AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > April > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSpectators have harder course
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Augusta — I have just returned from visiting the scenes of the alleged crimes against tradition at Augusta National. I have followed the routings outlined for spectators, those worshipful creatures who would sacrifice an offspring for a week of Masters watching. And I am asking you this:
What the hell are the players complaining about?
Have they tried to walk this course following the spectator routing? They have it easy. They can stroll inside the ropes. Let ‘em try it outside the ropes, lugging a chair, a supply of water, field glasses, sandwiches and other stuff mama piles on him. And no caddie, understand. Then check their blood pressure.
You’ve read, I’m sure, of all the changes made on the fourth, the seventh and the 11th holes, not to mention the first and 15th. To pilfer a line from the old “Oklahoma” show, “They’ve gone about as fur as they can go.” As the lay of the course goes. You’d much rather play the course than have to walk it, following the course the poor, belabored spectator has to toil.
Once upon a time, there was a gathering ground just below the clubhouse, behind what was then the first tee. Spectators milled about, meeting and greeting, then watched the players tee off, then went on meeting and greeting, moving to and from the ninth and 18th greens. Not any more. There is no longer passageway between the first tee and the practice green. To get from the clubhouse to the golf course, you circle the practice green or move down the first fairway. Crosswalks have been closed, but at least the Eisenhower tree has been allowed to continue to use its space.
You’ve read, or heard, of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer blistering the changes in golf magazines. Well, what they said wasn’t really as ferocious as the headlines, but what they meant was, the course they see now is the gracious old course wearing a gorilla mask. Nicklaus, however, has already softened the blow. “I think they’re trying to do the right thing,” he said.
OK, you have to understand Jack. He’s a member now. He comes to interviews dressed in his green jacket. And, being a course designer of world-wide stature, he confesses that even he is confused. Golf architecture, where goest thou?
That’s for other people to thresh out. What I’m rumbling about here at Augusta National is what they’ve taken away from spectators. Take the 11th hole, for instance. I don’t care if they’ve put the tee in the CBS compound and create unplayable angles; if you’re a spectator you wouldn’t be able to see it anyway. They’ve planted a black forest between you and the fairway, maybe 60-70 feet wide. You don’t catch an uncluttered view of the player until he comes out of the woods at the foot of the hill.
Now, the fourth hole, that’s OK by me. It’s just long, but to do that, they had to gobble up more spectator space. Most of the players I watched hit irons or one of those unisex clubs. There was a bunch of bogeys, including Tiger Woods’, and only three birdies on my watch.
The seventh hole, all that need be said here is that Gene Sarazen once said, “That is the best golf hole on the course, what a golf hole should be. You have to hit two perfect shots, 3-iron or wood off the tee, then an approach that gives you a putting chance.”
They ignored him. They’ve stretched it out, but that’s not it. Once again spectator space and access have been shrunk, and sometimes you get trapped in one of these vacuums and you don’t get out until every player you’ve been chasing disappears. And sometimes, you can’t get there from here.
That’s it. You know that I’m coming to you from the choir of the aged. (And let me say this about Amen Corner: Every small-town church I’ve ever been too had an “amen corner,” where the husbands gathered while the mamas sat with the kids, and the husbands gave the pastor a loud, “A-men!”)
I guess that’s enough dyspepsia for one day.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Furman Bisher, Golf
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Jay
April 7, 2006 08:02 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher, you are exactly right. The fans are the ones to suffer from a lot of these changes. You cited many examples, others are the area between #15 and #17—that used to be a great place to watch both of those holes. Now, trees are there and it’s roped off. They’ve tried to make room for people by building more grandstands but if trying to walk and follow a group, it’s impossible to use them.
By Joe Seegars
April 7, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Bisher,
This is a Jason Bohn Masters correction request. I’m not sure who to send this to, so I’m sending it to you in the hopes that it gets routed to the right person:
In the sports section, JASON Bohn is doing a daily diary from the Masters. The paper is incorrectly calling him JUSTIN Bohn. He is a family friend and we want to keep the daily diaries. It would be great if the right name were in his bio. Please correct this.
Thanks.
By Skip
April 7, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
I’ve been to 41 straight Masters and I really hate to see them restrict the viewing areas. It used to be so much fun to watch tee shots,up close, on 2 and 5. Every hole has been altered. The ropes are further back around the greens and whole sides have been elimated: The left of 10, the right of 11 that you mentioned, the left side of 7, the right side of 13 fairway pushed back etc. I JUST FIGURED IT OUT. Michael Adams is the new chairman.
By Robert Spiller
April 7, 2006 04:38 PM | Link to this
Just in case, before you die or retire,. We need to let everyone know about your lies about the Butts-Bryant case. You lied and it was found out and you never commented. Now or later Mr. Furmann.
By William
April 7, 2006 07:59 PM | Link to this
Remember when the Masters “use” to be a lot of fun for the “guest”? I wish they would leave the course the hell along! But the damage is done! Bobby Jones would probably turn over in his grave!