Conference 7.286::golf

    Hello Mike,
    
    I envy you Big Time! I am happy that you were able to get to Augusta
    to see and feel the sights. I can only wish for such an opportunity.
    I'm interested in the personality of some of the players as far as how
    they reacted to the crowd under casual and stressful circumstances. Is
    John Daly really a "BOOB"? Did you see him whack a few? I agree with
    you about Arnie and the way he has carried himself throughout the years
    what a Class Act! What is the popular food and beverage while at
    Augusta during the Masters? I suppose the service is Great? 
    
    Again, thanks for the info Mike and I hope someday that myself and many
    others can enjoy the Masters experience first hand!
    
    	ED
    Masters

    I'll agree that it's an amazing experience to go and see the big guys
    play.  I went to see the Ryder cup last year, which was my first
    experience of visiting a big competition, and it was great.  I'll
    certainly be travelling over to America next year, if my student grant
    will let me, and hopefully see some of the people in this conference
    there.
    
    Where is the Ryder Cup being held in America next year?
    
    r.e. -2
    I was amazed how tall Nick Faldo is.
    
    
    
    Russell
                  

    Another envious Fan !!! 
    
    How hard is it to get tickets to watch a round of the Masters ?? Is it
    first come, first serve ?? Is there pre-arranged seating around the
    18th green ?? Sorry, these may seem like dumb questions, but I have
    never seem a PGA event live before. If I were to watch a tournament, it
    would definately be the Masters.
    
    Obviously, you are not allowed to take pictures of the Pro's while
    shooting, but do they mind it otherwise ??
    
    Do they sell souvieniers (SP ??) ?? What range of prices ??
    
    Regards
    Brian
    

    First the general stuff and then a reply to .2
    Augusta has the largest primary landing zones of any tournement played
    by professional golfers in the US.  This would most likely extend to
    the British Open also.
    The course also has a very strong right to left tendancy.  That is why
    Trevino doesn't play.
    The places for guests to buy food, souveniers or go to the bathroom
    are very well placed, are laid out to serve the customer and very
    accessible.  Similar to Disney, but with the understated Green Augusta
    touch.  Souveniers are very expensive except fot the tournemant book
    and the scorecard ( it's 24 color pages long).  The food is very
    fresh, very well done and cheap. I had an Augusta Club Sand and a 
    large coke in a plasic cup for 3.75.  The staff is extermely well
    trained and always says Yes Sir No Sir Thank You.  Once again
    a really well done service model.
    Also ( I think this is a good thing ) they really make it hard to
    buy a beer -- soooooooooo no one gets drunk or unrully.
    Oh yes, parking is free on the grounds (20,000 cars)
    Now on to .2
    I'll break this into two lists based only on my observations at Augusta
    Players that I would like to have for a neighbor-  
         Player-took time out on every hole to wave, smile, shake hands.
         Palmer-nuff said
         Price- nice guy
         Zoeller-was asked to stop interacting/signing by Pinkerton
                   a real low key guy.
         Ogle-very funny
         V.J. - 
         Floyd - 
         Danny Ellis
         Jumbo
         Woosey
      
    And those I wouldn't 
           Daly - a rude and dangerous player - He really is a 
                  high school bully from west texas that runs a
                  driving range and drinks beer.  Dangerous.
                  On Tuesday he hit first on 8.  His ball went deep
                  in the woods.  He threw his club and walked down the
                  center of the tee towards the fairway without looking
                  back.  The other players in his foresome ( Forsman, Ogle
                  and Zoeller) had to wait for him to get 100 yards out
                  before they could hit.  Fuzz hearing the murmer in the
                  gallery, said he's down 7 with 11 to play.
                  Obviously everyone laughed so Fuzzy sat down and
                  Ogle practiced putting with his
                  driver.
           Shark-He seemed to push a lot of people out of the
                  way to get places.  He avoided ( I mean he dodged )the
                  approved signature area.  When everyone else was
                  shaking hands as they went through the gallery
                  he ran.  Little things- at the practice green
                  people sit in silence and let the pros work.
                  When the players are done they putt their balls into
                  the crowd.  Its all very nice and there isn't 
                  any fuss.  Some of the players look for the kids
                  and make sure that they get the balls. 
                  When Shark was done he left.  He didn't leave the
                  practice tee through the clearly marked Players Exit
                  where 100 people had waited in silence while he hit
                  300 balls. He jumped over the rope and jogged down the
                  driveway pushing kids out of the way.  
     Big hitters are Price and VJ. They knock it into position to hit
     the next shot at the 325+- range. I have all oof the charts from
     each hole with all of the distances, so I charted a lot of the 
     players hits.  Of all of the guys out there the one I would hate
     to face is Price-He can play !!!
    Mike

    Lucky Man seeing the Masters, its odd how you say all the guys are
    small, Faldo and Norman are monsters.
    
