Volunteers give back in Toshiba tourney

Shirley Pobe’s blue eyes sparkled as she talked about helping out her favorite cause.

As the most veteran volunteer at the Toshiba Classic she doesn’t hesitate a second when asked why she spends so much of her free time working the tournament.

“Hoag Hospital,” said the 37-year resident of Eastbluff.

Actually, she has a personal reason for supporting the hospital, which is the largest beneficiary of this week’s Toshiba Classic PGA tournament at Newport Beach Country Club.

“My husband died, and they took care of my husband,” she said. “They were fantastic. I just want to give back.”

She proudly points to Hoag’s advances and improvements, like the Women’s Pavillion and the Cancer Center.

“All of those things have been built because of these tournaments.”

Pobe began her days as a volunteer some 30 years ago when the event was known as the Little Crosby. The Big Crosby, or the Clambake, was held every year at Pebble Beach. Those who couldn’t make the cut there played in the Little Crosby.

“It started with the members of the club,” said Pobe, who was a member with her husband. The club, known then as Irvine Coast Country Club hosted the event and it was the first tournament to support Hoag, she said, noting that they didn’t have uniforms then and just wore green pants and white tops.

“Fuzzy Zoeller won the Little Crosby,” she said. “And Chip Beck.”

An avid golfer herself, she still plays even as she approaches age 80.

And 30 years into it, Pobe takes volunteering to a new level.

“Shirley sold 1,600 outdated pieces of uniforms and made about $8,000 doing it,” said volunteer chairman Brian Horn.

As one of 770 or so volunteers, Pobe volunteers multiple days a week to the tournament, many of them doing it as a labor of love for Hoag. If it wasn’t for Pobe and those like her, the Toshiba Classic, which has five full-time paid staffers, would grind to a halt.

“It literally can’t happen without the volunteers,” Horn said.

Horn also spends many an hour volunteering for the tournament. But he noted that he has lots of help, like vice volunteer chairman Cal Rietzel and his wife, Sue.

“Every organization needs its glue,” Horn said. “They are the glue.”

The Rietzels collect all of the volunteer applications and then assign volunteers to the appropriate committees.

Volunteers have a laundry list of duties such as uniform distribution, hospitality, transportation, Pro-Am setup, communications, marshalling and scoring. And volunteers come from far and wide to assist.

Dr. Gary Hinrichs recently retired and moved to North Carolina. He’s back this year for his 11th year.

“It’s a social event,” Hinrichs said. “It’s an opportunity to share with your fellow volunteers. It’s family.”

Sue Rietzel said most volunteers are from Newport Beach or Orange County.

Most, like them, do it for the love of Hoag Hospital. But is the strain of the event worth it?

“We’ve been involved for three years and we’re still married,” Rietzel joked.

Alex Jianas lives in a condo along the 9th fairway. The former teacher and businessman is a childhood friend of professional golfer Gary McCord and, unlike Pobe, this is his inaugural year as a volunteer.

Volunteers pay $75 for their uniforms and undergo rigorous training.

“I felt like I was back in the Navy,” Jianas said of the training regimen.

Jianas said he got involved because Horn asked him to.

“The professionals that are here appreciate the volunteers 10-fold,” he said.

TONY DODERO may be reached at tony.dodero@latimes.com or at (714) 966-4608.