TAMPA (FOX 13) -
Some of golf's elite have descended on Tampa Bay for this
weekend's PGA Tour stop.
It takes a lot to transform Innisbrook.
After months of planning and hard work, the resort has turned into a small
city.
For a week, Tampa Bay is the focus of the golf world, and
before the trophy presentation, the resort will need a PGA makeover.
"We like to call it a temporary city we erect every year," tournament
director Kevin Krisle said.
The course puts up signs, bleachers, monitors and
scaffolding. At least 50 vendors transform it into a golfer's dream.
"We've had vendors on site since January preparing the
grounds, getting ready for the event," Krisle said.
Big names like John Daly, Luke Donald, Adam Scott and Jim
Furyk are here. The Tampa Bay Championship will be in the national spotlight
this weekend.
"Most important is
the exposure we get with the broadcast partners," Krisle said. "This event is
televised over four days on the Golf Channel and NBC. We've got more than 20
hours of live broadcast coverage a year."
And that means everything
has to be perfect.
"There's not one
leaf out of place, not one grass in the wrong position," said Ryan Stewart,
groundskeeper.
Ryan and his crew of 14
work 12 hour days to maintain 95 acres. They mow it once a day and the greens
twice. In the end, the course is one of the best in the country.
