Spending a day at Augusta

[David Stamm]

The 18th tee shot needs tree removal. That is WAY too narrow. 

[Kenny Baer]

David,

I don't think #18 is to narrow at all; as long as I can remember that hole has been a tee shot right through the shoot.

I think they make you be precise with your driver when it matters the most; #18 tee, you will earn have to earn the title.

I guess in your opinion #18 may be WAY to narrow but correct me if I'm wrong I think #18 still closely resembles the Dr.'s original plan.

[Neil_Crafter]

Tom Birkert
The reference to the 7th at Stoke Poges was in regards to Mackenzie's 16th hole which is long gone now, replaced by Trent Jones' version. Not the 12th I'm afraid.
cheers Neil

[Tom Huckaby]

Removing one's hat indoors is considered good form or good manners.

When a GM is running around telling people to please not wear their hats indoors (as is so common at many clubs-particularly the wannabe clubs --citing a club rule) it does not IMHO elevate the status of the place.
Kudos to AGNC for not feeling the need to rectify this (evidently notso) grave situation.

What's next? signs that say no talking with your mouth full?
You could post that next to the"no changing shoes in the parking lot" sign.

Manners should not have to be mandated-if so it kind've defeats the purpose.

Concur with all of that.
But re the photos - showing hats so worn - before we damn the wearers, is it not possible Augusta either doesn't care, or actively allows such a thing?

Just asking.  As I say, I default to hats off (as these guys probably should have). 

TH

Tom,
I wasn't condemning them at all.
I was congratulating Augusta for not being worked up about it.
Either they forgot or didn't know any better.
A gracious host doesn't embarrass people who inadvertantly make social mistakes.

Hopefully the folks in Augusta didn't care, but my guess is anyone who usually takes their hat off indoors would continue to do so, even if it was "actively allowed" (whatever that means).
Also, when in the deep south, never confuse a southerner's silence with him condoning something.

Very cool - I get it now - also very educational.

I still think I'd take my hat off.

[Bart Bradley]

I agree that this fellow probably shouldn't have posted the pics...after all, see Ran's review of the course...NO PICS at all   ....he even got permission to post pics of Pine Valley, etc....It makes me surmise the powers at Augusta don't want such photos on the internet.

But, I hope this fellow doesn't suffer any negative repercussions...it is amazing to see the photos ...they give a whole different view than TV.

Bart

[Mike_Young]

IMHO you guys need to delete this thread now.....just out of respect to the Mid Am champ.....it's going to get him in trouble.....probably nothing more than embarrassment but still embarrassment.....

[Tom Huckaby]

IMHO you guys need to delete this thread now.....just out of respect to the Mid Am champ.....it's going to get him in trouble.....probably nothing more than embarrassment but still embarrassment.....

Mike - so you are saying the powers that be at Augusta WILL see this thread, but won't see the original one at golfwrx?

Methinks the damage - if any - is already done.  But of course this site will not suffer if this thead is deleted... and the mid-am champ seems like a very good guy... so delete away!

BTW my inlaws were born in Kentucky and spent most of their lives there... I know now what their silence toward me for all these years means.

 

[Mike_Young]

Tom,
Same for Golfwrx....they need to delete also.....nice gesture on behalf of both sites.....this isn't the first guy to have pictures of ANGC......somebody will be frowned upon and it won't be the guy posting the pictures.....but I bet next time the Mid Am champs goes down to play he will have to have a little meeting and hopefully he finds out this happened ahead of time and writes a note......

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom,
Same for Golfwrx....they need to delete also.....nice gesture on behalf of both sites.....this isn't the first guy to have pictures of ANGC......somebody will be frowned upon and it won't be the guy posting the pictures.....but I bet next time the Mid Am champs goes down to play he will have to have a little meeting and hopefully he finds out this happened ahead of time and writes a note......

Makes sense to me.  So OK, I hope this does get deleted in both places.  Not sure how to make that happen, though....

