Corner, referring to the treacherous stretch of holes 11, 12 and 13? Credit for that goes to famed American golf writer Herbert Warren Wind. The scribe, in a 1958 Sports Illustrated column, coined this phrase when he wrote: “…at the farthest reach of the Augusta National course – down in the Amen Corner where Rae’s Creek intersects the 13th fairway near the tee, then parallels the front edge of the green on the short 12th and finally swirls alongside the 11th green.” My Masters Memories One pimento cheese sandwich: $1.50. A no-name domestic draft in a plastic Masters cup: $3. A pair of kids’ T-shirts from the souvenir shop: $48. An all-day stroll as a patron along the rolling fairways of Augusta National Golf Club the day before the first round of the 2013 Masters: priceless. The Masters bleeds tradition. As discussed, the customs and symbols associated with the year’s first golf major are endless. After years of watching this tournament on TV and imagining making a bucket list trip to these hallowed grounds, this dream came true on an April day more than 10 years ago. I arrived in Augusta, Ga. shortly before 3 p.m. on Tuesday and parked across from James Brown arena. Besides hosting the Masters, this town of nearly 200,000 claims the Godfather of Soul, Hulk Hogan, Ty Cobb, Lady Antebellum and Laurence Fishburne as its own. Following a hearty breakfast sandwich at the New Moon Café in the city’s downtown, I arrived at Augusta National’s gates. With temperatures reaching 87 F, and spring having sprung just in time for me to witness the dogwoods, magnolias and azaleas in bloom, the day was nothing less than perfect. The first thing that I noticed upon entering the grounds was the dramatic elevation changes on the course. In the morning, I wandered the back nine. I found the tree on No.10 that Bubba Watson made famous in the 2012 Masters due to his miraculous shot in the playoff. I caught some of the Par 3 tournament and also made sure to stop for a while at Amen Corner. Later, I sat and watched a few players skip balls off of the water and onto the green at the par 3 16th hole, another Masters tradition, which was started by Kitchener, Ontario native and two-time U.S. Amateur winner Gary Cowan in 1972, when he tried this trick shot during a practice round with two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw. Just like the Masters, golf is filled with rich traditions that draw people to the game. These customs remain one of the enchanting elements of the sport that form part of its legacy and connect players to this grand old game. By the time you read this, the first major of the year will be over and hopefully, with it, warmer weather has arrived from coast to coast. Here’s to making new traditions – and reviving old ones – on the golf course this season. Golf CSANews | SPRING 2024 | 41
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