Tuesday, March 25, 2014

The Most Prestigious of Them All: The Masters

The Masters Tournament…where a green jacket takes on a whole new meaning. To golfers, this is the Super Bowl of golf events; every golf fan looks forward to the day the Masters starts. There’s something about this PGA Major that is different from all others. In fact, Forbes ranked this golf major as the most prestigious of them all. But what makes this golf major so great? Here are the top five things that set the Masters apart: 

The location
The location of The Masters, Augusta National Golf Club, is every golfers dream course. The Masters is the only major that is played at the same course every year. This course is known for being extremely private with only a few select millionaires and former presidents given memberships. Even golf pros do not receive memberships unless a minimum of four Masters have been won.

Past Champions
The Masters honors former champions like no other tournament in the world. Once winning the Masters once, you can compete in the tournament for as long as you live. Another unique feature of the Masters is the Champions dinner the day before the competition. This dinner is typically decided by the previous year’s winner and is usually something of their home culture or favorite food.

The legend - Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones, the founder of Augusta National, is one of the greatest golfers of all time. He is known for having earned the grand slam: The U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and British Open. He is the only person to ever do this, and he retired at the young age of 28 years old. After retirement  Jones focussed his efforts on being a course architect and has developed one of the greatest courses of all time.

The Moments 
In 1986, one of the all time greatest moments in golf history took place. Jack Nicklaus scored a 30 on the back nine of Augusta with a final round of 65 to take home his sixth, and most remembered, Green Jacket. Another legendary moment was Tiger’s chip from off the 16th green that famously rolled down from an extreme slope, pausing for a moment, and falling into the hole. Tiger receiving his fourth Green Jacket because of it. 

The Green Jacket
The Green Jacket crowns the king. It is truly a unique prize and is the most coveted item of clothing in the golf world. It is a symbol of greatness, and whomever wears this jacket, is truly a Master.

The Masters tournament is coming up, and as a golf fan, seeing the commercials every year in anticipation for the event gives a golfer chills. The countdown begins every year for the day the players arrive at Augusta to compete for the legendary Green Jacket and have their “once in a lifetime” moment like others before them. No words can describe the sense of accomplishment for those that have won this major, and we can’t wait to see who will win this year.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Get Ready…Golf Opener is Near


Ahh…golf opener. There’s nothing better than getting out on the course for the first time after the long winter months. The green, luscious view of the course, the fresh air and sunshine, and the great company of spending time with friends and family during an afternoon outing are all reasons why we love when golf season rolls around. These are all great things to look forward to, but what about your golf game? Make sure you’re prepared for your first round with this checklist:

#1 Equipment Inventory
If you haven’t looked at your bag since your last round of golf in the fall, it’s time to pull it out. Some things to check include: your grips, your clubs, and your bag. If you need to replace any of these items or fix them, now is the time.

#2 Tees, Balls, Gloves, and Markers
Before you head out on the course be sure to be fully stocked. Have your tees, balls, gloves, and markers easily accessible in your bag. Many golfers will need to replace their gloves from the previous season from normal wear and tear. Make sure to do so if your gloves have holes or tears in them, or no longer have adequate grip.

#3 Physical Fitness
Being physically fit is something that can help anybody’s golf game. We aren’t talking about spending hours at the gym or becoming a bodybuilder. Doing simple things like walking for 30 minutes a day can help. For other basic exercises to incorporate into your routine, Golfsmith published a great article.

#4 Lessons
Refresher lessons are great for every player - beginner to pro. Getting your body used to the game again and getting pointers you may not have known can make the game more enjoyable for you. For lessons at Blueberry Pines, please contact us, and we will take your golf game to the next level.

#5 Clothing
If you packed your golf clothes away, it’s time to pull them out and get them ready to wear again. If items no longer fit, purchase a few new pieces to add to your wardrobe. Also, check your shoes and the spikes. Replace the spikes if they are dull and if shoes no longer fit or are uncomfortable, purchase a new pair. There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes on the golf course.

If you can check off all of the items on the checklist above prior to heading out on the golf course this spring you will be prepared and able to fully enjoy your first golf experience of the season!