How An Avid Amateur Golfer Infiltrated Augusta National Course on Masters Weekend
It was 25 years ago, when our columnist, who was an all county golfer in high school, realized every golfers dream when he managed to infiltrate the tightly controlled Augusta National Golf Course and played the back nine day after that year’s Masters had wrapped up.
What is it about Augusta National that inspires awe whenever the golf course is mentioned to anybody remotely familiar with the game of golf? Is it the annual telecast in April that signifies the beginning of Spring and Golf’s first “major” of the year? Or is it Augusta National itself whose exclusive membership represents .0001 of the Golfing population? Whatever it is, it inspired me to go great lengths to experience the fabled course.
I was in ad sales at the time and had the pleasure of enjoying the Masters weekend with clients in 1999. Saturday and Sunday’s round was spectacular to witness. Watching Greg “the Shark” Norman birdie #11 on Sunday and then reaching #13 in two sent chills up my spine. The roar of the crowd after sinking his eagle putt is one I will remember for a long time. Jose Maria Olazabel’s putt for birdie on the same hole was one of the all-time clutch putts in Masters History. Davis Love’s brilliant chip-in on #16 had me wondering if he was destined for his first green jacket that eventually went to Olazabel. Maybe it was all the emotion and excitement that got the best of me but I was determined to play Augusta National. I knew the golf media covering the event was given access to the course on Monday morning after the tournament wrapped up on Sunday. I began to hatch my plan.
I said goodbye to my client’s and promptly missed my flight out of Atlanta that Sunday evening. No longer on the expense account, I checked in at the Day’s Inn and woke up to a glorious day and headed to Augusta National. Knowing I would not make it down Magnolia Drive without proper credentials, I spotted an attractive young woman with a van. Striking up a conversation I inquired “how would you like to make a few extra bucks?” “What did you have in mind” she demurely replied and with that I made her a proposition. “Drive me across the street to Augusta National with one hitch, take the service road and I’ll gladly pay you twenty bucks. I figured broadcaster CBS would be loading equipment from the weekend telecast that morning.
Although there was a posted guard at the service entrance, he was no match for the young woman with the best southern drawl in Georgia. Before she could finish “we’re here to pick up equipment for CBS...” he said, “sure thing, Ma’am” and waved us through. Now the hard part: Like a scene out of Saving Private Ryan, I was behind enemy lines looking for the worlds most exclusive tee time.
After putting for an hour on the practice green I made my move. Approaching the person I had determined to be the starter, I nervously uttered the offer “anyway we can work something out...” . His response was very effective. It was no response. Like he never heard my question! It was my worst fear come true. Returning to the putting green, I stroked a few more putts knowing they would be my last on the hollowed grounds of Augusta National unless I acted quickly. Then, like a vision from the golfing gods, I spotted a threesome heading to the tenth tee? With verve I swooped down on the tee and politely introduced myself with the line “Gentleman, I have a plane to catch. Would you mind if I joined you for the next nine holes?”
“I don’t see why not..” they replied and with that a caddie eagerly grabbed my bag. The race was on to get off the tee and enjoy a great golfing experience.
Highlight of the round? Easy. 12th Hole. 155 yards slight breeze (swirling) 6-Iron. Pin tucked right. Aimed over the center sand trap and flushed the shot with a slight push. Headed straight for the pin! Left with a seven-footer up hill. Just missed. The most enjoyable “greenie” of my life!
Just when I thought it could not get any better, it did in a different way. Our group was invited to have lunch in the Club House following the round. Isn’t this the same Club House that is off limits to all the Masters Badge holders during the Tournament except Players, Members, and Staff? As you make your way to the Golf Course to view the Tournament, you can see the members behind the white ropes in the shade of sweeping Oak trees enjoying their beverage of choice on the veranda. They all look completely at home with one another chatting like today is no different than any other day at the club. Meanwhile, the golfing world is tuned in to their little golf tournament called the Masters which takes place in their backyard. Today, I was to have lunch with those same members on the veranda.
A wave of history came over me as I enjoyed my lunch and view of Augusta National. Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, I somehow felt I knew more about them as men as opposed to golf idols. Their accomplishments on Augusta National were no longer a secret to me. The sights, the sounds, and the shots were now familiar in an abstract way. If for only a moment I actually had something in common with these great athletes (my scorecard assured me how little in common it was.)
After lunch it was off to the Pro Shop for a new grip and a stroll through the Members Locker room. At best I saw fifty lockers with members names attached (is that all the members I thought?) Attendants waiting to shine my shoes freshen my drink and entertain me with stories. It was a magical moment. The place was empty, and I was invited to make myself at home. When I entered the library, I was awestruck by the simplicity of it all. In a little attic of a room were the lockers of all the living past champions. Some of the lockers were shared (why did Jack Nicklaus share a locker (six-time champion) and Fuzzy Zoellor have his own I wondered?) If you believe the experts who think Tiger Woods record setting performance in 1997 will stand a long time, is there an accomplishment he is prouder of? I walked out of that locker room doubting it.
Three weeks since my short sojourn in Augusta. Life has quickly returned to normal for me. Family and work will continue to be my priorities (along with weekend tee times). But something has changed. I have been able to live out a fantasy if only for a short time. It was an experience that was better than I had imagined. Now, who do I know at Shinnecock..?
Tim McCann, a resident of Peter Cooper Village, was an All League and All County golfer as a high school senior at Comsewogue High School in Suffolk County, L.I.