Dell Match Play Championship Near

Blank Scoreboard

Blank Scoreboard

The Dell Match Play Scoreboard is in place at Austin Country Club, where the PGA Tour crews are working early and late to finish preparations for the event.  The match play format is unusual in that the field of 64 players will be divided into 16 groups of four.  Each group will have two days of matches, Wednesday and Thursday, against the players within that group to determine the final 16 players that will advance.  That format is reflected in the scoreboard.

Number 1 tee box is surrounded by bleachers and has a walkway over the cart path to allow players and foot traffic to gain access to the stands.  The bleachers are only a few feet from the tee box so spectators should have a close up look at the players.

Television towers, hospitality tents, vendor areas, signage for traffic, footbridges, tractor trailers full of golf equipment and television gear are appearing and finding their place.

Parking lots are filling up with tractor trailers of gear as the PGA’s traveling show settles in for the Dell Match Play Tournament.  The shot link trailer is parked immediately behind the practice tee.

shot link trailer

shot link trailer

For those fans who are not familiar with this technology, it is a system that feeds data to the announcers pertaining to distances that players face on a particular shot, as well as keeping stats on players performance.

Fences are being erected around the putting and chipping greens along with flags to add gaiety and an air of formality to the event. The putting green and chipping green both are in great shape in terms of the quality of the grass and it appears that the players will have quality conditions if the weather cooperates during the tournament.

cart path to the chipping green

cart path to the chipping green

The clubhouse lawn will serve as a food and beverage area where patrons with passes will be allowed to purchase food and drink as they watch the golfers.

Various ticket packages that have been sold that will allow access to different areas of the clubhouse and hospitality tents on the course.

Hospitality tents are everywhere on the back nine of the tournament course

clubhouse hospitality area

clubhouse hospitality area

which is normally the front nine for member play.  Holes 10 and 11 are on top of the hill then number 12 comes off the hill and runs along the lake.  Holes 13-15 run along Lake Austin in a links style golf course.  Number 16 begins the ascent back up the hill where 17 and 18 finish on top of hill.   This nine holes has room for spectators, hospitality and vendor areas that the other nine does not have available.

As anyone who lives in Austin knows, the “winter” has been mild.  All the trees, grasses, flora and fauna are in full tilt bloom and various shades of green adorn the hillsides.  It is a beautiful time the year and will provide great spectating.

number 12 tee box

number 12 tee box

It’s not Augusta but it’s nice scenery.

Shown here is the number 12 tee box with a flowering tree in the foreground.  The adjacent par three, number 11, has spectator seating behind the green and the hillside will allow spectators to stand or sit and view the action as well as the Lake Austin.

The tee shot on number 12 affords one of the best vistas on the course as players view the elevation change and can see the entire hole.   The fairway winds down the hill and zig zags toward the green alongside the water.  The bridge over lake Austin is cast against a background of the Texas Hill Country.  It’s worth seeing.DSC00026

There will be spectating opportunities from the water.  Boats will be allowed within 100 yards of the shoreline and there will be a no wake zone along the golf course from the bridge to the eastern most point of the course.

Information about parking, gate entrances, hours operations, etc. is available at this link.

More photos are available here.

 

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