The PGA Tour Champions Sanford International golf tournament used a helicopter Thursday night to expedite the drying process at Minnehaha Country Club after an estimated five inches of rain hit the golf course

Minnehaha officials, including grounds superintendent David Swift and golf pro Mickey Finn, promised at least one helicopter by 6 p.m. on Thursday that would roam the grounds. Sanford officials assured that the helicopter would have been otherwise idle at the time it was being used to help dry the course.

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“It’s safe to say if they needed it elsewhere, the golf course could wait,” said Paul Heinert, Sanford media relations specialist.

The helicopter swept the course for an estimated 45 minutes, hitting spots where it could safely get close enough to the ground to speed up a process that will include a concerted effort on the ground.

“We were talking most of the day about the possibility of bringing one in,” Heinert said. “After it cleared up a little bit we thought, let’s do it. We just wanted to make it clear that we were going to do everything possible to make the course as playable as possible.”

The course is well-suited to take on water, Swift said, telling media earlier Thursday that Minnehaha had dealt with far worse in the past. A crew made up of volunteers and other golf course superintendents from the area will be putting in the hours with squeegees and the like up until the tournament begins at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Overcast but dry conditions are expected for the first round.

“I have a great staff,” Swift said. “They will rise to the occasion.”

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