The largest professional sporting event for the area couldn't have been organized without the efforts of more than 700 volunteers.

Kelly Dickson, volunteer chairperson for the tournament, was impressed with the volume of volunteers she had at her disposal over the week-long golf event. She believes the excitement from the Telus Skins Game last year at the Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay helped create a buzz for this year.

Dickson was approached by so many willing locals that she had to create a waiting list to accommodate them all. Now she says she has enough contacts for the next two years when the tournament comes back to Georgian Bay.

With kids as young as 12 and retirees in their 80s, the volunteer base is diverse in both interests and talents.

"You can have generations of one family working here in some cases," Dickson said. "And I think we have some of that."

Prior to the event, volunteer planning for the Wayne Gretzky Classic had been in the works for three months. Dickson says the group brings a positive air to every facet of the tournament. "They bring enthusiasm, a willingness to do anything to help out," she said. "Because it's their community, they really take pride in it and want to help showcase it."

"It's been overwhelming because without them, we wouldn't be here today," said Wayne Gretzky, before beginning play last Friday. "There's just no way something of this magnitude could be accomplished without the community rallying around us."

Volunteer opportunities ranged from player transportation to setup and disassembly, from security by members of the Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford and the OPP to marshalling, scoring and crowd control.

Walter Gretzky had no idea of the sheer magnitude of the volunteer effort.

He tells volunteers, "before you close your eyes at night, you should realize that all because of you and your kindness and your help so many people are happy." He adds that the number of happy people at the event is proof.

Maria Moore, a Collingwood resident and volunteer for the event, spent Saturday quieting the crowds. "I love golf and I play five times a week," she said, "so when they asked for volunteers I thought, 'what a great opportunity to get out and help the community and a chance to be out on the golf course which is where I love to be.'"

Volunteer club captain for the Georgian Bay Club George Dickson believes that community spirit is one of the main reasons the Gretzky organizers brought the tournament to the Town of the Blue Mountains.

PGA Tour senior vice president Jeff Monday says the turnout and atmosphere was fantastic. "The support for the tournament was astounding," he said, referring to both the turnout of players and crowds as well as volunteers. "It's as good as I've ever seen."

Jeff Monday was also taken aback by the volume of attendance at the volunteer appreciation celebration at the Beaver Valley Community Centre last Monday.

"It was impressive how passionate people are to help out," he said, noting that it's all a part of the fabric of Canada. He thinks support like this in the first year bodes well for the next two years of the tournament.

"Smaller communities really make these events happen," said Wayne before stepping on to the 10th tee.