[jebartle]

We made several trips to Augusta for the practice rounds but the "ole boy" was able to play Augusta with one of the best amateurs that played the game, Billy Joe Patton, who also was a member of our club and member at Augusta. As all of us have been in awe of the serenity and beauty of Augusta, my husband said, multiply that by 10 having the opportunity to play Augusta.

[Polar Bear]

I don't even want to read this thread. The only reason Augusta is not on my bucket list is because I know I wouldn't be able to check it off. Heheh.

[Medtrans]

We were there in 1990, I think that's the correct year, and following Raymond Floyd at Amen corner through 18. Faldo and Floyd now tied after 18. Goes to sudden death and they may have been tied after first hole and at second hole of sudden death Raymond Floyd puts it in the water. Nick Faldo wins. It was an incredibly beautiful day (able to attend 2 days) and of course seeing it in person was awesome. Another one off the bucket list. This was 1990 so I may not be exact in the details.

[Paper1]

Before I retired I used to play at a small 9 hole course in Bucksport Maine. It is only about 1350 miles from Augusta National.

[scarecrow1]

Missed the cut by two in 1974 .....

[kstew43]

We spent 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 at the Masters.

Hubby is Air Traffic controller so all those private jets flying in and out everyday needed to be controlled at a little field called Daniels which is privatly owned and very close to the golf course. City of Augusta and Daniels calls in the big guns for the masters, paying for all our expenses. Now I understand they hire private companies to work the planes.

We were given badges every day but were limited to 6 hour time slots each day so all the controllers could get the opportunity to enter. We were there I believe 6 days for practice and the tournament.

We sat in the stands, I personnally think golf is boring but loved the gift shop and came home with visors, cups, and the such. Hubby went for all the golf related things he could carry.

Once in a lifetime experience for him.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I don't have a personal story, but I do have one from a friend. My friend won the Kemper Open in 1974. In those days, all tour winners were invited to play in the Masters.
He received his invitation and of course was very excited.
He got to the club on Monday and played practice rounds Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday they posted the starting times. He was the first player in the first group on Thursday morning.
So they have the opening ceremony where Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead tee off to play their nine holes. The they announce my friend's name. He is standing on the tee and he says to me that people are ten deep all around the tee and up both side of the fairway and even circling the green.
having played on tour eleven years, he figured that he would be able to handle it. I asked him if he was nervous and he said that his hands were shaking and he thought that he was going to throw up on his shoes.
I asked if he hit a good drive and he said, "Nah, I hit it in the bunker". But then with a gleam in his eye he says to me, "But I made par".
Unfortunately, he didn't make the cut and other than his win at the Kemper and two losses in playoffs, he didn't have a very successful career. But, he did have that moment that not very many people will ever experience.

[tln1947]

I was fortunate to go to The Masters in 1979 and saw good ole Fuzzy Zoeller win the event. Seeing Nicklaus and all the other great golfers was amazing. Also just to see the beauty of the course itself and to walk it was amazing!