A Tradition Unlike Any Other

Our group was up early and excited for Sunday at The Masters

I'm not a golfer in the sense that I ever play competitively these days. However, I enjoy a couple outings per year with my son. If the green fees are inexpensive, I'm game and the memories are priceless. For my competitive son, the only benefit of playing with his dad is lots of laughs watching me spray the ball every direction except straight.

Prior to 2024 I had never attended a professional golf event. Not even a practice round much less a tournament. That changed this past February when myself and a group of couples flew west for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. "The People's Open", as they call it, is renown for their party atmosphere with a golf match in the middle of it all. We attended the first day on Thursday and my experience matched their raucous reputation. Unconfirmed attendance for the entire weekend was 700,000 people! I enjoyed watching the crowd as much as the PGA golfers. If my 19-year-old son would make the trip in a couple years, I'm guessing he'd enjoy both the shenanigans and the golf swings.

We had front row seats on the famous hole #16 at The Waste Management Phoenix Open

Shortly after I crossed off my bucket list going to a famous golf tournament, I received a proposal on Tuesday, April 9th. My wife's uncle had his own tickets for the final round of The Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia coming up that Sunday. He told me their group of four guys were driving south on Friday with an itinerary of things to do, before watching the championship and driving back home through the night. Then he asked me if I would like his two extra tickets? Before answering, I sent my son a text at the University of Dayton to get his thoughts. His immediate reply was, "Oh. My. Gosh. Are you serious? I am so in." That was quick. We were both in.

The Masters is often called the toughest ticket in sports. A ticket is actually referred to as a "badge" by those lucky enough to secure one. The private Augusta National Golf Club doesn't release attendance figures, but it's estimated that from Thursday through Sunday only 90,000 total spectators make it past their hallowed gates. By the way, spectators are kindly referred to as "patrons" once you're in. Everything about the tournament is polite and respectful. Also, The Masters has some unique and fascinating rules that are unlike other major sporting events. 

For starters, you're told that running anywhere on their grounds is not acceptable. When the gates open each morning, you're not going to sprint past slower patrons and beat them to the best spots on the course. Instead, you can eagerly walk to your favorite location and set up your course-approved bag chair. No running, period. You're also repeatedly reminded that cell phones and cameras are not allowed. No calling, texting or snapping during the tournament. No exceptions. If you violate any of their rules, you'll be politely and respectfully escorted from their grounds. 

Rules are meant to be broken, right? Not at Augusta. Prior to arriving, my son commented he couldn't remember a 12-hour stretch in his life without his phone. We left our electronic devices behind though and so did everyone else. I didn't see a single iPhone or Android throughout all 270 acres! My son later told me that once he walked on the course and realized he wouldn't have a phone, he appreciated the beauty of making memories in his mind. For readers concerned about emergencies, one area of the course did have a wall of old-style corded courtesy phones that patrons could use for free.

Highlights from my Sunday included the following:

• As we walked a long stretch into Augusta National all of the workers smiled warmly and recited, "Welcome to The Masters". There was something about those words or the way they said it, that gave me chills every time.

• 

  My Masters haul 

  The Merchandise Building was the only chaos I saw all day. We were advised to arrive early to buy souvenirs. It felt like an hour in line just to get inside. After getting in the building, the packed crowd was shoulder to shoulder. Shopper's Tip: I went back that afternoon at 2:30 when the last golfers teed off and there was no crowd. In and out in 15 minutes.
• The cheap concession stand prices helped ease the sting of my spending spree on merchandise. Signature sandwiches were $1.50 and a 16 ounce beer in a keepsake cup was $6.00.
• I was convinced after six straight days of patrons trampling feet, the walkways of the course had to be green plastic turf and not perfectly maintained grass. When I finally bent down to inspect, it was simply the most beautifully manicured lawn ever.
• My wife's uncle and I visited "Amen Corner" and sat 15 feet behind the tee box of hole #12, one of the most famous par 3's in all of golf. The third group that arrived on the tee included five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods. As we watched Tiger hit his shot, we both wondered how many more Sunday's he might play that hole.
• I've sat in the nosebleed sections of many stadiums and arenas when the star players from other sports looked like tiny ants. On Sunday there were numerous occasions when I was only 20-30 feet from the biggest names in golf, including the eventual winner Scottie Scheffler.
  

In 1986 longtime CBS announcer, Jim Nantz, first told viewers The Masters was "a tradition unlike any other". Nantz has since repeated that phrase every year and Augusta National eventually trademarked it. Probably because it's the perfect description. My once-in-a-lifetime opportunity wasn't documented with many pictures, but Sunday at The Masters will forever be remembered. Not just for the golf, but for the escape from the busyness of the outside world and unique moment in time I shared with my son.

If Jim Nantz needs any help, I'm available!