Just when you thought the FBR Open’s infamous 16 th hole – “the rowdiest hole in golf’’ – couldn’t get any bigger, well, it’s going to grow by another leap and bound.

According to Pat McGinley, this year’s tournament chairman, 48 sky boxes will be added in 2007, with 36 targeted for the 16 th hole. Considering each skybox holds 30 people, that’s another 1,080 spectators into a lion’s den that already holds approximately 10,000 fans (give or take a 1,000).

“We had a waiting list of 68 companies who wanted to be placed (in a sky box), and we managed to place them all in the 48 new boxes when combined with (companies) who did not renew,’’ McGinley said of the challenge that faced the Thunderbirds, the civic organization that sponsors the tournament.

“Bigger and better, that’s always our goal.’’

McGinley said the current plan to expand the 16 th, which already looks as snug as Fenway Park complete with dark-green walls, goes something like this.

“We’ll add eight additional second-level skyboxes behind the tee box, 10 more will go in around the green, and 18 will go above the public-access grandstand along the north side.’’

But before the average guy with the general-admission ticket protests, McGinley adds: “Believe it or not, we haven’t taken away one seat of public viewing (with the expansion). We’re very sensitive to the general public’s viewing space at the 16th, and we’ve been able to add without subtracting.’’

So is this the final version of the 16 th hole, the one we’ll get used to for years to come?

“Oh, I’m not sure about that,’’ McGinley chuckled. “I’ll leave that to Tim Louis (the 2008 tournament chairman).’’

One more note about No. 16: For the first time ever, fans will be able to catch a shuttle ride to their favorite hole. Seriously!

“It’s such a long walk out to the 16th, we’ve decided to accommodate our fans by offering a shuttle service,’’ McGinley explained. “We’re still working on it, but basically we’ll have four or five shuttles that will pick up the people under the bridge as they’re coming in and whisk them out to the 16 th.’’

This is a never-ending story, really. Last year, a record 563,777 fans showed up for the week, including a single-day record of 168,337 on Saturday. And in four of the past five years, the 500,000 mark has been eclipsed.

So can FBR Open continue to grow beyond what we’ve seen lately? Good question, McGinley said.

“According to Mr. (Mike) Haenel (2006 tournament chairman and current Big Chief), we’ve got room for at least another 100,000 people,’’ McGinley said. “Where Mr. Haenel got that number, I’m really not sure.

“But 100,000 people would still have to come through the front gate, and in that regard it might be challenging. On the other hand, there’s plenty of more room out there if we can just figure out how to move them through comfortably.’’

That’s one thing you have to admire about the Thunderbirds, they always emphasize the quality of the experience. Considering the numbers they deal with, it’s amazing.

Then again, being well-organized and always staying on top of it are their trademarks. And as the perfect example, here is what I’m talking about.

This year, McGinley gave each of the 55 active Thunderbirds who are working on the tournament a rather large clock. On the face of the timepiece is a picture of the 18 th green along with these words: “Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking into the future.’’ Near those legendary lyrics from rocker Steve Miller is a digital display for the day, the hour, the minute and the second to the start of the next FBR Open, which will take place from Jan. 29 through Feb. 4.

“As we speak, there are 103 days, 11 hours, four minutes and 45 seconds before it starts all over again,’’ McGinley mused. “I just thought it would be a good idea to keep the tournament on everyone’s mind throughout the year.’’