The impact of this year's drought could jeopardize one of Georgia's most popular sporting events.
The annual spring AT&T classic at the Sugarloaf Country Club in
And, although Sugarloaf uses rain collected in nearby retention ponds, officials hope the state will grant a watering ban exemption.
Mike Crawford is Sugarloaf's superintendent.
"If we were to lose the ability to water our greens, I think you would see a lot of golf courses and a lot of business in the state be seriously affected, and potentially in the long run could have to close their doors."
Current law prohibits Sugarloaf from using water hazards on its course to keep the
Cooler temperatures and recent rains mean the course has not had to draw from its retention ponds.
Still, the course has no contingency plan. Instead, they’re relying on a wet spring and the state for drought relief.
