has managed to raise nearly

$4 million for Hoag Hospital. The money will be used for the new Women’s

Pavilion now being built at Hoag.

And on top of that, the tour stop itself manages to pump millions of

dollars into the city’s tourism industry and sales tax coffers, directly

benefiting local hotels, restaurants and shopping destinations.

Before her untimely death last year from cancer, Newport Beach

Conference and Visitors chief Rosalind Williams presented a symbolic

$21-million check to city officials, a large chunk of which could be

attributed to revenue generated by Toshiba visitors.

So to that, we say congratulations to all who have made this event

something other cities must be “green” with envy over. We look forward to

many more to come.