Posted: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 10:25 AM - 15,789 Readers

By: Chris Sadeghi

Next week’s World Golf Championships, the Dell Match Play event at Austin Country Club, could be a visually stunning sight. And there will be quite a few views of it.

Temporary bleachers and buildings have been set up on the golf course for those who have tickets to the tournament, but some familiar and iconic fixtures will also be providing viewpoints.

Neither Austin police or tournament officials have said there will be any restrictions on views from the Pennybacker Bridge or the overlook which provide views of holes 12, 13, and 14 along the Lake Austin shore.

“I would caution people to be safe, but we are not restricting the bridge in any capacity,” said tournament director Jordan Uppleger.

Rick Ton is a golf fan and made the hike up the Highway 360 overlook on Friday morning to take pictures and grab a peek at the course’s setup. But he said he is sticking to the conventional way of viewing.

“It is a beautiful view, but it is not a safe place to watch,” he said about the overlook. “I will try to get on Craigslist to see if there are any tickets out there.”

Several temporary “no parking” signs have been set out on Highway 360 and the roads leading to the Austin Country Club along with signage directing people where to park. Austin police will be helping direct traffic around the area both on land and water.

“I think this is the biggest event I am familiar with,” said Lake Patrol Officer Robert Chapman when comparing the tournament to other big lake events. “Definitely there are a lot of moving parts, a lot or resources being used, but I am looking forward to a fun event.”

Uppleger said the tournament worked with lake patrol and the Lower Colorado River Authority to allow boats to anchor up near the three lakeside holes and view from the water. Temporary buoys have been installed approximately 150 feet from the shore and the half-mile stretch from the bridge to the end of the course will be a “no wake” zone during the event. Lake patrol officers will be present to make sure traffic flow on the lake stays open and those traveling through are adhering to the no wake rules.

The thought of good weather and dozens of boats providing a crowd on the water could provide the gold world with a unique view of Austin and the lake according to Uppleger.

“There are not many golf tournaments where you can get in a boat and watch the top 64 players in the world.”

*  Story Contributed by: Chris Sadeghi