In preparation for the Greater Hickory Kia Classic in October, the Conover, N.C., resort is deciding whether all 18 holes on its Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course are playable, or if holes from the adjacent Jackson Course will need to be blended in. Flooding on July 27 did heavy damage to the property’s greens, and temporary greens are currently in place on holes three and five.
While the Greater Hickory Kia Classic will likely be played at Rock Barn Golf & Spa on October 18-20 in Conover, N.C., it’s unclear which 18 holes will be played as the resort recuperates from last month’s flooding, the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported.
Serious flooding on July 27 did heavy damage to the resort’s Robert Trent Jones Jr. course and the recovery process is ongoing. If everything goes perfectly, all 18 holes on the will be used. Otherwise, it will be necessary to incorporate some holes from the adjacent Jackson course for the tournament, the Observer reported.
“From what I’ve been told, this was not a 100-year flood. This was a 1,000-year flood,” said Jim Correll, the executive tournament director.
When the flooding occurred, eight greens on the championship course were under water. The water quickly receded but two greens, at Nos. 3 and 5, were severely damaged. Half of the fifth green was torn away by the flooding, the Observer reported.
Also, a bridge on a main road that runs through the course was destroyed, cutting off access to a part of the property. It is also a key artery in handling spectator traffic at the tournament and it will not be completely rebuilt before the tournament is played, the Observer reported.
PGA Tour officials were at Rock Barn last week to assess the situation and Correll said they were confident the tournament can be played in October, the Observer reported.
The championship course reopened for play on August 17, though there are temporary greens in place at Nos. 3 and 5. The original greens on those two holes have been rebuilt and are expected to be ready for the October tournament weekend. The green on the par-3 third hole has been raised nearly five feet to avoid future flooding problems, the Observer reported.
The larger issue is likely to be handling spectators and players around the area where the bridge was washed out, the Observer reported.
“We’re trying to decide if it would make sense to blend in some holes from the Jackson course,” Correll said. “That will be decided very soon.”
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