In 1961 at the age of 9, having never hit a golf shot nor been on a golf course, I attended my first Masters. Being an all sports kid, playing youth football, basketball and my favorite, baseball, I was the guest of the parents of one of my baseball teammates. Our families lived in Savannah, Georgia, a two hour drive south of Augusta. His father was an annual member of the Masters Tournament operations team. We stayed in a private home off Berkman Road, which is no longer there as all of that area was acquired by Augusta National and is now used as patron parking. Rest assured, I neither knew the significance of the event nor the privilege of having an all-access badge. It was spring break week from school and the tournament ended on Easter Sunday, which I would learn was a usual occurrence. Years later I learned there is an old joke, after the Tournament dates were changed, it became a conflict between two major religious events so they moved Easter. That initial year in 1961 began a string of my attending the Masters for 51 consecutive years. Wish I had saved the badges from all, who knew?
What made 1962 so memorable was the meeting that, although I didn't know it until many years later, would foretell my life and career. Early that week, again hosted by my baseball teammate and still having no interest in golf, his father needed to deliver some documents to the Jones Cabin, to the co-founder of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, Robert Tyre Jones, JR – Bobby Jones, and we were invited to go. While I often can't remember some things that happened last week, that day I will never forget. I had been advised to be quiet and respectful in the presence of this very important man. Mr. Jones was in a wheelchair, something I had not seen, but was very kind and seemed happy to see us. He asked me about my golf game, did I enjoy golf? I quickly shared that I didn't play golf, I was a baseball player. Mr. Jones assured me that I would play golf, a lot of golf and be a big part of my life. So here we are in 2022, elected to PGA of America membership in 1979 and a rewarding career in the game and business of golf that has given me so many blessings. How did he know?
When I did take my first golf swing in the winter of 1967, the Masters Tournament quickly took on new meaning. That spring I declined my host's annual invitation and several of my friends and I attended the tournament. I had learned about the big names in game and their history. One of my golfing classmates wanted to follow this fellow, Ben Hogan. That led to one of my most memorable Masters moments. On Saturday in 1967, Ben Hogan played what many have said is a magnificent round, playing the front nine in even par 36. Mr. Hogan, at the age of 55, came home with a 6 under par of 30 for a total of 66. We walked all 18 holes and the precision he displayed on that last nine holes I have come to greatly appreciate. Little did we know that would be the final year Mr. Hogan played the Masters. He posted a final round 77 and finished in a tie for tenth. It was years later that many of my mentors would mention that Saturday round by Ben Hogan with sincere reverence.
Lastly, while everyone that attended the 1986 Maters and witnessed Jack Nicklaus’s magnificent victory, has their unique stories, I choose to share mine. By this time, my career in golf having taken many twists and turns, I was serving at this Masters as the on-air radio voice for a 9-city network of stations, providing morning and afternoon “drive-time” shows about the tournament. While I was preparing for our Sunday afternoon show, it was becoming evident that Jack was about to do the unthinkable. I left the media center and wandered down to the 15th fairway. As Jack reached the green and prepared to attempt his eagle putt, the quiet was not unexpected. The roars when he holed the putt were the loudest I had ever heard at Augusta National. The ground shaking was not something I had ever felt. By the time I made it back to clubhouse, Jack had reached 17 green and when the “yes sir” putt went in the accompanied roars coupled with the ground shaking were measurable. I asked other older and more experienced media members, if they felt the tremors and had that ever happened? The answers were a unanimous yes and no.
In a couple of weeks’ time someone will don a green jacket. Will it be one of the many great young phenoms or a player with the prerequisite experience around Augusta National that we call the 2022 Masters winner? One thing is certain, we will all have new stories and memorable moments from the greatest week in golf.
John W Boykin, PGA
