Team TurfNet Reporting for Duty. “Then it hit me, “This is real.”
After a few days spent visiting friends and adjusting to the time zone change, we are finally assembling at the K Club for our first day on the course. Most of the volunteers arrive today and we will be fully staffed by midday tomorrow.
The warmth and sunshine of the last two days was much needed and welcomed by not only course manager Gerry Byrne but everyone we spoke to. There isnt a more weather-obsessed country than Ireland.
When I first thought of coming to Ireland to help on the crew for the Irish Open, I envisioned a sort of golf course maintenance fantasy camp since I have never done this sort of work before. As the assignments and schedules came over from Gerry Byrne it hit home that I will be expected to be a fully contributing member of the crew (raking bunkers and filling divots no one is crazy enough to turn me loose on a piece of machinery).
The scale of the event finally hit home when I arrived at Dublin airport and saw all the signage for the Irish Open. I saw the collage of expected players and thought, these guys will be teeing off on grass mowed by Nate, they will be in bunkers raked by me and Mike, and all the equipment will be maintained by Pete and Dana as they assist head technician Pat Freaney. This is real.
Everyone (even non-golfers) knows about the tournament and is handicapping how all the Irish players will do. Naturally the country is especially focused on tournament host Rory McIlroy. Coverage of his play this week at TPC Sawgrass is front page news.
Tonight we will be joined by many of our Irish superintendent friends for a welcome reception. Tomorrow, it gets real.
The first tee awaits at the K Club.
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