And I am pleased you weren't silent to me.  I refer back to Jeff Warne's post.

 

[Mike_Young]

I would never be silent toward you....just Philly guys.....   they scare me.....I saw the movie...

[Marty Bonnar]

Heaven forfend we should ever get to see within those particular hallowed gates.


Oh, wait a minute...


ONLY 800freekinmillion viewers every year, in HD, on your TV and mine, in the Press, in the Magazines, on the Internet. Oh, the mystery......

Agreed re the innards of the clubhouse etc, but ANGC seem happy enough to let the WORLD see their course every year so Click away!

FBD.

Guess that's me off the invite list.

[Chip Gaskins]

My question is, if someone qualifies for the Masters, does anyone know how many practice rounds they let them have?  I heard last year that Brandt Snedeker played Augusta almost 50 times last year to prepare. I don't know if he knew a member or they let the pros prepare

I'm under the impression that they can play as many rounds as they'd like in preparation for the event.  No member needed.

that is correct.  if someone is invited to play in the Masters, then that player can play as many rounds as he likes without a member to prepare, but can only bring one other person (coach, caddie, friend, whatever)....

[RJ_Daley]

Aye Martie, I'll join ye on tae list o'crap.  Wha' prrreetinse ta be so parsnickaty as ta rrreestrrict a picshur o'tae prremissees whin ull ta weralt ca'see 'em 'n Abril.  Can'na thay see tae heepulcreetical natchur o'thaer ways?  

If I were Wilson, I'd consider the win and multiple trips to win around MCC as a damn good prize better than getting to see and play behind the Wizard's curtain...    Pretty soon, folks will get the idea that the joint is full of false veneraton and members there are almost just like them putting one leg in their pants at a time... and they can't have THAT!  

[David Stamm]

David,

I don't think #18 is to narrow at all; as long as I can remember that hole has been a tee shot right through the shoot.

I think they make you be precise with your driver when it matters the most; #18 tee, you will earn have to earn the title.

I guess in your opinion #18 may be WAY to narrow but correct me if I'm wrong I think #18 still closely resembles the Dr.'s original plan.

Kenny, the hole has been lengthened by 60 yds since AM and RTJ,jr designed the course. The tee has also been shifted to the right. There were SOME trees, but they were not crowding in like they are now and there weren't as many. By shifting the the tee to the right and so much further back, it caused the tree line to be much more of a factor. As for it playing the way AM first designed it, well, our opinions will differ greatly on this. The fw bunker (singular, not multiple like now) was designed to be in the MIDDLE of the fw and the original tee location combined with this changed the nature of the tee shot measurably. Now the bunkers serve as more of a periphery hazard. In addition, the green is about 25-30 percent smaller today than it was then, and the greenside bunkers are different as well. The green was in part designed to falloff and feed towards the 2 greenside bunkers in either direction. One does that today (the right), but the other does not. The green itself is quite different as well. The falloff short of the green surface today was actually a tier that marked the front portion of the green. Now it's maintained as fw. And that lateral ridge that bisects the green is much more pronounced today than it was then. The only thing that is close about how they used to play is the playing corridor and the general locations of the bunkers and the green. Did they have to be changed to challenge todays best players and equipment for the Masters? Probably, but there in lies the problem, IMO.

[Marty Bonnar]

Funnily enough, an acquaintance of mine is heading over in the next couple of weeks to play ANGC. I've passed him my Stan Byrdy and will email him the link to the thread to further excite him about his trip. I hope it's still on the web by the time he logs in.

I'd defend to the death a right to privacy and exclusion. That is a fundamental human right. But, if you're gonna choose to 'expose' yourself to worldwide scrutiny once a year, then I'm afraid in this technological age you're gonna have to accept the consequences.

