KYLE GREEN The Roanoke Times

Tommy Firebaugh, from Roanoke, works a laser measuring device which relays ball distances to television reporters during the first round of The Greenbrier Classic.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Volunteering is one thing. But paying to volunteer?

Well, that's the deal for the approximately 2,100 people from 22 states who are serving as volunteers for The Greenbrier Classic this week.

A deal?

How about a steal? You betcha, say a couple of Roanokers who paid $85 each to serve as a volunteer for the inaugural PGA Tour event at The Greenbrier Resort's Old White Course.

"Paying to volunteer ... it's an interesting concept,'' said Andy Hough, a consultant for Global Marketing and Advertising. "But it's a ton of fun. Absolutely stunning, gorgeous, I'm thrilled to death to be here.''

Tommy Firebaugh will second the motion.

''Yeah, I'm having fun,'' said Firebaugh, a retiree from Norfolk & Southern Railroad. ''This has been on my bucket list. When I saw they were playing over here, it went to the top of the list.''

Forget about trying to climb Mt. Everest. This chore is doable.

First, you get a red shirt with a giant white Polo logo. A free hat. Free parking in the $10 lot. A $12 voucher per day for food from the course vendors.

What you don't get is a place to stay. And, sometimes, details can be a bit sketchy about what's going on in the $6 million tournament. When you volunteer, your day is spent on one of the 18 holes.

Firebaugh, 66, is working on the laser unit, which records the length and landing spot of all tee shots, plus the length of every putt on the green. All that information is then quickly fed to the television crews working the event. The Golf Channel televised Thursday's and Friday's action. CBS takes over the gig for today's third round and Sunday's final round.

There's not much downtime for Firebaugh. Because of a 90-minute weather delay in Thursday's first round, he spent 13 hours on the job at No. 2. On Friday, he was off the hook after 12 hours, after fog delayed the start of the action for an hour.

''I like this laser deal, though,'' Firebaugh said. ''Every player comes by you and you're inside the ropes with them.

"Now, we have no idea what's going on in the tournament ... we don't have any TV. They call me laser boy.''

Firebaugh made the 85-minute drive to town on Tuesday. He drove another 40 minutes before he could find a place to stay. He finally secured a $35 room for five nights at the Greenbrier County Youth Camp. The place, a 40-minute drive away from here, sits on the banks of the Greenbrier River in a place called Anthony, W.Va.

''I've seen a lot of people out tubing in the water,'' he said with a slight tone of resentment. "I haven't been in the water. Who's got time?''

His next chore is to wash the red volunteer shirt. It's been hot this week and the shirt is growing a little raunchy.

''I'm going to do something about that this evening,'' he assured. ''I understand they have a washer and dryer somewhere at the place I'm staying.''

That's nice. There is no air-conditioning at the place.

So what. Firebaugh is having fun. He did get to attend the Rascal Flatts concert Thursday night at the West Virginia Fairground. He got a fourth-row seat for free.

"I needed a break from Roanoke anyway,'' he said.

Hough's job is less intense. He signed to serve two eight-hour shifts working the green at No. 9 in the first two rounds.

Ssssssh! Hough, 52, is the guy who raises the paddle-shaped "Quiet" sign as players get set to strike their putts.

''I get to see these players up close doing this,'' said Hough, who plays a lot of golf. "I get to walk right down to the edge of the green. I can't walk on it. The players are real nice to us.''

Hough has spent the past two nights in Douthat State Park in a friend's motorhome. The rate couldn't be beat. It was zero.

''The 35-minute drive from Douthat to here is wonderful,'' he said. ''And it's been fun watching these guys work the green. The players have their routines ... they take their time. Some talk to their caddies, some don't. I hope I've learned something.

''It's fun. It's about interacting with the patrons. I've met a lot of new people.''

Firebaugh and Hough have avoided the biggest fears in their volunteer duties. Neither has gotten plucked by a golf ball.

''That's my only fear ... getting bombed ... because we can't see,'' said Firebaugh, laughing, whose laser tripod is set up at the 300-yard mark of each fairway.

"See that guy up on the tee with the orange paddle. He'll show us which way they hit it. So if he tilts it this way, we'll be watching out.''

After five straight days at The Old White, Firebaugh won't find out the victor until he gets home late Sunday afternoon. He's working the 13th hole Sunday, so when the last group moves to No. 14 he's history.

''I'm outta here,'' he said. "I'm going home and watch it on TV because I'm recording it.''

Now that's a deal.