Stop or go: Here’s where to watch the action unfold

Old Toshiba Classic pros ? meaning those who watch the event, not play in it ? can quickly rattle off the three best spots to take in the action.

The seventh hole, which demands a well-placed tee shot, is considering the toughest green at Newport Beach Country Club, with its severe slope and undulation. Amateurs who have played the course know the danger of being upslope from the hole and the horror of watching a lightly tapped putt roll and roll and roll past the cup.

Surely that won’t happen to any of the Champion Tour pros? If you have any doubts, taking a seat here will provide some fun.

The 15th hole, a short par 5 at 492 yards, is a birdie or even eagle opportunity beckoning to players. If you’re the type who demands that kind of excitement (rather than the agony of a bogey or worse), this is the hole for you.

Finally, there’s the 17th hole, Newport Beach Country Club’s signature hole, with its imposing water and decent length ? 185 yards. The crowds swell around the two-tiered green, and the sponsor skyboxes there are always packed.

Those skyboxes, as well as the fairway villas, really are the places to be. The skyboxes around the 17th and 18th greens can hold as many as 35 people. The villas along the 16th and 18th fairways are larger, capable of holding 60 people seated or 80 standing.

The ones on the 16th hole also have views of the 17th green. All are heated (or air-conditioned, as weather warrants) and ? here’s a key ? catered.

The trick? Getting an invite. But if you do, you’ve got one of the best seats on the course.

If you haven’t wrangled a spot in the comfort of a box or villa, don’t despair. There are plenty of other places to park and take in a day’s worth of pro golfing.

If you love watching players being punished and are through with the seventh hole, you can wander down the fairway to the sixth green. Last year, this par 4 ? among the longer ones at 418 yards ? was the hardest hole at the tournament, with an average score of 4.269. Pay special attention to the twin palm trees on the left side of the fairway, which protect its dogleg to the left. It’s possible there are two or three sleeves worth of balls stuck in them right now.

Think lightning never strikes in the same place twice? Then the 13th hole is one to avoid ? it’s the only place an ace has been scored in the tournament’s history. Sammy Rachels accomplished that feat in 2002.

Next to the 13th hole is a sleeper on the course, and a good spot to check out precision driving. The 12th hole, a simple-seeming 373-yard par 4 can turn into a bear if a tee shot veers right. To that side is a curving stand of trees that makes any second shot to the green a tricky and troubling challenge.

If long, big drives are more your thing, any of the par 5s ? the 549-yard third, the 15th or the 510-yard 18th ? are places to stop for a while. And while these pros don’t scream the ball off the tee quite like those on the PGA Tour, the tour’s two top drivers this year, Peter Jacobsen and past winner Tom Purtzer, both are averaging better than 293 yards on their drives and both are scheduled to play.

Sitting at individual holes is only one way to experience the Toshiba, of course. Fans also can choose their favorite player and follow him through 18 holes (or just nine if they still want to settle in one spot for a while). A great day to do that is Friday, when the crowds are a little thinner.

It’s possible to get, and stay, close to the pros and watch them from tee to green. Once the crowds pick up, usually it’s better to stay ahead of the pack and let the players catch up.

However you choose to watch, just remember one thing: This is the chance to see golf live and not on TV. But you can only do that if you come down to the tournament.dpt.10-toshiba-tee-BGraphicInfoR31OQ3BO20060310R31OQ3BONo Captiondpt.10-toshiba-17thhole-BPhotoInfoI91OQ0RM20060310im9noqncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Perhaps the most recognizable hole at Newport Beach Country Club, the 17th hole is a challenging par-3 over water. In 1997, Bob Murphy sank an 80-foot putt here on the ninth playoff hole to win the championship over Jay Sigel.