Well, it IS only a practice round...but that also means I can take my camera. I usually go to the practice rounds at Muirfield on Wed. for that same reason...plus the crowd is a little sparser (at least at Muirfield it is). We scored the tix 'cause our wives bought them for us on StubHub for Christmas. Mike and Jer and I are flying down Sun., playing golf Mon and Tues at a couple of area courses, then to the Wed. practice round and home on Thurs. Motel Prices and greens fees are ABSURD (I'm talking "don't even think about it" absurd) in Augusta that week...but I managed to score a room at a cheap rate (but only one room for the 3 of us) and one of my employees has a friend who is a PGA pro in Atlanta with connections...and he got us a couple of more reasonable greens fees (and he's even going to play with us on Monday.)
I would think a practice round would be great, the players more relaxed might kibitz with the fans a little bit. I had a couple of relatives go 3 years ago and they had a great time. I don't think they stayed in Augusta though due to the high prices of rooms. Hope the weather is great for you. Say hi to Hootie for me! And do not get involved with this bunch!!
<<<Well>>> First of all there is nothing like meeting the girl in person. Start with the first tee and just walk all 18. The first time you see 16 (when you're at 7 green) you think that you're meeting up with an old friend. To see 12 and 13 is something you never forget. When you see 15 you wonder how they ever hit that green. Watch how the putts seem to move as those there were on ice. You can never get the feel of the undulations on TV, you have to see them in person. And lastly, after the practice round you get to see Tiger's warmup tournament for the Masters. It's called the par 3 tournament. I know you're going to really enjoy the experience.
STU!! I'm Jealous. But here's what you can do to make me feel better. (1) I want a vile of water from Ray's Creek. (2) I want a sample of turf from the 18th Tee Box (3) Get Jacks Autograph for me on a replica Green Jacket. You can make this happen Stu....I know you can. THANKS IN ADVANCE!! AJ sends...
Just to show how independent the Masters is, for all of the other majors you can go to their websites and buy all sorts of logo stuff for that event. Not for the Masters, you can only buy their stuff at the Masters.
Some other interesting things at the Masters 1. Not only is the food very reasonably priced but the sandwiches are wrapped in green paper just in case they get away. 2. There used to be no rough at all, now there is a minor inconvience that resembles a first cut. 3. The fans at the practice rounds are a little "rowdy." This is mostly confined to 16 where they try to coax each golfer to try to skip it off the pond onto the green. 4. The Masters "stores" bring out the same excitement as a toy store for kids or Best Buy for guys. Ya want just about everything. 5. The club house is smaller than you think. 6. 18 is really not as isolated as it looks on TV and is abutted by 10. 7. 4 is a gut busting par 3 and 11 is a nasty, nasty par 4. 8. The par 3 6th hole has an elevated tee. Some of the gallery sit on the hill below the tee.
I just showed this to my wife . Do you think she'll get the hint? Have a great time Stu. PJ in Jersey
Wow. Just wow. More later. Medicating my sore legs with Newcastle. My boys drug me all over the place. Par 3 tournament was so much more fun than I thought. It was a riot.
I couldn't help noticing that at the Masters you are a Patron, while at every other golf tournament you are a fan. Didya feel classy!!