Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Most Special Part of The Masters

  This year marks the 75th playing of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.  Thursday at 7:45am the first tee shot will be launched and 99 players will begin their pursuit of one of sports great treasures-the coveted Green Jacket!  There are numerous things that make this tournament one of the most outstanding sports spectacles.  Certainly the golf course, designed by Alister Mackenzie in 1931, is pristine and probably the most well known, yet least played courses in the world.  This year the course will play at 7435 yards with par of 72.
  The tournament drips with tradition, whether it's Magnolia Lane, the Butler Cabin, the roars on the back nine with the unbelievable charge to the championship by 46 year old Jack Nicklaus in 1986, or Tiger's four victories.  The Masters also embraces amateurs, with this years field consisting of 6.  Typically, the amateurs don't fare very well, as only one has made the cut since 2005.  This year there will be a Michigan connection in the field as Lion Kim, a University of Michigan senior, qualified by winning the U.S. Amateur Publinks.  Thus, you will have a Lion, a Tiger, and a Cheetah (Dustin Johnson's nickname) in this years field!  Lion tees off at 12:31pm on Thursday with Jose Maria Olazabal and Davis Love III.
  So, while the golf course and traditions are great, the most special part of the Masters is that it signals the "official unofficial" start of the golf season.  It signals that the long winter is behind us and we can look ahead with renewed vigor at a promising season ahead.  A season with emerald striped fairways and smooth, true putting surfaces at the tradition rich Golf Club of Coldwater.  It signals that there is a fresh hope that this is the year that you will have that special memorable moment on the course that was here before the Masters even started.  So, envelope yourself in all the Masters has to offer this week and then enjoy a great season of a game that brings us many memories!  Rolla Frisinger-April 6,2011