Things are beginning to heat up here in Gulf Shores, both literally and figuratively, on the eve of the 2009 GCSAA Golf Championship and Golf Classic.
By about 9 a.m. today, roughly half of the 350-player field had officially checked in, and by the time the registration area closes up shop at 8 o'clock tonight, that number will likely be down into the single digits. Traditionally, most competitors squeeze in a practice round on Saturday of tournament week after checking in that morning or before checking in that afternoon. So one way or the other, the bulk of the field is here and ready for the first day of play — either in the first round of the National Championship or in the four-ball competition — tomorrow.
Yours truly is also ready to go after taking my first spin around Gulf Shores this morning. I worked the tournament the last time we were in this part of the world back in 2000, and since all three facilities hosting play this year are carryovers from that event, I had a pretty decent feel for the area. But we're in a different hotel this year — we were headquartered in Mobile, Ala. last go around; at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Ala. this year — so I wanted to get a little reorientation in before the first tee shots began to fly at Kiva Dunes, Peninsula and Craft Farms. Mission accomplished.
The weather also seems to be cooperating, at least for the time being. Like most of the rest of the country, it's been a chilly stretch in Gulf Shores. Those buried under snow and ice right now probably won't shed many tears, but temps here have been hovering in the low 50s most of this last week. We're sunny and in the low 60s today, with upper 60s on the menu tomorrow. Not bad.
What could be bad, however, is what happens after that. Forecasts are calling for rain beginning Sunday night and continuing into Monday, with temps slipping back into the 50s. If that holds true, things could get interesting as we try to get everything wrapped up by Tuesday afternoon so all of us — staff and competitors alike — can head three hours west to New Orleans for the Golf Industry Show.
I've got a handful of photos from this morning that I'll toss up later today. And then tomorrow, thanks to tech guru Brian Gilges, I may be bringing you live scoring updates from Kiva Dunes and the first round of the National Championship, courtesy of Brian's wireless DSL card. Ain't technology wonderful?
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