Dave and I were fortunate to go to Augusta last year for the first time; we went on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The size of the property is incredible. It’s mind-blowing how you just walk for miles and miles and miles to get anywhere. That and the fact that nothing is out of place is quite something, and the grounds are just beautiful.
The holes are good for watching, too, because they run next to each other. But from when you go through the entrance to the 1st and 10th tees, you’ve probably walked the equivalent of three par fives.
Augusta, St Andrews and Pebble Beach are the most iconic venues in golf. What makes Augusta so special is the traditions. If you’re a golfer you dream of going there. You watch the tournament for years and then it’s quite something when you finally get there.
It’s the same at St Andrews – if you take the course away from being the Home of Golf, it’s a very average course. But because of where it is – the location and the town – that’s what makes it special. I’ve never played Augusta but I feel there are many courses that are better. But it has such an aura because of the tradition and that it’s the one Major that’s played on the same course every year.
Then when you do get there, everything is immaculate. And the fact that you go and buy a sandwich and it still only costs you $4.50. Everything else is expensive, but they’ve kept those sort of things and the traditions.
It’s amazing how everything runs so well given the number of people who are there. You never wait longer than half an hour to get into the merchandise store or to get a sandwich, you just keep moving.
We spent far too much money at the merchandise store! What’s also bad for your wallet is that they ship for you, so you buy your stuff, turn left and drop it off, and they ship it to where it needs to go. So you don’t have to schlep it around with you. They’re very clever.
The store is big and you do queue, but it goes quickly. They’ve also got mini-merchandise stalls out on the course where you can get hats and smaller things.
Augusta is very elite. They make the rules, I think it will always be by their rules and that’s just how it will be. There have been some changes, which is good, and they’ve moved with the times a bit. They granted Annika Sorenstam and Condoleezza Rice membership, along with a few others but there really aren’t many female members. A lot of these places don’t actually allow professionals to be members, so I was surprised when Annika was made a member. It’s like they were just ticking a box.
Everybody also talks about the undulation and how you don’t see it on TV, which is true. The outskirts of the course are even more undulating for spectators. You don’t even see the bottom of some fairways because the slopes are so steep. The cameras don’t show that because they’re obviously always showing where the ball is landing, so it doesn’t look as big on TV. You also don’t realise how far they have to hit it around that corner on the 10th. It’s fascinating watching it live.
I think if you’re a golfer you just relate to it all. I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to experience it.
– This column first appeared in the May 2024 issue of Compleat Golfer magazine.
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
