Did You Know
The Masters is one of the most unusual events in sports.
It's all about tradition, and it's defined by a set of odd rules and customs that just don't exist outside of Augusta National. It's great.
We compiled the oddest traditions that make the Masters and Augusta one of a kind.
Food prices are ridiculously low.
Cell phones are prohibited at all times and cameras are not permitted during the tournament. It's one of the only places in the U.S. where there are long lines for pay phones.
Only four minutes of commercials per hour are allowed during the
broadcast and no blimps are allowed.
TV commentators are not allowed to refer to fans as "fans" or "spectators" They are to be called "patrons," and the rough is to be referred to as the "second cut."
Players had to use local caddies provided by Augusta until 1983. Players are allowed to use their own caddies now, but they have to wear the Augusta uniform — green hat, white jumpsuit.
Fans, oops, we mean patrons, aren't allowed to wear their hatsbackwards.
There is an odd myth that the grounds crew at Augusta packs the azalea plants with ice if spring comes early. The idea is that this will keep the plants from flowering too soon before the tournament.
It's nearly impossible to become a member at Augusta. You have to be nominated by a current Augusta member, and new initiations generally aren't accepted unless someone quits or dies. The total membership hovers around 300.
Players are given a brand new Mercedes for use during the week.
Golf cart drivers who are hired to drive the players around Augusta National also pick up the golfers at the airport in the Mercedes they will be using. The cars also have a number in the back window so that employees can always identify the players by which car they are in.
Augusta is closed in the summer to keep the course in pristine shape.
Augusta is its own universe with a tenuous connection to the outside world.
But WWII affected Augusta just like it did the rest of the country.
During the war, Augusta didn't have the manpower to maintain the course, so they set 200 cattle loose on the grounds in hopes that they would "trim" the grass by eating it.
Source: Email from a friend.
The Masters is one of the most unusual events in sports.
It's all about tradition, and it's defined by a set of odd rules and customs that just don't exist outside of Augusta National. It's great.
We compiled the oddest traditions that make the Masters and Augusta one of a kind.
Food prices are ridiculously low.
Cell phones are prohibited at all times and cameras are not permitted during the tournament. It's one of the only places in the U.S. where there are long lines for pay phones.
Only four minutes of commercials per hour are allowed during the
broadcast and no blimps are allowed.
TV commentators are not allowed to refer to fans as "fans" or "spectators" They are to be called "patrons," and the rough is to be referred to as the "second cut."
Players had to use local caddies provided by Augusta until 1983. Players are allowed to use their own caddies now, but they have to wear the Augusta uniform — green hat, white jumpsuit.
Fans, oops, we mean patrons, aren't allowed to wear their hatsbackwards.
There is an odd myth that the grounds crew at Augusta packs the azalea plants with ice if spring comes early. The idea is that this will keep the plants from flowering too soon before the tournament.
It's nearly impossible to become a member at Augusta. You have to be nominated by a current Augusta member, and new initiations generally aren't accepted unless someone quits or dies. The total membership hovers around 300.
Players are given a brand new Mercedes for use during the week.
Golf cart drivers who are hired to drive the players around Augusta National also pick up the golfers at the airport in the Mercedes they will be using. The cars also have a number in the back window so that employees can always identify the players by which car they are in.
Augusta is closed in the summer to keep the course in pristine shape.
Augusta is its own universe with a tenuous connection to the outside world.
But WWII affected Augusta just like it did the rest of the country.
During the war, Augusta didn't have the manpower to maintain the course, so they set 200 cattle loose on the grounds in hopes that they would "trim" the grass by eating it.
Source: Email from a friend.
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