FAIR GAME:A good deal and lots of fun for golf lovers

Here’s this morning’s question: What raises in excess of a million dollars a year for Hoag Hospital and puts another $20 million to $30 million annually into our local economy?

Well, if you like golf, and probably even if you don’t, it’s a fairly easy question. The answer is the Toshiba Classic.

And for those of you who haven’t realized it, the 2007 Toshiba Classic golf tournament at Newport Beach Country Club is less than a month away — March 5 through 11.

So this week I caught up with Ira Garbutt. Who is Ira Garbutt, you ask?

Good question.

Well, first of all, Garbutt isn’t on the paid tournament staff for the Toshiba Classic. Nope. But he’s its ultimate volunteer. And his job is simple. He needs to find 1,000 more people just like him to volunteer and make the tournament happen.

You see, without volunteers — lots of them — the Toshiba Classic doesn’t go.

So why does someone like Garbutt spend all those hours volunteering? He’d probably give you two quick answers: one, because it’s the right thing to do, and two, because Hoag Hospital saved his life. He probably would even add a third: because it’s fun.

So when Garbutt thinks about $1-million-plus that will come out of this year’s event or the fact the this golf tournament will have generated some $10 million for Hoag since their association began, he feels good.

I’ve decided to help Garbutt get the word out. Experience is not necessary, and the pay is good. It only costs you $75. That’s right, it only costs you $75 to volunteer, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

If you’ve been out to the tournament before, you’ve seen the volunteers in action: some carrying scoring signs for each of the groups (one year I walked with Arnold Palmer); some marshaling along the ropes, keeping those inside the ropes inside and those outside the ropes outside. You see how easy it is?

There are those who work with radios to keep the on-course leader boards up to date; those who shuttle the players to and from the course; people who sell tickets or help in the many on-course sponsor tents.

It truly is an army of people.

Some of the stories of volunteers are great. Ruth Davis-Burnell lives in England. Her son lives in Corona del Mar. Guess when she decides to visit? That’s right, during tournament time so she can volunteer on the Pro-Am committee. She’s there every year.

Or, Marc Lemberger, who like Garbutt, had his life saved at Hoag Hospital. Today, he’s a walking scorer. I’m sure he’d agree with Garbutt that the grass is a lot greener on this side.

So I said earlier that it costs $75 to volunteer. But here’s what you get: a Toshiba-logo golf shirt, a jacket, a hat or visor, preferred parking, breakfast and food vouchers, a week-long admission badge (good for the entire tournament), two additional one-day tickets for friends, and an invite to the volunteer wrap-up party.

If you bought all of that on your own it would probably run you $300 to $400.

To remind you again why they charge, it’s to offset the cost of all the volunteer perks and to help the charity as much as possible.

So here’s what I need you to do, or maybe better yet, here’s what Garbutt needs you to do. Go to www.toshibaclassic.com, click on “Volunteer Information” and then on “Apply Online.” It couldn’t be easier. But for those of you who are computer challenged, I have an even easier way — call (949) 660-0277.

It’s nice to have all that money go toward Hoag Hospital, because you never know when it’s your time. But when it is, they’ll be there to give you the best care possible.

Just ask Ira Garbutt.