    Your report is great thanks a lot, Daly does come as a pig i would
    agree, i saw him at the Open at Sandwich (I am not so sure about large
    landing areas) he was surly to say the least.
    
    Norman is good as a rule, perhaps the favourite tag hung heavy, i have
    seen him at the world Matchplay a few times and the European Open and
    he is good as a rule.
    
    Fuzzy impressed me when i saw him , he was talking to specatators
    while waiting on the tee at a Par 3.
    
    It sounds a wonderfull place to go to see Golf you are lucky, how did
    you get a ticket we get told you have to be very well connected to get
    a ticket.
    
    If that was the first PGA event you have been to dont go to another it
    will be a let down.
    
    What were the old guys like Sarazen and them chaps ?
    
    Joe

    When I was at GSO (the former DEC plant in Greenville, SC), I used to
    go down every year for the Par 3 round.  It was great to watch the
    accuracy of those guys' short iron shots.  The Par 3 round is typically
    a low pressure atmosphere, so the Fuzzy Zoeler's, et al, are pretty
    loose and will have fun with each other and the crowd.  Last time I
    went (1988, I think), I saw 2 aces!
                           
    steve

     
 >>                                                     Last time I
 >>        went (1988, I think), I saw 2 aces!
    
	People think I'm lyin' when I say I've seen over a dozen aces and
    	have got none myself. That's 'cause of the many Par 3 events I've
    	been to. The best one was Byron Nelson about 5 years ago. He
    	never plays in it, but Tom Watson talked him into it. The place
    	went WILD!! 
    
    
    	Joe

    Re par three contest.  They have changed the rules a little for
    this event.  Not many pros play because:
       1 - it's bad luck.  No winner of the par three has ever won the
           masters.
       2 - last year the fans went wild - it got out of control.
    
    Aces.  There are usually five or six during the par three tournement.
    Cadillac stopped putting up a car for each ace years ago.
    
    Re the old guys - All of the older players (60 years plus) were
    gentleman.  Some of them still had the fire (tried to hit it
    long) but most of them just puttered around.  They all were
    very humble and appreciative of the fans quiet applause.
    
    Mike

    	Saw in the paper that two Augusta members were forced to resign
    after it was found out they used a broker to advertise in foreign
    golf journal in a pay-for-play advertisement. Seems they got some
    wealthy Japanese and European folks onto the course as guests of
    these members for a tidy fee, up to $15K for one day...

    
    
    
       "members of Augusta National are NEVER forced, by scandal, to
        resign, suh. They choose to leave"
    
        "we will not discuss the matter futhuh"
    
         ;^)
         
    
    

    There is an often told (and written story) of a member of the National
    that had offended Robert Trent Jones with boorish behavior.  In the
    following spring when this member was denied access he was told
    that he was no longer member because he hadn't paid his bill.
    He indicated that he hadn't received a bill, and the
    secretrary of the club answered; "Precisely !!".
    I've been told that the operating budget at Augusta is devided into
    the members and bills are sent.  With 300 members this has to be a 6 or
    7 digit number 
    And it is only open a few months a year !!!!
    Talk about greens fees.
    Oh by the way - No Carts !!!!!
    Mike

    
    Augusta sounds excellent from top to bottom, well done and a nice
    report. 
    
    I am pleased to second Gary Player as being a real nice guy, I should
    say if he was't I would probably have the scares from his driver.
    
    The story is like this, during the first round of the last Open at
    Turnberry in 198x I talked a friend into going. The friend I took was
    not a golfer but very enthusiastics about seeing a pro event.
    
    As we travelled south from Glasgow the weather become very wild, rain
    and wind like you would never believe, Seve took two drivers and full 6
    iron to make a par 4 into the wind, tough going. Moving from the crowd
    (not many braved the conditions on the first day) we walked to a tee,
    on the tee I observed players waiting for the green to clear, one
    of the three players had walked off the front of the tee (just keeping
    moving) I stopped to look around and take in the views, just the I
    realised my friend was walking towards Gary Player, moving quickly to
    referee any discussion I arrived to hear my pal shout
    
    "whats wrong mate have you lost your ball"
    
    A real nice guy, he smiled and came over for a chat.f

re: Oh by the way - No Carts !!!!!

	the way it should be!!!!!

    Perhaps, but somehow I can't picture that membership toting their own
    bags.
    
    I also prefer walking a course.  It affords me plenty of time to
    grumble and mutter and cast out all demons between shots.  Besides,
    it's tough to kick up loose divits in anger while riding in a cart.
    

    Augusta has professional (salaried) caddies.
    Mike