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White hospitality tents and grandstands set the scene across Sedgefield Country Club as crews enter the final full week of preparations for the 2026 Wyndham Championship.
The tournament reaches two major milestones this year: 20 years of Wyndham serving as title sponsor and the 100th anniversary of Sedgefield Country Club. Tournament Director Bobby Powell said organizers hope to make this year's championship one to remember.
The final week before tournament play is also the busiest.
"We've been working with our vendors so far about five weeks now on the buildout," Powell said. "This week is what we refer to as advance week," with PGA Tour staff arriving to assist with final preparations.
The finishing touches come after one of the Triad's most unusual summers. Months of drought browned lawns and stressed vegetation across much of North Carolina before several inches of rain fell over parts of the Triad last week.
Powell said the golf course has largely been unaffected.
"It was so dry, it was crazy to see it," he said. "It's not that bad necessarily on the golf course."
He credited the course's Bermuda grass, which thrives in hot weather, along with an irrigation system that has kept playing conditions in tournament shape.
This year's weather challenges stand in sharp contrast to last summer, when repeated storms washed out part of Wayne Road beside the course, creating a large sinkhole that required extensive repairs.
This year, officials say the focus has shifted from recovering from flooding to managing drought and heat while keeping tournament preparations on schedule.
Crews have adjusted their workdays by starting earlier, taking additional breaks and shifting schedules to avoid the hottest afternoon temperatures.
Powell said after nearly a year of planning, seeing the course and temporary structures come together is rewarding, but the real payoff comes when spectators arrive.
"When you see those first fans coming off the bus and onto the grounds," he said, "that's big job satisfaction."
PGA Tour staff are scheduled to arrive this week to help complete the final preparations before the Wyndham Championship begins.
Continue reading...
The tournament reaches two major milestones this year: 20 years of Wyndham serving as title sponsor and the 100th anniversary of Sedgefield Country Club. Tournament Director Bobby Powell said organizers hope to make this year's championship one to remember.
The final week before tournament play is also the busiest.
"We've been working with our vendors so far about five weeks now on the buildout," Powell said. "This week is what we refer to as advance week," with PGA Tour staff arriving to assist with final preparations.
The finishing touches come after one of the Triad's most unusual summers. Months of drought browned lawns and stressed vegetation across much of North Carolina before several inches of rain fell over parts of the Triad last week.
Powell said the golf course has largely been unaffected.
"It was so dry, it was crazy to see it," he said. "It's not that bad necessarily on the golf course."
He credited the course's Bermuda grass, which thrives in hot weather, along with an irrigation system that has kept playing conditions in tournament shape.
This year's weather challenges stand in sharp contrast to last summer, when repeated storms washed out part of Wayne Road beside the course, creating a large sinkhole that required extensive repairs.
This year, officials say the focus has shifted from recovering from flooding to managing drought and heat while keeping tournament preparations on schedule.
Crews have adjusted their workdays by starting earlier, taking additional breaks and shifting schedules to avoid the hottest afternoon temperatures.
Powell said after nearly a year of planning, seeing the course and temporary structures come together is rewarding, but the real payoff comes when spectators arrive.
"When you see those first fans coming off the bus and onto the grounds," he said, "that's big job satisfaction."
PGA Tour staff are scheduled to arrive this week to help complete the final preparations before the Wyndham Championship begins.
Continue reading...
