Augusta National invited me to play, so I did, and WOW!
I’ve always enjoyed watching or covering that little golf tournament amongst the dogwoods and azaleas, but never more so than now. That’s because for the first time ever, I played Augusta National.
You got a minute? Let me grab my invitation from the Green Jacket folks, and it says right here on Augusta National Golf Club stationary:
Monday, April 14, 2008 (that’s the day after last year’s Masters, by the way).
Terry Moore, 8:55 a.m., 10th Tee.
Please present this card at the Main Gate (Gate #2) for entrance to the Club grounds and at the tee for 18 holes of golf.
I’m still tingling.
Before this experience, I ranked Augusta National among my top five sports venues, which is significant. I’ve been just shy of everywhere — from various Olympic sites to Wrigley Field to Daytona International Speedway to Notre Dame Stadium to old Boston Garden to Lambeau Field — while spending three decades covering most major events. Well, after this experience, Augusta National ranks among my top 1a, 1b or 1c in sports venues.
It certainly didn’t hurt Augusta National’s place in my heart after I strolled into Amen Corner as a rookie on the course and promptly conquered No. 11. In other words, I wasn’t spooked by Raes Creek behind the green or the famous winds in the area. I dropped an eight-foot putt for par, and I thought about responding with one of those Tiger fist pumps. But I decided to go old-school — you know, act like you’ve been there before, even if you haven’t.
My Augusta National caddie was excited, though. Then again, maybe he was thinking about getting that tip at the end.
Later, on the No. 15, I didn’t repeat “the shot heard ’round the world” by Gene Sarazen, but I did the equivalent for me: I parred that hole, too. Courtesy of splendid tee and approach shots, I survived the 530 yards featuring that pretty but imposing pond in front of the green and that scary bunker to its right.
Oh, and I have to tell you this: On No. 16, which is played over water with three bunkers hugging the slopping green, I came within inches of a hole-in-one.
Keep this quiet, but I blew my birdie putt and made par. I also won’t tell you what I did on the other 15 holes.
All I know is that I played Augusta National, and life is good.
Anyway, if any of you wishes to share your Augusta National playing experiences, feel free.
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46 comments Add your comment
falcon21
April 8th, 2009
7:08 pm
I mean do the same!!!
falcon21
April 8th, 2009
7:07 pm
Glad you enjoyed it TM, wish I could the same. Good for you man.
old fart
April 8th, 2009
6:21 pm
Would you morons get off TM’s case? What a bunch of low-life losing bigots. Take off your sheets and crawl back under your rock.
mark white
April 8th, 2009
6:15 pm
Thirty eight years ago I played a round at Augusta National. My company provided office equipment for the tournament and I happened to be the sales rep who handled the AN account. I was then and still am a hacker. Shot a 103. Only had to use one ball and I still remember every swing and putt I took. Next to pacing the waiting room for the birth of each of my kids, playing AN is still the most memorable experience of my 66 years.
IRISH25
April 8th, 2009
5:09 pm
Hack course anyway……..
Bohgey
April 8th, 2009
4:10 pm
DC; Nicely put.
Every time I read an article by Moore, I have to resisit the urge to post a degrading name or make reference to his rather vanilla take on race and other subjects that can be controversial. I was listening to ESPN’s “The Herd”, with Colin Cowherd and Colin made a reference to media members that enrage and excite readers to make the sort of comments that Terrence’s writing evokes. I don’t think that Moore was who he had in mind. He was being very general. Colin went on to explain how much we need these writers that take the dark side and create controversy. Issues wouldn’t be made, subjects would be boring and newspapers would fold because no one would read the garbage. The AJC is this culturatively diverse media market’s highest brass and if they were all unbiased, I don’t think I’d be posting this now.
Seriously though, did you take any bentgrass home with you?
richbrave
April 8th, 2009
2:08 pm
When this run for the green is over TMo you can get back to the more mundane rantings about no blacks in baseball, at least not enough that speak ENGLISH as a first language. BRAVES – The most culturally diverse team in the majors MOORE; that’s nine, count ‘um, NINE representative countries. Thank you.
DC Braves Fan
April 8th, 2009
2:01 pm
And score one for Thomas for criticizing those who make generalizations by . . . making a generalization. Nice work.
DC Braves Fan
April 8th, 2009
2:00 pm
I always read comments about Terrence bringing race into things, yet when I read the article here, the only people talking about race are the people commenting. I often disagree with Terrence, but if you think he interjects race too often, why don’t you practice what you preach and put that issue aside with respect to a column that never touched on the issue. Evaluate each column on its merit rather than projecting your anger. I realize that the internet is a bit impersonal, but I suspect if you were sitting next to Terrence at a bar, you could cordially disagree in debating some of these issues. No reason you can’t attempt to do the same here.
Thomas
April 8th, 2009
1:46 pm
Four out of the first five commenters show a lot of intelligence and class, don’t they? Oh, yeah. They’re dawg fans. Nuff said.