Posted on Apr 12, 2019
LTC Stephen C.
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The 2019 Masters (Golf) Tournament is now underway at the Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, GA. It is without question one of the most famous and prestigious annual golf tournaments. I was privileged to attend once in 1974. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful and perfectly manicured pieces of geography on earth! Tell your story!
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LTC Stephen C.
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I attended the Masters Tournament in Augusta in April, 1974. I was attending the Army Signal Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, and at the time, service members were able to go to practice and tournament rounds by wearing a dress uniform, showing a military ID and paying $5.00! Incredible! We had almost completed the signal course, the instructors were lax, so I went most days of the event.
I was sitting in the grandstand (where you see the backs of the observers) on the fifteenth hole (Fire Thorn) during a tournament round. Jack Nicklaus was going for the green on his second shot, but the ball dropped right into the edge of the water hazard on the green side. Everyone groaned, assuming that Nicklaus would at best end up with a bogie on the hole and perhaps even a double bogie.
Nicklaus walked over to observe his lie from the green side of the hazard. He kicked off his right shoe and the crowd started yelling and clapping. He rolled up his pants, took off his sock, put his right foot in the water, hit the ball within a few feet of the pen and ultimately birdied the hole. The gallery went insane.
It seems most improbable, especially when you see how the water hazard is situated, but that's how I remember it! It was over forty-five years ago, so maybe I dreamed it!
Gary Player ultimately won the tournament
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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Great story and pictures LTC Stephen C. - thank you.
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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LTC Stephen C. - I love golf and I love the Masters as it is the most fantastic of all the golf tournaments. I have applied every year, for the past 20+ years, for tickets but to no avail. I get there one of these days (I hope)!!!
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LTC David Brown
LTC David Brown
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I hope you get there also! I am not into golf but on Sunday afternoon I will grab some snacks and beer to watch the end of the Masters. It is amazing the drama that can occure on the back nine. I will alway remember Greg Norman’s collapse
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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LTC David Brown - No one bothers me when the Masters is on! Thank you and yes, one day I will get there.
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CSM Charles Hayden
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LTC Stephen C. My DVR is set to record the Masters! I have been trained to not disclose info re: the Master’s until my sons have watched!

Both sons have played the course! One son was an executive with a golf management company and had ‘access’ to the nicer courses.
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LTC David Brown
LTC David Brown
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That is so cool. I have a friend who has been a gallery guard at the masters for over 20 years. The Nationals treats the volunteers very well and those that want get to play the course.
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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LTC Stephen C.
LTC Stephen C.
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CSM Charles Hayden, my father, now deceased, was an avid and excellent golfer. My parents moved to Atlanta in 1971, and through business connections and good friends, he was able to attend the Masters many times.
LTC David Brown
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