Sandwiches, Fertilizer, and Sunblock... after years of watching it on TV a first-time visit has changed my view of the Masters. It is still one of the few events on television that I will plan my weekend schedule around, and will continue to be one of the few sporting events that I will tape and want to watch even after the results have been leaked to me by the ESPN ticker, the radio in my car, or a family member who derives some enjoyment from dropping conclusive hints... however some of the patina that is generously applied by the CBS broadcasts each year is scraped away by an in-person visit to the "tradition like no other".

It has not lessened my opinion of the event - just changed it, and everything you have ever heard about the Masters from a "patron" is true...

• You do not get a good idea of the elevation changes on TV, and while we all know that 18 finishes with a dramatic uphill shot, we never see that the clubhouse is perched at the top of the golf course and that you can see nos. 1,3,7,8,9,10, and 18 from the famous live oak tree (which is roped off for media and those who have the fancier badges with color coding on them).

• The sandwiches are great - and inexpensive. When you get there, quickly find a pairing sheet box, then go and stake out a place somewhere on 12-18 where they have roped off areas for small folding chairs by walking briskly to where you want to see the leaders come through later (no running). Then walk the course. If you start at number one, you can secure your first sandwich just after the second tee to enjoy while strolling down the length of the par 5. I am not sure how they refrigerate all of them, or what the turnover rate is, so go for an egg salad or pimento cheese now when you know they are fresh. We managed to sample 5 varieties during the day - all were very good, and the most expensive (fried chicken breast) is just $2.25. Don't spoil your appetite at the hotel breakfast buffet or at one of Augusta's ubiquitous Waffle House locations.

• They never show you any shots outside of the course boundaries, and nothing marked Fuji, Goodyear, Metlife, etc. is floating overhead to give an aerial shot of Washington Road - home to multiple fast food chains, a Japanese massage parlor, shopping centers (much of the surrounding area is now owned and controlled by a member), and the Masters Plaza directly across from Magnolia Lane where an evangelist on the sidewalk in front of the Whole Life Ministries (which used to be a Piggly Wiggly) in a black bowler hat yelled at us about being saved and free lemonade as we walked past - saved? we were going to the Masters! (and we could get a coke for $.75 inside).

• As most know, the 2002 Masters was plagued by wet weather on Friday and Saturday, and as a result the "reasonably sized gathering of respectful patrons" really did a number on the manicured grounds. Sunday's weather was foggy before the start of play, then sunny and humid for the final round. Tiger made a joke about some in his gallery wiping out in their efforts to follow along, and many women in sandals and sun dresses regretted their choice of attire by the end of the day. After Saturday's round the grounds crew did an amazing job of preparing the course for the final round as usual - but had the added challenge of re-routing the patrons around saturated areas and spreading a drying agent which looked remarkably like kitty litter (if it is kitty litter I am sure they use the good kind). The result was a dramatic contrast of fertilized brown mud that gave much of the course a scent of expensive cheese, and perfectly manicured green inside the ropes.

• Get to the patron pro shop early (I am not sure which color code you need to get into the real one) - and go to the big one for a better selection than the satellite stands. Early, we found out, is by Friday afternoon if you want socks, ribbon belts, men's visors, a chair, and a good selection of shirt sizes for both men and women. If you do not have a parking pass you can park right across the street (and maybe find a Daly-struck range ball near the aforementioned evangelist) for $10 to $20 and you are allowed to come and go through the gates as you please so you do not have to lug around the spoils of your claustrophobic shopping spree (the lines to get in the shop are long, but a creative story will allow you to bypass them) - another added benefit of the close parking is that with just a little forethought it might be a good idea to bring a change of clothes for warmer or cooler weather, or an umbrella, or even sunblock so that you do not receive unsolicited comments from other patrons about who got a lot of sun.

• Another thing that you never realize from the syrupy comments of Jim Nantz, the mostly intelligible analysis of Ken Venturi, (whose no,no,no and ho now! comments will be missed), reigned in wit of David Feherty, helpful insights and deference to "Kenny" of Bobby Clampett... etc. is that the entire place is amazingly set-up specifically for this one annual event. Unlike other venues for majors (except perhaps the PGA specific Valhalla) there is plenty of room for parking on the grounds, the structures for the sales of memorabilia, historic exhibits, entrances and fenced off boundaries, etc. are all already in place - just the viewing stands (bleachers) and concessions stands (sandwiches) are, or appear to be temporary structures. The logistics problems that exclude several possible U.S. Open venues are not an issue here.

• No cameras are allowed on the grounds after Wednesday - however this rule apparently disappears and almost anything goes after the presentation ceremony (which has the same excitement level as a slideshow of someone painting a wall - and it tears up their pristine practice green as well). All of a sudden the telltale winding and clicking of portable cameras broke out all around us and we were left watching and discussing how great some of the pictures we could have taken with the camera left in the car would have been compared to what we had already exposed on it (proven by the posted photos below). Other rules strictly enforced apparently are relaxed or abolished immediatel after the ceremony - perhaps the Pinkerton contract ends then, but all of a sudden the omnipresent, tactfully dressed and mannered guards and marshals are absent, many of the ropes are left down, and you are somewhat free to explore a little more as the sun goes down. You can walk right up to see the cabins, go down to see part of the Par 3 Course behind them... we even walked out on the 17th fairway and on the 18th green to see just how closely they are cut and what the contours of the greens look like from a player's perspective.

• The top stories this year both involved Tiger Woods - but indirectly: There were the accusations of "Tiger proofing" that took place after the 2001 sand wedge second shot that he hit into 18, and then there was the public exposure of his new relationship. It was revealed that the course changes were made to protect the venue from technological advances by the equipment manufacturers, from the new breed of players that Tiger describes as "the young guys that can blow it by me as I dink it around the course"... and perhaps the changes were a result of a little course ranking vanity after sinking to number 3 in the world this year. Then the patrons and media got their glance of Elin the ex-nanny as Tiger was methodically following a precise game plan that no one else could match over a very difficult, narrow and long golf course.
  That was what most made an impression on me - yes the "majestic cathedral pines" flowering plants, and fresh pine straw are nice, but beyond that the greens are smaller, more elevated, and more undulating than you can see on television -- and it is just a great golf course...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ...that I would really like to play sometime - please email me if anyone is looking for a fourth.

  PHOTOS (click to enlarge) gate sign sandwich wrappers members only badges magnolia lane street sign & range water tower and traffic