Upfront

by Sherry Foster
Editor

The world over, the word Augusta is synonymous with golf and with good reason. It is home of the Masters Tournament—the Super Bowl of golf. The first full week in April the best golfers in the world compete for the coveted emerald green jacket. It’s a week marked by celebration and festivity as tens of thousands of visitors arrive at the city’s front door to catch a glimpse of their favorite golfers. And the welcome mat is out as Augustans afford those visitors a healthy dose of old-fashioned Southern hospitality. And if they’re lucky, they’ll witness a historic moment at the most prestigious golf tournament in the world.

For those of us who live in Augusta, the week brings many things. For some it’s 40 percent of their annual business budgets. For others it’s rental money that allows them to redo that vintage bathroom, repaint the old Victorian or take the family to Italy. But for those of us who stay in town, it’s really much like a holiday. Thanksgiving, Halloween and Fourth of July all rolled into one. For one thing, Masters week is the most lovely time of year to be in the city. The famous course, as seen by millions of television viewers worldwide (many of whom are still shoveling snow), is a fairyland of immaculate landscaping and brilliant spring flowers. And as you traverse the neighborhoods that radiate out from the National and beyond, the flora is no less spectacular. The dogwoods and azaleas are in full bloom, geraniums flow from front porch planters, flower beds are freshly mulched and boxwoods are trimmed to perfection. 

I like to think of it as the first official week of spring. The weather is usually warm enough for an outside deck party and cool enough that the bugs aren’t a problem. The parties are intimate gatherings of good friends who choose to stay home, go out to the course for a day or two and enjoy the excitement. While we go to work, it’s sort of an every-day-is-golf-casual Friday for the week. Relaxed and low key. And those lucky enough among us spend time at the course, with the luxury of picking the best weather days.

So for those of you who are in town for a visit—welcome. For those of you who are staying in town—let’s get together.