The Gathering Place
 

One of the best things about a golf tournament -- and particularly at Augusta -- is the opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. There will be LBG members 'on the grounds' each day of this year's Masters, so let's not let this opportunity pass. Using my own badges will be:

Thursday: Bambam and his brother, Matt.

Friday: Bagger and his brother-in-law, Greg.

Saturday: O. B. Left and his brother, John.

Sunday: Daryl and me.

Who else will be there?

Let's meet for lunch and share a 'mino cheese samich!

:occasion:

I'll "only" be there Tuesday for a practice round but feel very fortunate for that opportunity--it's my 3rd time there (1996,2004) but the excitement is still incredible. Hope you folks with the "real tickets" have a great time and a safe trip.

t-minus one week
 

A practice round with Camera in hand would be pretty cool. I can't tell you how many times during the "real" event that I've thought, "Wow, that would be a great photo".

It's such an amazing place and exciting event, and I, like you am extremely excited to visit with everyone and make the trip to Augusta again. It's a real treat and a privilege to go at all, but getting to share it with my brother makes it even better - Thanks so much, Lynn.

PS. Ted, if you're reading this, I have a lesson plan suggestion drawn up for my brother's appointment with you on Wednesday. We're pretty competitive, and I want to make sure he can compete with me:

- start with some 3-F-7-A and B
- then add a little 3-F-7-D and C but only after he's perfected A and B
- if you can't get any of those through his thick skull, charge him double and consider it a gift from me, as he'll be taking my money in short order.

If anybody else will be at The Masters on Thursday, let me know!

Masters
 

I'll also be there Tues. My first trip.

"X" Marks the Spot
 

Okay, so DCG1952 and Rickpinewild can meet up on Tuesday. Who else?

By the way, my favorite 'meeting place' is at the security checkpoint at the back entrance of the clubhouse. It's just behind the first tee, near the old oak in the back yard. It is also near all the lawn tables (behind the ropes) where 'they' get to sit and watch 'us' go by, and 'we' get to watch 'them' eat and drink and otherwise make merry. Ah, the good life.

You can meet some really interesting people at Checkpoint Charlie. A couple of years ago, I had arranged for an Augusta National member to take Bambam and me on a tour of the clubhouse. While waiting for our host, I had a wonderful conversation with the great sports and golf writer, Dan Jenkins. I had just read a piece about him written by his daughter (a freelance writer), and it made for a great little repartee.

Add one more memory to the Augusta National 'scrapbook'.

:golf:

And we can't forget the other gentleman we met near that checkpoint. You had just told me a story about a guy who was on TV, in the same spot for every single masters. I think you'd even shown him to me in a picture or masters replay on TV. Soon after you were done speaking with Dan, there was 'The Masters Guy' on the porch of the clubhouse! Of course we had to say hi :) I got a kick out of that.

Enjoy guys. I'm Masters green with envy

The Weather forecast indicates rain throughout the tournament. Will that improve the odds for the Long Ball players? Will the Greens hold better when damp at Augusta?

Sorry I missed RickPinewild ,but was out of town playing golf for several days before yesterday's practice round----and took several days away from the computer and email to totally veg. So, didn't even know I could have met a fellow LBGer. Would have loved to have met up with you Rick---maybe next time.
Had a wonderful time again. But, after the 11pm flight back to Pittsburgh I am back in the real world---hard to believe that just 24 hrs ago I was sitting in the stands at 16 tee and munching on a pimento cheese sandwich watching players skip balls onto the green. Talk about a slap in the face this morning!

Yoda,
Just out of curiosity, how long have you had your Masters badges?