Masters: Time to tee it up from the couch

There are plenty of folks around who got their yardwork, garage cleaning, chores, honey-do lists, etc. out of the way already.

That was done with the sole intention of clearing their schedules for a little TV time today. After all, the world’s most famous golf tournament wraps up late this afternoon.

If you tune in — like millions will across the world — you’ll undoubtedly hear CBS announcer Jim Nantz tell you the Masters is “a tradition unlike any other.” And you’re bound to hear it way more than once.

One man will don a green jacket today as the winner and earn a special spot in golf history. I don’t necessarily have a favorite to win but, as a golfer myself, I’ll just be hoping to see a closely contested finish down the stretch.

Yes, I planned my schedule to get some TV time as well.

There are a few things I still find amazing about this golf tournament. One is annoying and the other is pleasantly surprising.

First, let’s touch on the annoying part. Why is this golf course the only one that has a special name for each of its holes? I know they’re each named for plants, shrubs and trees on the course, but it’s just silly.

The No. 1 hole is “Tea Olive,” No. 9 is “Carolina Cherry,” No. 11 is “White Dogwood” and No. 15 is “Firethorn” to name a few. It just seems so strange that Augusta National is a course that puts such a focus on this kind of silliness.

I imagine the board of directors for the Masters would love to hear the announcers spew something like, “Jordan Spieth has a putting wedge in his hand from 115 yards out as he takes aim at par on Tea Olive.” Thank goodness we don’t get that gibberish.

Now, let’s address the pleasantries of Augusta National.

They know how to put on a fan-friendly event. A lot has to do with the way the tournament planners have maintained sensibility with their concession prices.

In case you’ve never heard about the way they do things there for this tournament, I’ll touch on several items — with certainty that the prices will blow your mind.

Pimento cheese or egg salad sandwiches cost $1.50; grilled chicken wraps are $3; candy, chips and peanuts all go for $1 apiece; and domestic beers are $4. None of those are typos.

For perspective, the Super Bowl a few months ago in Houston had “slightly higher” prices. A beer cost $12, a barbecue sandwich set you back $19, a cheeseburger went for $16 and a glass of lemonade was $8.

The Masters is one of the few remaining bastions that don’t gouge the fans. Golf clap, please.

Enjoy your couch time today.

Rob Langrell is the publisher of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at: [email protected]