There are many areas of Atlanta that remind me of Bobby Jones. Whether it’s East Lake, his old house (Whitehall) off Tuxedo Road, the law office where he practiced in historic downtown, or the Atlanta universities he attended, there is always a piece of Bob Jones in the city.
Today, I had the opportunity to visit the archives at Georgia Tech’s library and found the 1922 edition of The Blueprint – the university’s yearbook.
Bobby while at Georgia Tech
Below is the 1922 yearbook of the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The Georgia Tech Yearbook – “The Blueprint”
A fascinating piece about Bobby’s profile in The Blueprint is how involved he was with campus life. His activities, as [click to continue…]
A recent lunch with good friend and professional golfer, Tim Schaetzel, led to an interesting discussion about how a typical player analyzes their game. After going back and forth on different ways the game is evaluated for improvement, we concluded that most players rarely use a valuable tool available to them: statistical analysis.
Courtesy of Rob Matre
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Seve Ballesteros brought so much to the game. His passing is a time for players and enthusiasts to remember his legacy and dig in the details of what made Seve great.
The golf world has continually pointed out his brilliant shot making ability and unparalleled creativity. His God given talent wasn’t what separated him from all the other players; Seve brought an intense desire to every shot he played. He felt it, he made sure his fans felt it, and he also made sure his opponents felt it.
After looking at many Seve clips and interviews there are two I suggest you view to refresh your memory on the man that put panache and style into the sport unlike any other.
Seve’s Victory Speech after the 1988 British Open
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The week leading up to the Masters I was reacquainted with two of the three playing partners from our day at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. This time we met at Secession Golf Club and Chechessee Creek Club. Graeme and Sean have become some of the more enjoyable playing companions/competitors in the last year not only because of our shared loved for the game but the level of appreciation and perspective they each have for the sport.
However, we’ll leave what makes a great playing companion to another post, this one is about a lost art form within the game. An art that produces an experience because of golf’s rare mix of mental, social, and physical skills required — traditionally, this is called an exhibition match.
Secession Golf Club
A Very Brief History
Before there was a professional golf tour, many of the game’s greatest players earned money by competing in exhibition matches against each other. There was no better ‘exhibitor’ than Walter Hagen. A man with a larger than life personality and a grandiose lifestyle to match it. To draw the widest audience as possible, celebrities of that time would also join in on the competition.
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From the tournament’s inception, the goal has been to put on the finest golf tournament possible. According to revered golf writer Herbert Warren Wind there were many factors that turned the Augusta National Invitational tournament into the spectacle that it is today, including Bobby Jones’ influence, the quality of the field, and the diligence and precision of Clifford Roberts, just to name a few.
Yesterday was one of the most exhilarating days of golf I’ve ever experienced. The energy of every patron marinated across the hills of Augusta National Golf Club and baked in as the afternoon sun blanketed the golden grounds.
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There’s something comforting about having a golf club only a few paces away. The office, the living room, or even a lightly trafficked hallway are all locations where I’ve received enjoyment from its mere presence. Then, to stand over it, take a few putts or practice swings with your work attire or gym clothes on keeps the game familiar and fresh even in the most unsuspecting times of the year. As we all ramp up for this golf season, a good way to start is by taking one club out of the bag and put it somewhere you frequent often. You’ll get more inspiration from the club being in your hand than any book, article, or blog could ever assemble.
I know, a Masters’ post might be a little early, but the dogwoods and azaleas are already blooming in Atlanta and the weather has me thinking of the Masters Tournament daily. After doing a little digging, I came across some inspiration for us all. With the help of The Masters Tournament Spectator Guide, we’re able to experience what we can for now.
I chose the 1981 guide because it was the closest one I had to the original. This guide is more than just a hole-by-hole recap of what to expect. It takes you in the mind of Jones, the purpose behind the design, memorable stories, and strategy for different playing scenarios. After reading the guide, it’s clear he knew what to expect for years to come regarding patron traffic and premiere golf viewing experience.
The following includes pictures and excerpts of the Spectator Guide written by Robert T. Jones, Jr.:
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by ATG on February 7, 2011
There are hundreds of stories that depict Ben Hogan as a man of many sides: harsh, determined, exact, closed, detailed, mysterious and even humorous — in the right circles. Regardless of popular perception, there is arguably no other man in the history of the sport who understood his game and golf better. Except for a few films, interviews, and one of the most popular instructional books, Hogan left us little to study. This post is focused not so much on the tangibles he left, but more on what we can learn from the golfer and man that was Hogan and how we can apply it to our game and life.
Ben Hogan
Have clear motivation early on.
In a 1987 Golf Magazine Interview, Hogan was asked, “What was it that drove you so hard? His answers were clear and short:
“Three things. One, I didn’t want to be a burden to my mother. Two, I needed to put food on the table. Three, I needed a place to sleep.”
Hogan was $86 dollars away from giving up the game. Luckily for the golf world, he earned a couple hundred dollars that week and his career continued.
After he became settled and more comfortable financially, he didn’t allow for life’s luxuries to deter his focus.
GOLF Magazine: Once you and your family were eating well and sleeping comfortably, then what drove you?
HOGAN: Pride. Determination. I saw an opportunity. And when you see an opportunity, you practice and work, at least from sunup to sundown.
The best round is one when your playing partners are at ease.
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by ATG on December 7, 2010
Every year there are thousands of golf enthusiasts who give and receive golf-themed gifts that are borderline embarrassing and likely never to be used. The golf club candle, your NFL team branded groove cleaner, or the overpriced, comprehensive-divot-repair-kit are just a few of the gifts that hopefully won’t make it out of the garage. However, this year, there’s a solution: below, there are 5 gifts any golfer would like – except maybe a teetotaler, but the other 4 will suit him well.
Golf Gifts for 2010
Stationary
Golf is a game where relationships form and there’s nary a better way to express your formed friendship than a hand written letter. A letter about anything: your partner’s fine performance in last week’s match, a thank you note for the member-guest, or just an old memory on the course that you’ve recently reflected upon — demonstrated by Ben Hogan’s letter to his host at Shinnecock Hills.
Stationary as a gift is tricky though. You have to “guess” the style of the recipient, but if you want to skip the guessing part and go with a timeless selection, I’d suggest something very simple. Below is a good (not great) example:
It’s tough to make out exactly who the golfer is, but the position at top is similar to that of Old Tom Morris. A nice twist would be to include Hogan or Jones somewhere on the card instead, or even a good golf quote at the bottom.
Golf Photography
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by ATG on November 24, 2010
Memberships are down, fewer patrons are attending tournaments, the economy is still recovering and the Tour’s main attraction is searching for his game. If I could put one blog post in front of Tim Finchem, it would be this one.
My message would be simple: golf tournaments should adapt to these times. Not golf, not the players, but tournaments – the entire experience. The on-course experience carries over directly to the TV viewer. When the fans are into every shot, the viewers are in it as well.
These aren’t the boom years of the Tiger Slam. The PGA Tour now has an opportunity to let fans feel much more engaged with golf’s best.
Opportunity
Every time I’m at a tournament, I always hear a fan exclaim how excited they get when players or their favorite player walk by in between holes. This is valuable for the Tour to know. Let the patrons get closer — closer to everything: the players, the green, maybe not the fairway.
Here is a great example of a classic golf gallery:
Photo/Getty Images
I love this photo. It shows appreciative fans who want to see one of the greatest work his craft. This is how golf should be spectated…even today.
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