West Virginia is in constant need of good publicity.
The last time anyone outside of the Mountain State heard about us, we were struggling through third world country conditions with our drinking water. The story fit the stereotype of an industrial Appalachian region that is behind the times.
We desperately want the rest of the country to know three things about us: we are a separate state from Virginia, we were not all culled from the “Buckwild” casting call, and we are a beautiful state with enough amenities to warrant a visit.
Those are difficult messages to get across. Although we in West Virginia are ultra-sensitive to how we think everyone else perceives us, the truth is non-West Virginians aren’t paying much attention.
Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette says surveys show most people outside our boundaries have no opinion about West Virginia. Think about it. Ask us what we think about, say, South Dakota. It’s next to North Dakota and… let me Google it.
This is why the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic is important to West Virginia. It provides an uncommon opportunity to show our state in the best possible light.
The Golf Channel and CBS Sports show dozens of beauty shots of the luxurious resort and the grounds. Announcers, who are genuinely impressed with the Greenbrier and its service, give glowing on-air descriptions of the environment.
During “Talkline” last week, I asked a number of my guests from the PGA Tour what they thought of the event and, to a person, they gave glowing reviews. Only one made the mistake of saying the Greenbrier was in Virginia, but he was from New Zealand, so he gets a pass.
The Greenbrier Classic also gives us an opportunity to display our hospitality to people who have traveled around the world.
My favorite story of the week came from British golf executive Michael Tate. He and two companions were stranded in Lewisburg after a late dinner. A local gave them a ride back to the resort… in his pickup. Tate got in the front seat, while his companions rode in the bed of the truck.
I told Tate, that’s an example of what those of us who live here love about the place. Many West Virginians are genuinely friendly people who take the “shirt-off-your-back” adage to heart.
Granted, life at the Greenbrier is a costly fantasy for most (although this year’s Classic ticket price of $60, which included entry every day and one concert was an incredible bargain), but that’s irrelevant to the benefits generated by the tournament.
Life being what it is here, we can count on more bad news about our state next week or next month or next year. But at least for a few days every year, West Virginia gets a chance to introduce itself through one of America’s great resorts to people who don’t know much about us
And that’s priceless.