Days before golfers invade Eagle Bend Golf Course for the Lawrence Futures Classic, the fairways and greens are in top condition.

Now, it’s just a matter of killing time before the action gets under way.

“The course is in prime shape, and I’ve never seen it look better than it does right now,” Eagle Bend assistant pro John Morris said. “I think the maintenance guys have gotten it ready, and we’re just waiting for it to happen.”

Morris said, except for a handful of extra man-hours and additional fertilizer, it didn’t take drastic measures to ready the course.

The only major change to the course required no man-hours at all — the flip-flopping of the course’s final hole to No. 9 instead of No. 18 to create a better gallery effect for the tournament’s conclusion, and the fact that No. 9 is closer to the clubhouse.

The preparation for the weeklong event begins today when a few Futures Tour players arrive for a practice round.

But most golfers will arrive tonight and Tuesday morning, and, after practice rounds Tuesday and Wednesday, the tournament pro-am Thursday is the final event before opening-round play begins Friday.

The staff at Eagle Bend also is anticipating a large turnout of spectators during the three-day tournament, which will help publicize the course. Despite minor grumblings from a handful of participants in the course’s weekly men’s leagues and weekend tee-time holders, there’s nothing but excitement flowing through the clubhouse.

“They understand. And they’ve been very receptive to having a big tournament like this come in, and it’s just going to do nothing but help,” Morris said of the course’s regulars.

“Friday’s going to be kind of tough because everybody’s still working, and there’s going to be some people who slide out in the afternoon, but Saturday and Sunday I think we’re going to have a lot of people out.”

Morris said he also was encouraging young golfers to come watch the tournament.

He sees great benefit in the tournament for his two daughters. Aside from taking them to watch the game played professionally, he will be one of many Lawrence residents playing host to one of the Futures Tour golfers at his home for the week.

“I’m inviting kids to watch,” he said. “When there’s a good golf swing out there, that’s what really matters. It doesn’t matter if it’s a guy or girl. I’m bringing them out as much as I can.”