A week before The 2017 Masters, I received a text message with an offer to attend a practice round and the Par 3 contest at Augusta. It didn't take long for me to reply and pack my bags. The first thing I put in that bag was my camera. You are permitted to bring cameras on the course for practice rounds at Augusta!
Upon our arrival, we decided to check out the scene on Washington Road. Washington Road is the same road where John Daly hangs out at Hooters and sells T-shirts and fancy pants. Naturally we stopped by. I passed on taking a picture with big John, as I felt weird about a two time major winner ringing up hat sales.
With the Z on the end, it sounds pretty official official to me.
After some corn hole and various other shenanigan type things, we found Magnolia Lane on the map and decided to take some photos like a couple of delinquent teenagers.
Now normally, we would have been stoked out of our minds for The Masters in the morning, but we had been staring at the forecast below for the past 72 hours. We were still stoked, but just more of an angry at the rain gods type stoked.
Don't worry, the TERS on the other side of the sign worked just fine.
Lighting not ideal for late night photo operations.
With a mild stroke of luck, the rain would hold off and the gates to Augusta National would open. We gleefully entered and strolled the grounds. Knowing that we would only have an hour or so before the storms rolled in, we headed out to the hot spots.
I was able to get some pretty good shots and the sun actually came out for a full 90 seconds while we were on #13.
To view all of my photos and my top 11 Augusta list, click here.
After a couple of hours, the weather horns would sound and we would be given the boot. However, after a several hour delay, the course would re open and we would come rushing back. As you can see, people were excited to return.
Just as the Par 3 Contest was getting underway, the horn would sound again and we would be given the heave from Augusta National for the day. This was the first time in 50 years, the Par 3 contest was cancelled due to weather.
All was not lost though, Snoop Dogg was in town to play some golf and give a little rap show. Be sure to click the link to get the Golf Digest Recap.
Note: When I say catch his flight, I mean watch Delta fumble around and cancel flights for 2 days: Summary: Masters good, Snoop cool, Delta bad.
The Snoop Dogg set offers up a range of songs from Journey to Gin and Juice.
Before our flight out of town, our group headed up to the fantastic Champions Retreat Golf Club. Located only about a half hour away from Augusta, Sean of Breaking Eighty even had time to hole out from 170 yards for eagle before catching his flight back to Portland.
Sean Ogle celebrates the 3rd eagle of his lifetime..