Speaker - Brian Gray 'A Round at Augusta'
Tue, Jun 5th 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Members and visitors to the Club meeting on Tuesday 5th June enjoyed a round of golf on the Augusta Course, albeit it was a picture round with our speaker member Brian Gray who with his son-in-law had fulfilled a long time ambition in 2005 when they attended the Masters Golf Competition.
This tournament is by invitation only is not a Championship but is the first major competition of the golfing season.
It was inaugurated in 1933 by Bobby Jones who was an Atlanta man himself and who, in 1930, had won all the Majors available at the time. This new competition certainly put the south of the US on the map.
The most picturesque of courses was built, with the assistance of Scottish Course Architect Dr Alistair Mackenzie, on an old indigo plantation and nursery which cost $70,000.
From the entrance at Magnolia Drive (planted in 1850) each hole has a botanical name, a legacy of its origin, and the Clubhouse is the original building from 1854, a date which it shares with the R&A Clubhouse.
As Brian took us around the course, his photos were every bit as spectacular as those we have come to expect on our television screens. Brian assured us the the greens were every bit as quick as the commentary we hear suggests.
As for Bobby Jones, Freeman of St Andrews, from 12 starts in his own tournament, he could only mange 13th at best! However he did win everything else in his lifetime especially the affection of the people of St Andrews. Six thousand people lined the 18th green when he played the 18th hole at the 1958 Open. Not a bad achievement!
In the well deserved vote of thanks, it was noted that Brian not only gave a virtual round of golf but paid tribute to a very fine man and well loved golfer.
'What We Do' Main Pages:
.jpg)