I'd be happy if ANGC decided to build a Great Wall of Georgia around itself , roof it and call it the Augustadome. That would be their prerogative. Be private if you will. But you shouldn't expect that you can host a public tournament once a year, allow the great unwashed into your grounds replete with cellphones, teeny digital cameras and a variety of recording devices and not assume that they will use them.

It's a golf course. It's not somebody's house, it's not their bedroom and it's not their wife's underwear drawer. Get real.

zipedeedoodah,
FBD.

[Kenny Baer]

David,

I don't think #18 is to narrow at all; as long as I can remember that hole has been a tee shot right through the shoot.

I think they make you be precise with your driver when it matters the most; #18 tee, you will earn have to earn the title.

I guess in your opinion #18 may be WAY to narrow but correct me if I'm wrong I think #18 still closely resembles the Dr.'s original plan.

Kenny, the hole has been lengthened by 60 yds since AM and RTJ,jr designed the course. The tee has also been shifted to the right. There were SOME trees, but they were not crowding in like they are now and there weren't as many. By shifting the the tee to the right and so much further back, it caused the tree line to be much more of a factor. As for it playing the way AM first designed it, well, our opinions will differ greatly on this. The fw bunker (singular, not multiple like now) was designed to be in the MIDDLE of the fw and the original tee location combined with this changed the nature of the tee shot measurably. Now the bunkers serve as more of a periphery hazard. In addition, the green is about 25-30 percent smaller today than it was then, and the greenside bunkers are different as well. The green was in part designed to falloff and feed towards the 2 greenside bunkers in either direction. One does that today (the right), but the other does not. The green itself is quite different as well. The falloff short of the green surface today was actually a tier that marked the front portion of the green. Now it's maintained as fw. And that lateral ridge that bisects the green is much more pronounced today than it was then. The only thing that is close about how they used to play is the playing corridor and the general locations of the bunkers and the green. Did they have to be changed to challenge todays best players and equipment for the Masters? Probably, but there in lies the problem, IMO.

Well said; I guess it has played that way as long as I can remember; Nicklaus basically hit the same tee shot in 86' that the pros hit today.  By 97' Tiger could just blast it over the bunkers so the tee being moved and the bunkers enlarged, makes the hole play more like 86' than how AM intended.   

I think if it was a double fairway it would be awesome.  I wonder why the powers that be don't bring the course back to play as the Dr. originally intended it to by adding length so the pros have to the play the holes the same way the pros of yesteryear did.  Although they have changed it so that it is challenging to the pros they have totally changed the holes.  Why would 18 not be awesome if it was changed back to how it was originally designed just longer; it doesn't make sense.  How can you arguably have one of the greatest courses ever built and want to change it completely, although it is IMHO still one of the worlds great courses?

[Kenny Baer]

I think everyone is being a little over sensitive about the pictures; we should be thrilled that we were able to get an inside look into one of the most historical clubs in golf. 

RJ,

You think MCC is a better golf course than ANGC?  You would consider multiple trips around MCC better than a year long membership to Augusta?

I would think you would be in the minority even on GCA.

[CJ Carder]

I think everyone is being a little over sensitive about the pictures; we should be thrilled that we were able to get an inside look into one of the most historical clubs in golf. 

On top of that, if anyone bothered to read the entire thread on GolfWRX, the guy even came back and said that Augusta officials saw his camera and had no problem with him taking pictures as long as he promised not to take pics of the "Member on Site" board. 

[Tom Yost]

As one who frequents the GolfWRX board, all I can say is...

Wow, that is one sweet fly-milled Bettinardi!  And I'll bet that Whiteboard 73X was able to keep the ball from ballooning in the wind and give a nice rollout on those winter fairways.  No doubt the badass custom grinds on those X-forged wedges allowed him to stick it close and make the approaches stupid-easy.  Oh yeah, that J Lindberg belt looks awesome!!!

 

[Kevin_Reilly]

If it was my friend who invited me to play Augusta, and I brought a camera, and I took pictures inside of the clubhouse, there is no way i would then post all the clubhouse pictures etc. on a bulletin board.

