Masters Tournament Golfers Perform In Augusta Version of Rites of Spring

AUGUSTA, Ga--The galleries at the Augusta National Golf Course, the site of the famed Masters Golf Tournament, do not really care that Tommy Aaron, the local Georgia favorite, won the tournament or that Jack Nicklaus finished two back or ten back. They came to relax in the warm April sun and beautiful flowered setting and watch a spectacle that just happened to be golf.

A carnival-like atmosphere surrounds this tournament, which gets its color from both the beauty of the course and the brightly-clad spectators. Augusta National is one of those rare golf courses that is as famous for its great difficulty as for the magnificent pines that tower over the numerous white dogwoods and banks of azelas.

Before showers interrupted Saturday's round, clear-blue skies dominated Master's Week. Temperatures bordered on the 80s and a slight breeze floated over the courses. The tempting weather brought out thousands of area residents and visitors for practice rounds in the first part of the week and even more people to the tournament that began on Thursday. All the condition surrounding the tournament--the weather, the festive atmosphere and the people--seemed to indicate that the Masters is golf's and Augusta's celebration of the return of .

The local schools cancel classes on the Thursday and Friday of the Masters. On Wednesday, the day of the par-three tournament, one area school reported over 600 of its 1300 students absent. Unlike regular tournament play--for which tickets must be purchased in advance--the practice rounds were open to the general public at the cost of $5 a ticket. The school secretary said "Practically all of them [the absentees] are at the Masters. Even the principal is out at the par-three today."

Gallery Watching

Looking at the gallery in Augusta, one would not be struck by the number of middle-age or older people or with the gallery's supposed knowledge of the game (which led Robert Trye Jones, Jr., former president of the Augusta National Golf Club, to call the golfing patrons of Augusta, "the most knowledgeable and considerate in the world").

The most striking aspect of the crowd seems to be the presence the thousands and thousands of young people. An out-of-town visitor estimated that "surely over one-third of the gallery is under 22 or so." He put this in perspective when he said "I'm amazed there are so many teenagers here since these tickets are so expensive ($25 for the four days) and so difficult to get."

The favorite gathering place for the young people is the knoll overlooking the 16th hole. The 16th is a 190-yard par three with a long pond as its fairway. Middle-aged and elderly people are among the crowd, but no one seems to notice. "It is almost as if they are not there," a high school girl said.

At the close of the opening round, two teenagers leaving the Augusta National had this exchange. "Hey, remember that eagle Hiskey got on 15?" "No, but look at this tan I got."

The local schools cancel classes on the Thursday and Friday of the Masters. On Wednesday, the day of the par-three tournament, one area school reported over 600 of its 1300 students absent. Unlike regular tournament play--for which tickets must be purchased in advance--the practice rounds were open to the general public at the cost of $5 a ticket. The school secretary said "Practically all of them [the absentees] are at the Masters. Even the principal is out at the par-three today."

Gallery Watching

Looking at the gallery in Augusta, one would not be struck by the number of middle-age or older people or with the gallery's supposed knowledge of the game (which led Robert Trye Jones, Jr., former president of the Augusta National Golf Club, to call the golfing patrons of Augusta, "the most knowledgeable and considerate in the world").

The most striking aspect of the crowd seems to be the presence the thousands and thousands of young people. An out-of-town visitor estimated that "surely over one-third of the gallery is under 22 or so." He put this in perspective when he said "I'm amazed there are so many teenagers here since these tickets are so expensive ($25 for the four days) and so difficult to get."

The favorite gathering place for the young people is the knoll overlooking the 16th hole. The 16th is a 190-yard par three with a long pond as its fairway. Middle-aged and elderly people are among the crowd, but no one seems to notice. "It is almost as if they are not there," a high school girl said.

At the close of the opening round, two teenagers leaving the Augusta National had this exchange. "Hey, remember that eagle Hiskey got on 15?" "No, but look at this tan I got."