Augusta National -- SCAN HEAVY
galaxy27
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in Sports Talk
I have watched The Masters religiously for ~35 years. Today, for the first time in my life, I walked the hallowed grounds. I'm in a state of euphoria right now, and if this feeling wears off I'm going to be pissed. If you dig golf, you understand. If you don't, you don't.
I was limited to three+ hours this morning due to inclement weather, but during that time I raided the merchandise, walked the entire back nine and dined for a grand total of $5 (the absolute best pimento cheese sandwich I've ever consumed, a banana, the absolute best chocolate chip cookie I've ever consumed, and a soda).
I'm very fortunate in that a second day looms ahead. The weather is supposed to improve by leaps and bounds, thus I plan on aging my camera tomorrow. I will include my view of the course as soon as I make it back to Texas.
Quick take: the elevation swings on this golf course put my comprehension to the test. I knew Augusta National was comprised of hilly terrain, but in truth it's an insane tract of land. It makes the most daunting roller coaster look silly, and it's impossible to fully grasp that while viewing the course on television.
I believe jdip is here as well, so definitely feel free to include photos if you read this, my brother from another mother.
I was limited to three+ hours this morning due to inclement weather, but during that time I raided the merchandise, walked the entire back nine and dined for a grand total of $5 (the absolute best pimento cheese sandwich I've ever consumed, a banana, the absolute best chocolate chip cookie I've ever consumed, and a soda).
I'm very fortunate in that a second day looms ahead. The weather is supposed to improve by leaps and bounds, thus I plan on aging my camera tomorrow. I will include my view of the course as soon as I make it back to Texas.
Quick take: the elevation swings on this golf course put my comprehension to the test. I knew Augusta National was comprised of hilly terrain, but in truth it's an insane tract of land. It makes the most daunting roller coaster look silly, and it's impossible to fully grasp that while viewing the course on television.
I believe jdip is here as well, so definitely feel free to include photos if you read this, my brother from another mother.
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
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Wonderful observations .... things ... as you say, that can't be grasped on a TV broadcast.
Dave
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Well done.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
<< <i>I can't wait to see pics! Meanwhile I'll have to continue to enjoy Augusta from my Xbox's Tiger Woods Golf game.
Tiger Woods may be enjoying it from the same place.
Day two was just ridiculous. Most fun I've ever had on a golf course, and I didn't even swing a stick. First off, I witnessed Mike Weir dunking one for an ace on 16. And if that wasn't enough, standing next to me while it happened was none other than Michael Collins, former caddie and current Senior Golf Analyst for ESPN. Have no clue why he was masquerading as a patron, but I'm certainly glad he did. Dude is as cool as the other side of the pillow, and is funny as hell to boot. We talked golf for about 15 minutes and then he had to jet, but that quarter hour was about as enlightening as it gets.
And speaking of 16, one of the many traditions at Augusta is what players do after they hit their tee shots during practice rounds on that hole. They must -- and I mean MUST -- walk to the front of the lengthy pond and attempt to skip a ball onto the green. Not only does it reveal a human side, but it also turns the hole into a veritable block party. Roars, cheers and laughter rule the day. Upon watching numerous balls glide across the water and hop onto the green to within 10-15 feet, I was quickly reminded time and again why these guys are professional golfers.
A short time after Weir's hole-in-one I caught something with my own two eyes that was arguably more remarkable: Ian Woosnam damn near coming up empty with his drive on 17. I kid you not, he barely grazed the top of the ball and it went roughly 10 feet. Talk about awkward -- onlookers were too stunned to chuckle. Don't be surprised if he fails to break 90 on Thurs or Fri.
Next post (prob Thurs) will be laden with photography.
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
One thing I don't understand...Masters champs get a distinctive green jacket...why don't the other three major golf tournaments have anything like that? Just like how the wreath of roses for the Kentucky Derby winner is very famous and iconic but the Preakness and Belmont have their own distinctive wreaths of flowers for the horse who wins those races as well (Preakness has flowers that resemble black-eyed Susans, Maryland's state flower, and Belmont uses white carnations).
D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
Was lucky enough to arrive early, and get my shopping done (patrons that were saving that for the end of the day were shut out - I feel bad for them). We walked holes 1-5 and most of the back 9. Went to the range for 10-15 minutes while Rory and Speith were hitting balls. Unfortunately, the fog was too thick to get a good appreciation of the shape of their shots.
Too busy today to post pics, but will try to do so in the next few days.
Entrance at 5:30 am (couldn't walk in until 7)
Practice area
Butler cabin - where the green jacket is donned
#2 green
Rickie Fowler on #3 green
#4 green
#6
#7
Phil on #7
#10
Bubba Watson's miraculous shot on #10 came from this area to win the '12 Masters. That's right, you can't even see the green.
Tee on #11
#11 green
#11 & #12 greens……and the famed Hogan bridge.
#12 green
Rory on #12
Sergio
Bernhard Langer ogling Vijay Singh's ass
Harris English
#13 fairway looking back at #12 green
#13 fairway
Lee Westwood walking up #13 fairway
#13 green
#14 green - diabolical
Jim Furyk on #15
#15 green
Sarazen bridge on #15
#16 green
When you pick the ball out of the hole with the pin still in, that's always a good thing. Mike Weir retrieving his ace on #16.
Look very closely at the guy in the blue shirt (top right) acting as if he just won The Masters. When Weir tossed his hole-in-one ball toward the patrons, that dude hopped the rope and snagged it. About 2 seconds later, he had a Masters official all up in his grill.
I mentioned players skipping balls across the pond on #16 after their tee shots. Here's Ian Poulter doing just that.
Pine cone representing where the Eisenhower tree once stood on #17 fairway.
Left to right: #7, #3, #2
The colossal leaderboard near #1
Justin Rose putting on #18
Matt Kuchar on #18
#10 green - where Adam Scott won the '13 Masters
#11- left of the fairway
#10 - near the green looking back toward the fairway
Last but not least, the menu(!)
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
BTW: Cubby=Cub Fan
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
Arrival at 6:45AM....
Running WILL NOT be tolerated! (which I learned from a staffer after running for 3 steps to catch up with my buddies)
Rory on the range...
Spieth and Watson talking on the range....
Hole #1 Green....
Fairway at #10 (picture still doesn't do justice to this hill)....
Mowing the 14th green...
#16 green....
My new website www.lowgradegems.com
Tim
Your 6:45 am pic -- were you at Gate 6A or 9?
And you're not kidding about #10......my favorite hole on the golf course!
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.