Byron Nelson course has recovered from 2015 rain damage
With the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament set for May 19-22, final preparations are under way at the TPC Four Seasons Resort.
“After last year’s 100-year flood, we had a 90-day drought. We didn’t have one drop of rain,” said Paul Earnest, the resort’s director of golf. “It was very taxing on the turf. It was very stressed.”
Fortunately, a mild winter followed and the fairways and rough appear to be in good shape.
“We can make [the rough] as penal as they see fit,” Earnest said. “It’s really not where the [PGA] Tour is going these days. They prefer it to be firm and fast, we had everything but that last year.”
Last year, heavy rain reduced the par-4 14th hole to a par-3 for the last three days, and the bunkers were also damaged.
All 59 bunkers were stripped down to the gravel, and any drainage problems were resolved. New sand, a 50-50 mix from Texas and California was used.
“The level of sand education you get in a position like this is incredible,” he adds. “You’re measuring the porosity of the bunker – how fast it drains – how it plays, how it packs, a fried egg test, and how likely is it a player will get a plugged lie. All of these measurements are done.”
What fans will notice is the color, a brilliant white.
“It’s quite a bit whiter than in the past few years, so it really stands out,” Earnest said. “We think it’s going to show very well on television.”
Eric Zarate: 817-390-7760, @zarate_eric
AT&T Byron Nelson
May 19-22, TPC Four Seasons, Las Colinas
Prize money: $7.3 million
Defending champion: Steven Bowditch
This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Byron Nelson course has recovered from 2015 rain damage."