Understanding the Masters Golf Tournament

It’s spring and it’s Augusta, Georgia! To truly understand the Masters Golf Tournament and why it is the most revered event in all of sports, one must have an understanding of Bobby Jones. Being from the South (Greensboro, NC), I also believe one must understand the culture of the South, especially in the era that Bobby Jones grew up in. The history of Augusta National Golf Course and of Bobby Jones will help your enjoyment of this tournament. I highly recommend learning more about this rich history.

To give you a little background, Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers who ever competed on a national and international level. He began playing golf at age six. He won the East Lake Golf Club championship in Atlanta at age 13…beating his father for the title. He only played as an amateur during his illustrious golf career. He retired from competition by personal choice at the age of 28. Arnold Palmer was so inspired by Bobby Jones, that he wanted to only play as an amateur early in his golf life as well. To see Arnold play this week was inspirational to me!

Jones was not only a highly skilled golfer, but he also exemplified the principles of sportsmanship and fair play. Just to give you an idea of what kind of gentleman and honorable person Bobby Jones was, in the beginning of his amateur career while playing in the finals of the US Open, his ball ended up in the rough just off the fairway, and as he was setting up to play his shot his ball slightly moved. He immediately turned to the marshals and called a penalty on himself. The marshals discussed among themselves and asked if anyone had seen Jones’ ball move. No one witnessed the ball moving so the decision was left to Jones. Bobby Jones called the two-stroke penalty on himself, not knowing that he would lose the tournament by one stroke. The United States Golf Association’s sportsmanship award is named the Bob Jones Award in his honor.

His most enduring legacy was the building of Augusta National Golf Course, where the Masters Golf Tournament is played every spring. It was built because Bobby Jones could not play a round of golf without hundreds of people coming out to watch. A private course would enable him to invite his closest friends to come and enjoy a round of golf in peace. The search was on to find the ultimate spot for his dream.

Jones found a piece of land in 1931 outside his home in Atlanta that beckoned a golf course. It actually was a former plant nursery called The Fruitlands Nursery. No wonder the golf course is a display of boundless beauty! (There still stands today, some exotic bamboo trees that were a part of the original nursery.) Jones wanted to build a golf course for people to play, no matter the skill level. His intent in the design would challenge the highly skilled player and would also allow a new golfer to enjoy the game. For this expertise, he contacted golf course architect, Dr. Alistair Mackenzie, a former Scottish doctor, to design such a course. Both Jones and Mackenzie loved the Old Course at St. Andrews and wanted to create a very similar experience.

Jones would experiment with shots and collaborate with Mackenzie on the design. He wanted the second shot and the shots played around the greens to be the greatest tests for the golfer. Originally, as on The Old Course at St. Andrews, the tee shot was the most forgiving.

In 1934, a year after the course was opened, Bobby Jones and his good friend Clifford Roberts held the first Augusta National Invitational. Although Jones never wanted to compete again, he played in the tournament out of necessity…to attract people to the event. People came from 38 states to watch him play once again. The name, The Masters, was officially adopted in 1938. Jones thought the name to be too presumptuous, but it stuck.

I wonder what Bobby Jones and Alistair Mackenzie would think of all the changes to their course over the years?? I think they would be disappointed. It’s become more difficult even for the highly skilled professionals of today. How many pictures did I see on television yesterday with great players hitting from the woods on their second shot? Is this the test for their second shot? I wonder if all skill levels can still play the course and enjoy their round as Bobby Jones intended?

I know one thing for sure; it is still the most reverent, most beautiful golf course in the world. The test of the game is the finest test of skill and the color of the drink napkins for patrons perfectly matches the grass - so if you drop your napkin it will not show on TV! I love this tournament!