Spending a day at Augusta

[Kevin_Reilly]

Not me    but a poster on another board had the opportunity to spend time at Augusta with Mid-Am champ Steve Wilson.  Let's just say his camera had plenty of memory and his batteries didn't run out.  Pics galore...quite a photo essay:

Thread at Golfwrx.com not suited for those with dial-up access but hey, now's the time to upgrade to broadband

[Jed Peters]

Best.

Picture.

Post.

Ever.

[David Neveux]

I know things of this nature are a little taboo on this website, but if anyone knows where I can get an invitation like that.....

Very cool, very jealous.

[Phil McDade]

Wilson won the Mid-Am at Wisconsin's Milwaukee Country Club this past fall. He seemed like a very quiet but likeable guy -- one of the more poignant scenes at the tournament was Wilson sitting outoors on a beautiful fall day, alone with his caddie, eating a sandwich and holding a lead halfway through the final, knowing if he held on for a win he'd end up at Augusta National. He's a native of Mississippi; I can't imagine what it must be like for someone like him to get a chance to play that course.

[PThomas]

some great pictures from some angles you never get to see, thanks!

and one of them went in and out for a 2 on 15 - wow!!

[Rich Goodale]

Thanks, Kevin

That is the best photo shoot I've even seen, including all on GCA.com.  Whatever it lacks in photgraphic qualiity and architectural commentary is overwhelemed by the spectacular and heart-felt expression of what it is like to experience a great golf course, from the perspective of the player.

Slainte

Rich

[Sam Morrow]

I remember in my pre-GCA days I thought Augusta was the end all be all. Don't get me wrong, I would still love to play Augusta but there are a number of courses I'd like to play before Augusta.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I remember in my pre-GCA days I thought Augusta was the end all be all. Don't get me wrong, I would still love to play Augusta but there are a number of courses I'd like to play before Augusta.

Which ones ?

[Bart Bradley]

While I agree that Augusta has made some negative changes and that there are courses that may be architecturally better (Pine Valley, for instance), Augusta still has this spiritual/mystical quality.  The pictures are of low photographic quality and I still get chills looking at them...The place, the grounds, the tournaments, and the course are magic...and there is nowhere I would choose to play over Augusta.

Those pictures of the 12th green are amazing...that green is so amazingly shallow...I would love to have a few cracks at that shot....that may be the best short par 3 in the world.

Bart

[Sam Morrow]

I remember in my pre-GCA days I thought Augusta was the end all be all. Don't get me wrong, I would still love to play Augusta but there are a number of courses I'd like to play before Augusta.

Which ones ?

Ballybunion
Royal County Down
Old Course at St. Andrews
Merion
Cypress Point
National Golf Links of America
Shinnecock Hills
Oakmont
Sand Hills

[Jerry Kluger]

did you notice the team of 4 mowers cutting a fairway - my club can barely afford one of those.

Interesting that the caddie was using a yardage binoculars - I would've thought that they know the distances.

[CJ Carder]

That's a great experience for that guy - definitely jealous. 

And Sam, while I understand your point, if I were given the choice of playing Augusta or one of the courses you listed, I'd be heading to Georgia, architecture be damned.  In my pre-GCA days, I thought Augusta was the end all be all as well, and while I may have a better understanding of what is "wrong" with the current course as compared to the original design intent, the course has every ounce of intrigue, mystique, and tradition that it's ever had.  To me, that almost counts more than the architecture.

[Sam Morrow]

That's a great experience for that guy - definitely jealous. 

And Sam, while I understand your point, if I were given the choice of playing Augusta or one of the courses you listed, I'd be heading to Georgia, architecture be damned.  In my pre-GCA days, I thought Augusta was the end all be all as well, and while I may have a better understanding of what is "wrong" with the current course as compared to the original design intent, the course has every ounce of intrigue, mystique, and tradition that it's ever had.  To me, that almost counts more than the architecture.

I think this site has made me quite the golf snob.

[Matt Bosela]

Those pictures of the 12th green are amazing...that green is so amazingly shallow...I would love to have a few cracks at that shot....that may be the best short par 3 in the world.
Bart

That has to be the most intriguing thing I got from the photos...I had no idea that green was that shallow...reminds me of Riviera's 10th green in some ways.

Awesome photo documentary of his time there though.  Great to see the clubhouse shots and the Crow's Nest up close.  What a treat that must have been to play there and get the run of the place, as he obviously did.

[Greg McMullin]

Question -- where is the multi million dollar clubhouse?  Is it hidden away somewhere?

[Mark Smolens]

Excuse me Mr. Smolens, while we enjoyed having you as a guest, your golf bag seems to be much heavier than when you arrived -- oh, it's that pile of proV range balls with the logo 

[Mike Hendren]

I would not doubt this course being rated #1 in the U. S. if it had been built in the past couple of years and never been on television.  Just a thought.

Mike

[Tom Huckaby]

Mr. Goodale expresses better than I ever could the feelings I have about that photo-essay (which was shared with a few of us by another venerable GCAer yesterday).  Well said, sir.

Mr. Carder expresses better than I ever could the feelings I have about playing Augusta.  Well said, sir.  I'd only add this:  the day I become so jaded and/or snobbish and/or anything such that I'd not be extremely excited to play Augusta is the day I quit the game.

Each of you gets the full honorific "Mr." and "sir" today due to such well-expressed thoughts.

 

And Mr. Hendren (you get it too), that is a darn good question.  I wonder.  I have to believe it is that great even now.  #1 is a very tough call... but darn it it wouldn't be far off.

Of course I am basing this on what I see on TV though! 

TH

[PThomas]

Excuse me Mr. Smolens, while we enjoyed having you as a guest, your golf bag seems to be much heavier than when you arrived -- oh, it's that pile of proV range balls with the logo 

that actually happened at a tournament a few years ago - was it the British am?? - the contestants took all the range balls!

[jim_lewis]

Sam:

I think you need to play those courses on your list , PLUS ANGC. before you can qualify as a "golf snob".

Jim Lewis

[Sam Morrow]

Sam:

I think you need to play those courses on your list , PLUS ANGC. before you can qualify as a "golf snob".

Jim Lewis

I think you can be think you're a golf snob even without playing them. That probably makes you more of a golf snob. 

[jim_lewis]

Maybe a golf snob wannabe!  My personal goal in golf is for someone to call be a sandbagger, just once.

[Sam Morrow]

Maybe a golf snob wannabe!  My personal goal in golf is for someone to call be a sandbagger, just once.

That's a pretty good goal, just don't let them call you a reverse sandbagger.

[Peter Pallotta]

Kevin - thanks much for the link.

Sometimes I think Augusta has not a small membership but no membership at all -- just a few kindly souls who take care of the place only so that guys like Mr. Wilson and his friend can have the course to themselves and such a magical day.

Rich - very well put.

Peter

[Mike Benham]

I would not doubt this course being rated #1 in the U. S. if it had been built in the past couple of years and never been on television.  

I'm not an english major, nor do I play one on TV, but ... huh?  What?