A Day at the Masters


Posted On: Wednesday - April 24th 2024 6:47AM MST
In Topics: 
  General Stupidity  Artificial Stupidity

Augusta, Georgia is just no place to be...?



The post is not about a Queen album.* Also, it may be a welcome change from our fixation on Lionel Shriver and her book. (I'll get back to that very shortly.)

I talked to a guy while traveling who had been to the recently held big "Masters" golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. This is maybe THE big one when it comes to American golf tournaments. It's also supposed to be one of the great golf courses, although I wouldn't know - I'm not a golf course architect. I've never even wanted to pretend to be a golf course architect.

The man and his family of golf enthusiasts had had tickets for that Saturday, the 2nd-to-last day of the 4. I was interested in how one watched in person - to me it's more of a thing (like football) that is easier to watch on TV, if you're going to watch at all, which I'm not. He told me about the particular location where they'd been situated, with a good view of the green of one hole (15th, maybe?) tees to a couple more, and so forth. I asked about pictures he may have taken.

No, sirreee. What was very surprising to me is that not only do the tournament officials not allow mobile phones to be on, with good reason, of course, but mobiles, cells, handies, whatever you call them, were not allowed there, period. You'd get kicked out if they found you having one on your person.

That seems kind of cool. I remarked to the guy that it might be very pleasant to be forcibly without these things and also around others who are forcibly without them for a day. That Saturday had been a nice day there, and even I, a non-golf-enthusiast - I'll be glad to drive the buggy around** - would have appreciated the beautiful greenery and the relative peace and quiet.

So, nice job, Augusta National. [Golf clap.]


* Too many old boomer music references? Sorry. The first is from The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's American Dream - great song! The second is in reference to Queen's Night at the Opera and Day at the Races.

** That was a bigger thing for me before I had a driver's license.

Comments:
Moderator
Thursday - April 25th 2024 11:16AM MST
PS: “ A Night at the Opera “ and “A Day at the Races” are the titles of Marx Brothers (or should it be (((Marx Brothers))) ? )movies. I had no idea, but that obviously explains those 2 album names.

In high school the rich kids played at the country club - no boom box as far as I heard, but their main goal was to get far away from most other golfers in order to smoke weed. May have been safer walking the course...
Ganderson
Thursday - April 25th 2024 6:52AM MST
PS
“ A Night at the Opera “ and “A Day at the Races” are the titles of Marx Brothers (or should it be (((Marx Brothers))) ? )movies.

I enjoy going to the practice rounds of golf tournaments- one gets a feel for the course, get to see up close the amazing things these guys (and gals) can do. Then, if I want, I can follow the “action” on the goggle box.

I dunno how many of us “stupids” play golf, but one trend that I find really annoying is the increasing number of golfers that carry speakers on their carts. You really can’t go 4 hours without music? Not to mention you should be walking the course anyway…
Moderator
Wednesday - April 24th 2024 2:06PM MST
PS: I'll be glad to just mow and get some leaves chopped up. This lawn looks closer to that in the trees off the side of the fairway. There's too much shade for a great lawn.
The Alarmist
Wednesday - April 24th 2024 12:35PM MST
PS

That reminds me that I want to top-dress and over-seed my lawn this weekend.
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