GOLF:

Though there is about six weeks until the Toshiba Classic comes back to Newport Beach Country Club and by Monday signs of activity were already underway.

Examples of the impending tournament were all around the course. The stands were already erected around the 17th hole, the diabolical par-three that is as picturesque as it is treacherous.

Conditions on the course are incredible. The rough is prohibitive, but not extremely penal and will probably stay that way for the event. The fairways are immaculate, cut tight and no brown spots anywhere.

But it was the greens that impressed me the most. They are the trademark of this golf course and this year could be the best yet. They were flawless and the professionals will be quite happy if they are in the same condition come tournament time, March 7-9.

There is no reason to believe they won’t. The work of Head Superintendent Ron Benedict and his staff was evident throughout the course.

Tournament Executive Director Jeff Purser is certainly enthusiastic about this year’s event.

“This tournament is going to be incredible,” Purser said. “I honestly believe it will be better than the previous year.”

That is a pretty strong statement considering the economy, but it appears the recession has not affected the tournament. The community also thrives when the tournament comes to town. A company called Economic Research Assn. performed a study that showed the Toshiba Classic helped produce $27.7 million in economic benefit to the community last year.

Purser has a bit of help for some of the events. He was able to secure the services of Lee Trevino for the annual community breakfast, held the Tuesday of tournament week, this time March 3. This is one of the biggest fundraisers and along with the two pro am rounds sells out every year.

“We award two $10,000 scholarships,” Purser said. “We have a tremendous Tuesday breakfast with Lee Trevino. Whatever banter Lee has prepared for us, Hank Adler, our previous chairman and chairman emeritus, will be emceeing that again for us and I don’t think Hank understands what he’s in for.”

The field will again be one of the strongest on the Champions tour. Most of the top 20 on last year’s money list will return, including Corona del Mar resident John Cook.

“We’re pretty excited about our field this year,” Purser said. “Obviously, Bernhard [Langer] is coming back to defend his title. Hopefully, he’ll be the first to go back-to-back and repeat and also the second to win two titles.

“We have a tremendous field both in terms of the prior year’s money list and the all-time money list. You’ll see Jay Haas back, our 2007 champion. You’ll see Hale Irwin back and Fuzzy Zoeller and Mark O’Meara and Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite. This year, for the first time in four years, Tom Watson will be back. And coming to us for the first time ever we have Hal Sutton, we have Ian Woosnam and we have Nick Price coming out. We’re very, very excited about our field this year.”

It is hard to believe that this tournament has been around since 1995 and is one of the longest running regular tour events on the Champions Tour.

This event has produced some of the best moments on the Champions Tour and there is no reason to believe that will not continue.

JOHN REGER’S golf column appears Thursdays.