One of America's Gems

Golf may not be your cup of tea or may really not be interesting to you, but if you like history you may enjoy the historicity and traditions that enrich this age old sport.  I write this on the eve of arguably one of the best sporting events in our nation:  The Masters.  This year marks the 76th Masters event. 

Golf or a form of the game has been played for centuries.  The Scots take the honors of being the inventors of the modern game of golf as we know it.  According to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews that is located in Fife Scotland, the game of golf that is played over 18 holes is undoubtedly a Scottish invention.  The first documented mention of golf came in 1457, when a prohibition of the game was issued by King James II of Scotland because it distracted military responsibilities.  Two other bans were issued by the Scottish Parliament in 1471 and 1491 because it was unprofitable.  Later in 1744 rules were inscribed for the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, which changed its name to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which played at Leith Links. 

Golf in the United States was first seen in 1779 in which the Royal Gazette of New York published an advertisement for golf clubs and golf balls.  Also, an annual general meeting of a golf club in Savannah, Georgia was printed in the Savannah Gazette in 1796.  Golf never really gained any traction until the late 19th century, when delegates from numerous golf clubs met in New York in 1894.  Later this group would form what is today known as the United States Golf Association (USGA).  By 1932 the USGA had affiliated itself with over 1100 golf clubs.  In 1922, Walter Hagen became the first US born player to win the British Open which would give way to American dominance within the sport.  Such a rich history of the sport of golf and for American golf a lot of the history can be found in Augusta, Georgia. 

If you were to ask me what I would imagine the pathway to Heaven to be like, I would show you this picture.  BUT of course that is my limited human imagination speaking.  If we can imagine what Heaven or the pathway to the gates would look like then it is probably infinitely more glorious.  This image is of Magnolia Lane leading up to the Clubhouse of Augusta National.  The interesting thing of this course is that it was a fruit plantation, and later during WWII it was used for cattle grazing for food supply, for two years.  Golfing legend Bobby Jones and co-founder Clifford Roberts formally opened the course in 1933.  To this day the course is highly restricted and does not allow for women to golf. 

Each year in April, Augusta National host the Masters Tournament which is the first of 4 major championships on the yearly schedule for PGA.  The traditions begin with the Par-3 contest which is held on the 9-hole Par-3 course also on the grounds at Augusta National.  The contest is held on the Wednesday before the first round, and has a tally of 73 holes-in-one since 1960 and has a record of 5 in 2002.  Since the contest's conception in 1960, no player that has won the contest has gone on to be crowned that year's Masters Champion.  During player's practice rounds, there has been a tradition of skipping their tee shots on the water onto the par-3 16th hole green.  And the tradition of the Green Jacket, that is award to the winner of the tournament.

Along with the many traditions, the privileged who golf at this course get to view and enjoy scenery of all the holes.  The most famous of holes that are played on the PGA tour are what's known as Ahem Corner:  11th White Dogwood, 12th Golden Bell, and 13th Azalea. 

So as you can see golf is rich in history and tradition.  And all is exhibited in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National.  Tune in this weekend and truly become part of one of America's Gems.