My day at the Masters

[Patrick_Mucci]

From the inception of ANGC, Jones and Roberts envisioned a course that would host championships.

Just so we can be clear Pat, can you please date the "inception" of Augusta National Golf Club?

Mathew, you should really do your own research.

The club was formed in 1931.
In 1930, Roberts suggested building the course in Augusta
In the years before Jones often spoke of his desire to build a championship course in the South.
He lamented the fact that the neither the U.S. Amateur nor the U.S. Open had never been held south of Illinois.
After his February , 1933 visit at the invitation of Roberts, Bush Told Roberts that he'd call a special meeting  of the USGA's Executive committee to discuss the matter of ANGC hosting the 1934 Open

[Patrick_Mucci]

Garland,

There's rarely any meaningful wind at ANGC.

Is there any meaningful wind at Bandon Trails ? 

Do you think that the wind might have something to do with the width at Bandon ?

[Garland Bayley]

People go play Bandon Trails to get out of the wind.


Yes there is some wind at Bandon Trails, however it is not the exposed site that Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes are. I would bet my home course in the Portland area has more wind than Bandon Trails.

[Bill_McBride]

From the inception of ANGC, Jones and Roberts envisioned a course that would host championships.

Just so we can be clear Pat, can you please date the "inception" of Augusta National Golf Club?

Mathew, you should really do your own research.

The club was formed in 1931.
In 1930, Roberts suggested building the course in Augusta
In the years before Jones often spoke of his desire to build a championship course in the South.
He lamented the fact that the neither the U.S. Amateur nor the U.S. Open had never been held south of Illinois.
After his February , 1933 visit at the invitation of Roberts, Bush Told Roberts that he'd call a special meeting  of the USGA's Executive committee to discuss the matter of ANGC hosting the 1934 Open

Dr Mackenzie and Bob Jones met in 1929 after Jones was knocked out of the first round of the U.S. Amateur by Johnny Goodman.

[Matthew Mollica]

Pat,

Thanks for your reply. Rest assured, I've done my research. 

You use interchangeable terms such as "inception", "Club was formed" and "Roberts suggeted building" in different calendar years, hence my querey of your post. I feel you should be more accurate. Especially if you are suggesting Jones and Roberts envisioned a course that would host championships from the inception of ANGC. After all, a discussion that was conducted in 1933 is not really occurring at the time of "inception", if indeed you view land purchase in 1930, Club formation in 1931, or course construction in 1932 as inception is it Pat.

In any event, I am of the opinion Jones motives were not "to build a championship course, as you suggest.

On pages 192 & 193 of Bob Jones’ book "Golf is my Game" (1960), he addresses the formation of ANGC - "The Augusta National Golf Club itself was born of very modest aspirations to begin with." ... "We planned to have only a small group of local members upon whom we could rely for help in the day-to-day administration of the club’s affairs.  Our aim was to develop a golf course and a retreat of such nature and of such excellence, that men of some means and devoted to the game of golf, might find the club worthwhile as an extra luxury where they might visit and play with kindred spirits from other parts of the nation.  This policy has never been changed, and I am happy to be able to say that the club apparently has adequately fulfilled this mission.  In this view, of course, the all-important thing was to be the golf course."

p.196 of "Golf Is My Game" (1960) features the following passage – "Somewhere during the second year of the existence of the golf course in its completed form, and from somewhere within the hard core of faithful who had accepted responsibility for the direction of the club, there came the suggestion that we try to get the National Open Championship for our club".  Jones continues – "The idea was regarded among all of us as not entirely without merit, but in the end, enough objections were found to cause us all to agree that the project was not feasible".

Pat, you view that "from the inception of ANGC Jones and Roberts envisioned a course that would host championships", is somewhat at odds with Jones' own words.

Pat, can you provide published pre-1930 reports quoting Jones' wish to his desire to build a championship course in the South?

Matthew

[Sven Nilsen]

JC,

We cool?

Always have been.

There`s not a dry eye in the house. Thanks guys for this touching GCA moment.

I can think of about 1000 other GCA threads that should have ended this way.