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AT THE HEIGHT of the depression in 1932 no-one was opening golf courses and some were closing, but Bobby Jones and co-founder Cliff Roberts had a vision of a magnificent golf course in Augusta, Georgia on the 365 acre site of a former nursery called Fruitland. It was not a great success, and in 1934, struggling to pay the bills, they held a tournament, promoting the event using Bobby Jones’ name, and paying the travel and hotel expenses of the international press.
The strategy worked, the Augusta National Invitational received massive publicity and by 1939 the tournament became The Masters. The course has been lengthened more than 500 yards to combat advances in golf technology, but still retains the shot values that Jones intended when he helped Alister MacKenzie design the course.
RAE’S CREEK is named after Irish landowner John Rae, who built a fortress home there in 1734. Rae’s house was the farthest up the Savannah River from Fort Augusta, and neighbours would use it as a safe haven during Indian attacks. Rae’s Creek flows behind the 11th green and in front of the 12th green at Amen Corner.
The 11th (White Dogwood) is a par-4, the 12th (Golden bell) a par-3 and the 13th (Azalea) a par-5. .The brook alongside the 13th fairway joins Rae’s Creek by the 12th green, the lowest point on the course and 160ft below the first tee. Old hands say that Rae’s Creek tugs silently at every putt on the course.
ON APRIL 3rd, 1995, Tiger Woods, aged 19, drove through the gate at Augusta National Golf Club for the first time. He was not impressed, commenting: “Magnolia Lane, is that it? — I thought it was a pretty short drive.” Woods made the cut and tied for 41st. Two years later, in 1997 he won the Masters with a record 270 (18 under) twelve strokes ahead of Tom Kite. They lengthened the course after that.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS: In the 1980-90’s the Masters almost became European property with Sandy Lyle (1988), Nick Faldo (1989, 90 and 96), Ian Woosnam (1991), Bernhard Langer (1985 and 93) and Jose-Maria Olazabal (1994 and 99.) It’s about time European golfers started another run. After the recent Players and Valspar perhaps a bob on McIlroy or Hovland?
COULD LAB (LIE ANGLE BALANCE) and other zero torque putters become the new gold standard in putting? Is it time to throw out all those old putters?
In their efforts to discover whether zero-torque putters outperformed traditional putters MyGolfspy put four putters to the test. Two zero torque: LAB DF3 and PXG Allan vs two traditional putters: Spider X and Scotty Cameron Newport 2. They found that 80% of golfers performed better with zero torque putters.
The LAB DF3 was the most accurate putter tested. The PXG LAB putter ranked 2nd in every category. Spider X was 3rd. The Scotty Cameron ranked last in every category. In accuracy, putts made and strokes gained the LAB DF3 putter was the winner.
So is the stroke type putter dead? My Golfspy says not yet, but it may be on life support. After forking out £450 for one I probably would be as well.
TAYLOR MADE may have been gnashing their teeth at McIlroy needing his Qi10’s at Bay Hill and not their latest Qi35’s, but hey, any publicity is good publicity. Also, the Uber cabbie who collected them from his home in S. Florida and took them to Orlando must have been delighted with his $300 tip and the chance it gave him to tell all his future passengers: ”I ‘ad that Rory MciIroy’s clubs in the back of my cab once…..”
PRESIDENT TRUMP attended the gala evening at his golf club, Trump International, Palm Beach, to be awarded the Championship trophy which he had also won, along with the Seniors trophy, the year before. After praising all the visually-challenged officials and co-members he returned to his day job of bringing peace to the planet.
Until next time: Happy Golfing.
Contact Mick for regripping and repairs. 638 859 475
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