I look forward each year to receiving the April issue of Golf Digest. The magazine does an excellent job of previewing the Masters Tournament.
The Masters edition arrived earlier this week, and Tom Brokaw's guest essay caught my eye. Brokaw, the former NBC anchorman, came to Augusta National Golf Club last year at the request of Golf Digest to continue its series of "First Impressions" from noted journalists.
Brokaw's essay, in the form of an open letter to Masters and Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne, was mostly effusive in its praise of the tournament and club.
But Brokaw, like so many before him, could not resist the temptation to take a shot at Augusta National's surroundings.
He described the club as "a sovereign nation with its own economy, laws, citizens, and culture tucked away in northeastern Georgia among the strip malls, Jiffy Lubes, Hooters, Waffle Houses and bait shops of Augusta."
Geography lesson aside -- when did Augusta relocate to the northeast? -- I was disappointed that Brokaw would stoop to that low point. Sure, Augusta has plenty of problems, but who cares what businesses line Washington Road outside Augusta National's gates?
Brokaw, who has traveled the world and interviewed virtually every important political figure of the past 40 years, goes to great lengths in the essay to point out all the big events he has attended. The Olympics, Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, World Series, Wimbledon and Daytona 500.
Tom, surely you know some of those events have strip malls, Hooters and Waffle Houses in the general vicinity? Heaven forbid if a person wants to get his oil changed, drink a cold one or eat his food scattered, smothered and covered.
Brokaw went on to describe several other moments he experienced at last year's Masters, including seeing Tiger Woods in person for the first time and the awe and wonder that Masters patrons experience on their first trip.
I had almost forgiven him when I got to the penultimate paragraph.
"When I left late Sunday afternoon I thought, I haven't had this much fun in northeast Georgia since I covered that cockfight raid with the state Bureau of Investigation not far from here in 1966."
Shame on you, Tom. That's weak. The next time you come to Augusta, venture off Washington Road and you might find something other than strip malls and chain restaurants.
Comments (32)
Add commentGolf Digest posted one
Golf Digest posted one reader's reaction to the column in their Editor's blog:
http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/blogs/editors/tom_brokaw/index.html
Another slam of our city by
Another slam of our city by the "drive by media" (never a better time to call them that)...
We can just add it to the pile with all the rest, I suppose...
Yeah, I just get tired of
Yeah, I just get tired of the same old comments. It used to be the Piggly Wiggly in the shopping center across the street. Now it's strip malls and Waffle Houses. Almost every major sports event has the equivalent. Get over it.
Maybe, just maybe, if we're
Maybe, just maybe, if we're lucky, since Brokaw didn't like what he saw, he won't come back.
i love augusta....with that
i love augusta....with that in mind, i can see where some outsiders might get the same impression as brokaw.....how do you get to the national? get off I-20 and go up washington road....past the hooters....jiffy lube.....across from "the master's plaza"..... no sidewalks for pedestrians ..... but, go inside the national and it is indeed stunning..... breath taking.....so, it's easy to see that the contrast from inside to the outside is also quite stunning......of course augusta has lots of great places besides the strip malls on washington road....but, it makes for an easy story and is the most obvious thing to mention.....heck, i still trip out on some of these same contrasts in our community.....but, hey.....i guess it's his opinion.....take it for what it's worth...... does this break down simply as left/right drive by media what? augusta is what it is...... and we'll always have people come down for here a week and leave.... most of us here are here for good...... what are WE doing to make augusta a better place to live? that's what concerns me more than an outsiders opinion...... for what it's worth....
Yankee Stadium...Soldier
Yankee Stadium...Soldier Field...Wrigley Field...Turner Field...
None of them in garden spots. The city grew up around the course, it developed like medium sized cities develop. If someone did 3 minutes worth of research, they would know that.
new york city -- chicago --
new york city -- chicago -- atlanta -- we are a smallish southern city and that makes it more obvious to an outsider -- i do predict that there will be major changes coming all around the outside of the national -- oh wait, it's already happening along berkman road -- washington road is next -- i love this town!
I guess what brokaw is
I guess what brokaw is saying is that we're just like any other mid-sized city next to an interstate. at least he could have said something about our cheap gas prices.
Sounds like Tom hit it on
Sounds like Tom hit it on the money!!!
What's wrong with
What's wrong with Hooters?
What did Mr. Brokaw expect to find in a commercial district that surrounds what once was a nursery? For someone who carries a distinction as a journalist and historian, perhaps he should have done some homework. For someone with such a myopic worldview, his own view of Augusta is ridiculously narrow.
What's next to Yankee Stadium? You wouldn't want to be there after the sun goes down. What's next to Shea Stadium? How bout an endless line of chop shops. Around Fenway? Bars and vendors looking to soak the patrons for even more cash.
Mr. Brokaw doesn't like the South anyway. Good. He can stay his supercilious, elitist [filtered word] up North.
It's funny to me when all
It's funny to me when all these snobs stick their noses up at the South, but they flock here in droves. In a few years Georgia will be the fourth largest state in the union in population. I guess all these strip malls and Hooters around here aren't so bad.
I've been to New York, Southern California, and other places around the country and I can see why people want to live here.
By the way Tom Brokejaw is an idiot.
Even a cub reporter would
Even a cub reporter would have checked to make certain he was in south central Georgia, but Brokaw has never done his homework. He has parlayed a speech impediment into a tv career. Just what new insight did he bring to the Augusta National? His "local color" commentary was neither local nor colorful. Why did he even bother to come here (or did he, really)?
