19 September, 2007
|
The PGA
As Great Britain & Ireland attempt to claim a first win on US soil, PGA Cup captain Gary Alliss begins the first instalment of his blog from the Reynolds Plantation, Georgia.
The first thing to say is - it's good to be here!
It had looked a little bleak at one stage.
Having arrived at Manchester airport we discovered the plane ready and fuelled, the meals, wine and beer for a nine hour flight packed and stacked and the air hostesses all present and correct. There was just one snag - no pilots. Always useful when you've got a Boeing 767-400 to accelerate at 150mph down a runway and get five miles up in the sky, and then hopefully down. Anyway cue four hour flight delay as a crew was flown up from the Midlands to fly us to Atlanta.
It's a long story suffice to say two or three large gin and tonics settled the nerves and once we arrived in Atlanta and subsequently the Ritz Carlton Lodge at the Reynolds Plantation in Georgia, spirits were up and the team was primed and ready for a first morning's practice.
Watching the sheer scale and beauty of the Reynolds Plantation wash over the players was a nice feeling. I'd already had a recce two months ago but had deliberately played it down because you can't really convey what it's like. Mind you I didn't tell them about the venomous snakes, copperheads and moccasins! According to Russell the caddymaster they can get a bit aggressive and come after you if you encroach too near.
Anyway it was soon down to the serious business of playing and, delayed flight and late night taken into account, I think the players looked in pretty good shape. It was hot so after morning fourballs we just had a practice session in the afternoon and the players reveled in the facilities which are quite incredible. These include a TaylorMade Kingdom fitting centre - one of only two in the USA. It was also timely for George Ryall who was able to get a rescue club fitted thanks to TaylorMade's Robin English and his staff.
The theatre of battle over the weekend will be the magnificent Oconee Course, weaving its way in, out and around the lake of the same name, it's a good course and a type the players are familiar with.The Bermuda grass is a little bit thicker and challenges you around the greens. The greens are a little bit slower at moment courtesy of some heavy rain but I think we'll see them speed up a bit as the week progresses although I don't think scarily quick! We hope not anyway.
So what's the course like? Well it has 18 super holes, spectacular tree-lined stuff that has echoes of Augusta. Andrew Barnett was particularly enamored, ploughing through about three camera batteries as he snapped every hole from every conceivable angle but I don't blame him, it's that kind of course.
It really kicks into gear on the ninth which is a pivotal hole and the outward nine is spectacular. Local knowledge says the back nine is about four shots harder and I think I'd agree with that assessment.
The finishing four or five holes are serious stuff. They are still very fair holes off the tee but leave some testing approach shots - great for match play golf.
I already have pairings in mind but while we started off with pairings that seemed natural I will mix it up on the second day of practice today and look to see players whose games complement each other in terms of length off the tee and also that can still work together personality wise.
Away from the course the players' partners and families had a great trip on the huge lake besides the complex. Danny Taylor's three-year-old daughter Georgia was I believe driving the boat and if her dad can keep his driving as straight as hers reportedly was we could be in for a good week.