After almost three months of erecting hospitality tents, media tents, vendor booths, food and beverage stations etc. Austin Country Club looks like a site for a World Golf Championship. Click here for photos of the facilities, the course and players practicing.
Construction crews built foot bridges tweaked the golf course conditions, hauled in television equipment, roped off spectator areas, built bleachers, and have done so in the least intrusive manner possible.
The greens superintendent, Bobby Stringer, along with the PGA Tour staff have worked non-stop to bring the golf course to a peak of readiness and it is in great condition. The height of the net on the practice tee was raised to 100 feet to contain the long hitters on the practice tee.
A nine month restoration project that began in January 2015 was completed in November. It improved the green complexes, removed some trees for better sight lines, added a few bunkers, replaced the fairway turf, and in general improved the course.
The Austin Country Club board and committees negotiating with various businesses for parking, worked with the City of Austin as well the Lower Colorado River Authority and other governmental agencies to obtain necessary permits for a significant event and attended to numerous other logistics and details.
Now, the event is about to begin with practice rounds Monday and Tuesday before the matches begin on Wednesday.