It sounds too much like
It sounds too much like another article that I wish I could find, that was written years ago that got a lot of press. Way too much alike. So, either he read that article and made up his own based on that or ... Augusta really does look like that to outsiders. Outsiders? Wait...
Either way, he was dead on in a few ways. The National is very much its own sovereign nation. We're just the peasants that they tolerate. Thing is, even in medieval times the peasants were allowed to at least visit the castle every now and then. Ya know. To pick up their scraps. The National's neighbors don't even get that. All we get are our roads shut down and our property taxes tripled for the priveledge of continuing to live where our families have lived for most of our lives. Go figure.
Unfortunately, unslightly
Unfortunately, unslightly Augusta is what keeps everyone away 51 weeks of the year! Maybe our commissioners and planning and zoning officials need to consider this.
There is certainly a pattern
There is certainly a pattern here and Brokaw is certainly not the first person to notice it: Augusta makes a very underwhelming first impression. One of the most prestigous golf courses in the world can hardly be compared to a baseball stadium or a racetrack. Shame on Augusta for not having some forethought into how the area around the course should be developed... some simple zoning ordinances would have been appropriate.. a sidewalk would be nice.. maybe some trees. Is it really too much to expect for the entry way to the landmark that puts Augusta on the map for the one week out of the year to live up to Augusta's nickname "the Garden City." Instead it reinforces Augusta's other nickname, "Disgusta." Its no wonder that the tourists don't return the other 51 weeks out of the year. Instead of improving the city, people in Augusta would rather just whine about outsiders "bashing" Augusta.
Methinks Tom was not invited
Methinks Tom was not invited to join the membership of "The National" and his essay is a reflection of his rejection. Martha Burke hasn't been back lately, either! HA!
What does one expect from a
What does one expect from a liberal!
This is nothing new. I think
This is nothing new. I think Bob Costas did an expose' on The Augusta National (I think after Tiger's first win) and talked about strip malls and other businesses along Washington Road. This is just the media's chance to take a shot at Augusta and the South in general. Didn't last year's Golf Digest have a similar article as well, Mr. Boyette? I believe one of the popular golf mags had the same angle on what it's like outside the gates of The National. Hey, the South may not have much going on for itself like Northeast or the West Coast, but I just thank God Georgia is realistic and smart enough to have been a Red State this election year! I don't want Tom Brokaw's patronage here anyway.
Tom Keep your butt out of
Tom Keep your butt out of Augusta,Georgia . We don't need you or your comments.
This is my take on it ...
This is my take on it ... The Masters is here one week a year; the rest of the year, we are normal folks living just like everyone else. Who would even attend such an event if it was in the middle of nowhere? Give me a break, Mr. Brokaw. I liked you, but then again, I changed my mind!
Mayor Deke edified Brokaw's
Mayor Deke edified Brokaw's comment about the Masters Golf course being next to strip malls. Deke said something to the effect ....We have the new Kroger store....Yes the Kroger store is just part of a strip mall. Sometime it is best to remain silent or simply smile and whistle dixie.
Yes, you are right. I live
Yes, you are right. I live in Harrisburg and it is insulting that street sweepers only come in right before the Masters. Efforts should be make to take care of what we have in Augusta and the people who are stuck here.
Brokaw was not
Brokaw was not geographically incorrect. His other comments not withstanding, Augusta is in the northeast quadrant of Georgia. The southern part of that quadrant but nevertheless correct.
Look at the the difference
Look at the the difference between what you find outside Harbortown Golf Course in Hilton Head, which is also in The South and Augusta National. It's like polar opposites! Augusta seems to be interested in improving entranceways to the city.. well this is the biggest entry way into Augusta, that gets the most attention. Would it hurt to beautify it in some way? Plant some trees? Add sidewalks? Attractive street lights? Visitor Signs? This is the only thing Augusta is known for for the most part and its the only time you ever see a large number of tourists flood into Augusta. The city should make the best first impression possible. Show these people that there is more to see in Augusta then just the golf course. This is a huge squandered opportunity for Augusta.
At least Brokaw maintained
At least Brokaw maintained his integrity and reported the truth as would be observed by any other 'passer-by'. I only hope I can capitalize on the futility of so many fanatic patrons who flock here annually. It's the least I can do to exploit what I detest for profit.
You see Hooters and Waffle
You see Hooters and Waffle or Huddle houses almost everywhere you go, so it isn't a big deal. As far as the work on I20 nebreese, it was needed, the exits were unsafe year round and therefore more important than the one week the Masters is here. The opinion of this one man makes no difference at all and people will still flock here to see the Masters so no harm done........would it be nice if that area were nicer looking? sure it would but regardless people have and always will come for the Masters.
Although I think he could
Although I think he could have said the same thing about any course between here and Myrtle Beach (where some of the best courses in the world reside), I do think that the splender that is the Augusta National is somewhat tainted by it's surroundings. You would think that they would make it a little more eye-friendly! It's the Mecca of golf, and you don't get that until you get inside the gates.
Just my POV.
Would Mr. Boyette have been
Would Mr. Boyette have been so against the article if his beloved Jim Nantz had said it? Why do sportswriters continue to be obsessed with other media
Brokaw if you don't like it
Brokaw if you don't like it here DELTAS ready when you are. Don't let the doorknob hit' ya were the good Lord split'ya!
I guess what brokaw is
I guess what brokaw is saying is that we're just like any other mid-sized city next to an interstate. at least he could have said something about our cheap gas prices.