With everyone onsite by Sunday afternoon, Gerry Byrne hosted a kickoff night complete with that staple of Irish culture: Irish music. Volunteers were entertained by the sounds of Home Brew. TurfNet Ireland 2015 trip participants will recall hearing them on our final Saturday in Dublin last October. They played a nice mix of Irish ballads and classic favorites.

It wasn't a particularly late night, however, as we were due at the course by 5:30 to start dialing in the tournament conditions.

A brisk early morning start...

The course looked great Monday morning, with the greens in particularly good shape from an application of seaweed and iron from blog sponsor OGT. The recent warm weather was crucial to the current conditioning as the resulting rise in soil and air temperatures created strong growth and consistency in all fine turf and rough on the golf course. Even if the anticipated rain forecast for later in the week does arrive, the course should perform well.

A spritz of seaweed and iron lit up the greens for the start of tournament week.

Monday also brought the first sight of golfers arriving for the event. The range was full by midday and they were taking their first practice rounds by mid-afternoon.

Parking spaces reserved for the players...

...who headed directly for some putting practice.

I started my assignment for the week with initial preparation and presentation of the 62 bunkers on the course. Mike O'Keeffe was a great coach on proper techniques. I will head up the team of bunker workers on the back nine for the rest of the week. Today, however, we worked in a couple of larger crews and prepared all the bunkers in order.

Mike O'Keeffe showing me the bunker edge technique.

And there I am... a long way from the TurfNet Atlanta office.

Now that everyone is onsite I asked Gerry Byrne what it meant to have the tournament fully-staffed with volunteers. He replied, These volunteers were such a welcome to our team as the guys integrated with the team to create a cohesive and dynamic force to deliver the turf for the event. They also brought a fresh impetus and passion to the team which was much needed. It has been a very tough winter for the in-house guys and having the extra crew to support and work to deliver the event is a breath of free air."

Here's a Viewer's Guide to the Irish Open.