Golf Course 101

Thank you for returning to Golf Course 101! A new way to learn about golf and life.

This is my cat, Tom Sawyer, but he just goes by Sawyer.  He likes to play fetch with whatever is laying on the ground and this week, Master’s Week, it was golf tees!

The Master’s - one of the most coveted PGA golf tournaments of the year.  One of the “majors” as it is referred to began on March 22, 1934, in Augusta, Georgia.  It was started by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts as an annual tournament at Mr. Jones’ esteemed Augusta National Golf Club.  Since its beginning, the Master’s has been steeped in tradition from Amen Corner to the green jackets. It’s every golfer’s dream to play on the course where not a single blade of grass is out of place.

There’s a certain hype that happens with Master’s Week.  It has become such a special tournament for the pros and for everyone who watches golf and even for those who don’t.  It only happens once a year and believe me…it’s a big deal.  Every player wants to win this tournament, and only few have the opportunity.

This kind of hype tends to happen with many things that only come around once in a while but the attention to detail that is paid to not only the course but to the players and the viewers is unrivaled.    

Here are a few fast facts about the Master’s courtesy of www.masters.org:

• The Masters is known as the most beautiful golf course in the world. Did you know that the color of the drink napkins for patrons perfectly matches the grass - so if you drop your napkin it will not show on TV? (Staff)
• Horton Smith won the first tournament in 1934.
• Jack Nicklaus became the oldest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 46 years, 2 months and 23 days - in 1986.
• Tiger Woods was the youngest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 21 years, 3 months and 14 days - in 1997.
• The tradition of members wearing green jackets began in 1937, when jackets were purchased from New York’s Brooks Uniform Co. The idea was that Masters patrons easily could see members who would have accurate information.
• In 1949, the first Green Jacket was awarded to that year’s Masters champion, Sam Snead.
• Amen Corner refers to holes No. 11, 12 and 13. In 1958, a Sports Illustrated writer, Herbert Warren Wind, named the second half of hole No. 11, hole No. 12 and the first half of hole No. 13 Amen Corner. This is where the critical action took place that year. He borrowed the name from an old jazz recording called “Shouting at Amen Corner.”
• The pine tree is the most abundant tree at Augusta. Several species grow along the course, including: Loblolly Pines, Shortleaf Pines, Slash Pines, Longleaf Pines, Eastern White Pines.
• Magnolia Lane extends from the entrance gate to the clubhouse. The 61 large magnolia trees that line both sides of the 330-yard road date to the late 1850s.
• There are three dedicated bridges at Augusta National: the Sarazen Bridge at hole No. 15 — to honor Gene Sarazen’s double eagle there during the 1935 Masters, the Hogan Bridge at the No. 12 green — to honor Ben Hogan’s then record score of 274 in 1953, and the Nelson Bridge at the No. 13 tee — to honor Byron Nelson’s performance on holes No. 12 and 13 when he won the 1937 Masters.
• No amateur has ever won the Masters.
• The tournament was not played during the years 1943, 1944 and 1945 because of World War II. To help with the war effort, turkey and cattle were raised on the Augusta National Grounds.
• You cannot apply for membership. You can only be invited.
• Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and former amateur standout and now Senior PGA Tour player John Harris are the only pro golfers who are members.
• The club is open from mid-October to late May.

So enjoy the Master’s this week and appreciate the founding fathers of this game and the current champions who keep us motivated to be better!

Keep up with all the action on ESPN, CBS, www.masters.org, or www.augusta.com  

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