The maintenance team at Reynolds Lake Oconee is at the top of its game this week preparing the Great Waters course each day for its star turn on “Big Break Invitational Reynolds Lake Oconee.” Not only are Great WatersGreat Waters superintendent Brandon Hayes and the Plantation’s Vice President of Agronomy Lane Singleton keeping close tabs of every little thing, they’ve all been under the watchful eyes of Snoopy 2, the MetLife blimp, as well as Golf Channel’s national TV audience.
But there’s been no need to worry. Golf Channel’s commentating team has proclaimed Great Waters to be in “tremendous shape,” while the players have been dealing with “the fastest greens I’ve ever putted on.” That’s how it should be, especially as the match-play portion of the competition starts today.
The outstanding course condition is the result of months of attention from the entire grounds crew. Special focus was paid to a number of different areas, from designated tees to where the television towers would be placed on the back nine. Just before the contestants came to town, the crew did extra mowing and edging to get the course up to “camera-ready standards.” And everyone has been impressed with the condition of the greens and the bunkers, which were restored a few years ago to architect Jack Nicklaus’s original specifications.
Lights, camera, action! Great WatersGreat Waters is ready for its close-up.