If that same friend had been invited to play in the masters, it makes it even worse.

glad he did it, but probably not too smart.

From the thread - he was asked about it:

Did you have to get some type of clearance from Augusta Nat. to post those pictures? Never seen inside pics like those before. Hope your friend does not get in any trouble for this.

Answer:

The staff saw the camera ...the only request that they made was for no pictures of the "Member on Property" board. The members names that are on property playing are posted on a board inside the clubhouse...and the receptionist said pictures of that were a "No" "No"..

So hopefully this is not an issue.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I'm shocked no one is ripping Augusta for having a beverage cart. 

Great photos. I'm going in April for a practice round and I can't wait.

Jeff,

There really isn't a "beverage cart" as one might think.

A food & beverage cart is stationed behind the 10th tee as a "half way" house to accomodate golfers making the turn since it's a good walk from
# 9 green to the clubhouse and then back to # 10 tee.  It would probably delay and back up play if golfers made that trek.

As to hats on inside the clubhouse.
ANGC has been known to allow for behavioral margins, on occassion.
The host may have been notified.

I know of clubs where a  hosting member has been told not to reinvite a guest, with the understanding that doing so might jeopardize the member's standing at the club.

Guests should be aware of, and abide by, the rules of the club.

That's just common sense and common courtesy, but, these days, common sense isn't so common.

[Rob Rigg]

Has play even been "backed up" on Augusta?

From all of the accounts I have ever read from people who were fortunate enough to play the course, they were the only group out there and never saw anyone.

Quite the walk in the park.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Rob Rigg,

ANGC can get crowded like any other course.

Whom amongst us wouldn't want to tee off early just so we could get 36 holes in ?

Wouldn't almost every guest seek to tee off early for that reason ?

But, only one foursome at a time can tee off, so, the course can get busy and play could be delayed if golfers chose to stroll to the clubhouse for a drink and/or snack and then stroll back to # 10 tee to tee off afterwards.

[Rob Rigg]

"I did not know that."

Pat - I am not disagreeing, especially since I have no idea what it is like there, but I had never heard that before. My understanding was that Augusta got few to zero rounds per day.

To be honest, I think a beverage cart/halfway house is a great idea, it is very economical and whoever is attending the cart can do something else if nobody is playing, instead of being stuck in a hut holding herman.

It's nice that they allow guests to play 36 holes in a day - at many courses  a guest can only play once a month (and only 18 holes).

[Shane Wright]

Talk about some Debbie Downers.....who sees that group of pictures and gets upset about hats in clubhouse and the caddy using a laser.........only on GCA 

You know what though, Augusta gets ripped so often on this sight, many times correctly so, but it is still one of the best golf courses in the world, is it as good as it could be...probably not but it still is a gca kind of golf course.

They try to keep it firm and fast
It is wide open compared to every other major championship course with the lone exception being St. Andrews.
You have to know the course to score
Many times you fire more than 20-30ft away from the flag
Blind Approaches
Crazy bounces
More short game intrigue than almost any course in the world.

The 3 things that shocked me when I saw Augusta in person were
1. The elevation changes; you just CAN NOT TELL ON TV. The 2nd shot at #9 is straight uphill; the walk up 8 is unREAL; the plunge down hill on the 2nd shot at 10 is like something you see in Highlands, NC.
2.  The greens are the most severe I have ever seen; to me they almost looked unplayable; you CAN NOT tell that on TV.  They are just plain wild.
3.  The course is wide open; even with the rough it is still the most wide open parkland course I have ever seen; 1 or 2 tight corridors but still it is wide open compared to 99.5% of every other golf course in the US.

Kenny - good info. 

The course seems much tighter than it actually is because of the heighth of the trees.  They give the visual effect of being much tighter.

I wish he would have gotten a picture of #14's green.  It is absolutely ridiculous.  Same with #5's green.  They are just absurd.....school buses under the turf.