[PHOTO: Yep, that's me. Par 3 Course, ANGC, April -2007]
I big, hearty THANK YOU, to ESPN and to the Masters Committee at Augusta National Golf course, is in order.
A good look at the beautiful Par 3 Course at Augusta National Golf Course is usually reserved for people who get to the Masters, either on practice days or tournament days. Except for highlights, the annual Par 3 Contest which is held on the Wednesday before the tournament starts, the TV viewing public doesn't get much of a glimpse of the little course.
Not so this year. For the first time the officials at Augusta National are allowing the Par 3 Contest to be televised on ESPN. So, today at 3 P.M. I'll be tuning in to watch it. This has nothing to do with the actual Masters scoring, but it's a fun-filled couple of hours where PGA pros and past Masters' winners play, and use interesting people as their caddies. You might see someone's young child dressed in the white Masters' caddie overalls; or, a wife, friend, or even a commentator. It seems that Kelly Tilghman caddies for Arnold Palmer for these events.
The one year my husband and I walked over while this competition was occuring, we only stayed about 20 minutes. Although the course is probably the prettiest little par 3 course you'll ever lay your eyes on, it's very small, and the sitting/standing area around each hole fills up quickly. To get a good tee-side spot or green-side spot to watch from, you need to get there early and plant yourself. Neither my husband nor I were willing to invest that much time into it, so we just watched a little of the action from way back for a few minutes, before heading back to the 'real' tournament course.
If you're not busy around 3 today tune into ESPN and check it out. It promises to provide a better view and much more action than if you were there.
No tickets for me this year, but next year's another year. If you're interested in getting in the lottery drawing that Augusta National does each year, to allow people to purchase 'practice round' tickets, check out this site: http://www.masters.org/en_US/index.html [1] and put your cursor over TOURNAMENT INFORMATION. You'll see the line just below change and then you can click on 'TICKET INFO.' If you get tickets for a Wednesday, it includes free access to the Par 3 Contest, as well as the pros playing practice rounds on the tournament course.
I have had my name pulled two different years in the lottery, and I accepted whatever they offered. Once I could buy tickets for one day, the other time, they allowed me to buy tickets for two days. Ticket prices ranged this year from $31 - $36. Amazingly, cheap, isn't it? We drive down, stay just north of Augusta, and enjoy the great southern hospitality. You don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy a day or two and see all the pros. This is how I saw Tiger play in 1996 just months before he turned pro.
E-mail me at golfbythecupful1405@verizon.net [2] and I'll post your comments from your e-mail; or, leave a comment by clicking the 'Add new comment' button below.
/Golf by the Cupful