The July 2-8 tournament, held on the historic Old White TPC Course at the White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., resort, has been rebranded as A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier, and will now include a Military Appreciation Day, flyover and week-long benefits for active military and veterans. The PGA Tour also announced that the Houston Open will be continued for five years, after a deal was struck with Jim Crane, owner of baseball’s Houston Astros. The tournament will return to the Golf Club of Houston, where it has been held since 2003, but move from its customary spot in the week before the Masters to early October.

 

The PGA TOUR has officially approved the rebranding of The Greenbrier Classic to its new name, A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. The annual PGA TOUR FedExCup stop at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., will begin using the new name and logo immediately.

The 2018 Military Tribute at The Greenbrier will be held July 2-8 on The Greenbrier’s historic Old White TPC Course.

“We want the world to know that the military comes first, and our focus is on those men and women above everything else,” said West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. “Our new name reflects our commitment to celebrating and honoring the United States Military with everything we do.”

The tournament’s focus on the military will expand far beyond the name change. Active military, as well as veterans, will be admitted to A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier free of charge, and they will receive complimentary access to the Stars and Stripes Outpost. The air-conditioned building includes seating, televisions, private bathrooms and food and beverage for sale.

Tuesday, July 3, will be Military Appreciation Day, and all veterans and active military will be presented with a voucher for a complimentary lunch.

As the United States celebrates its independence on July 4, the tournament will join the festivities with a fly-over and other events to commemorate America’s birthday at “America’s Resort.”

“Our state has more military members per capita than any other state, and those men and women are unbelievably important to us,” said Governor Justice. “This entire tournament is a tremendous way for all West Virginians to show their appreciation.”

The Greenbrier, which has hosted the tournament since 2010, also has a close connection to the military. More than 70 team members on staff at America’s Resort have served in the military, and 27 United States Presidents have visited the grounds of The Greenbrier.

From 1942 through 1946, the United States Army took full control of The Greenbrier and operated the 2,000-bed Ashford General Hospital. During that five-year stretch, more than 24,000 soldiers were treated at the surgical and rehabilitation center.

From 1961 through 1992, a secret government fallout shelter was maintained in a constant state of readiness at The Greenbrier. It was meant to house members of the United States Congress in the event of an attack on America. The 112,544-sq. ft. facility housed 18 dormitories, a clinic, a laboratory, a pharmacy, a cafeteria, meeting rooms, a communication room and more. It was decommissioned after being exposed in The Washington Post, and today tours are offered to registered hotel guests and the general public.

“The connection between The Greenbrier and the United States Military is undeniable,” said Dr. Jill Justice, President, The Greenbrier. “We’re proud of that history and equally proud of the men and women who help protect our freedom today. We couldn’t be more excited about showing that appreciation through the name change and hosting a tournament focused on honoring the military.”

The PGA Tour also announced that the Houston Open will continue for five years. In a deal with Jim Crane, who owns baseball’s Houston Astros, the tournament will return to the Golf Club of Houston, where it has been held since 2003.

However, the Houston Open will now move from its customary spot in the week before the Masters to early October. The tournament will be sponsored by the Astros Foundation and carry a purse of $7.5 million.