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Patrons are reflected in a huge puddle in the parking lot of National Golf Club. Many fans sought shelter in bars after being turned away. CHRIS THELEN/STAFF |
Brian Sobrero and Kevin Smith were having a great day Monday.
Forget the fact that the two flew in from the West Coast with tickets for the Masters Tournament practice rounds and couldn't get in the gates.
They camped out on the deck at Hooters on Washington Road and spent the day eating, drinking and playing cards.
"We've been here for hours," said Smith, of Oregon City, Ore.
Seven hours, to be exact.
"And our day's gotten better and better," he said, laughing.
Monday rains drenched the greens and shuttered Augusta National Golf Club, but the lost practice round was a boon for local watering holes.
A couple of tables over, Sam Sfyris and Drew Galloway sat with two co-workers having a quick beer.
The men work for American Corporate Events, a hospitality and events company, out of New York and the rained out practice round had slowed their day down some.
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| MOTHER'S FINEST: Mother's Finest, remembered by many a college student from the early 1980s, will rock Broad Street on Tuesday. The band is performing at 9 p.m. at the Blind Pig, 1251 Broad St. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Call 722-7335 for more information.
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PAR-3 PARTIES:
In what is billed as the "Original Par Three Party," the Swingin' Medallions and the CatDaddies will perform in an outdoor concert from 4 to 11 p.m. Wednesday at National Hills Shopping Center, 2701 Washington Road. Tickets cost $7 in advance and $12 at the gate. Women's tickets cost $5 if purchased at the gate. 738-8730.
Up the road, Cadillac's, at 3328 Washington Road in La Pavilion shopping center, will open at 3 p.m. with music from Brass Tyme and guest Steve Chappell, starting at 6 p.m. Admission costs $10 at the door. (706) 364-2234.
At Surrey Center, Coconuts will have "The Only Official Par 3 Party," featuring Playback with Tutu D'Vyne. Doors open at 4 p.m., and the music starts at 6, at Wheeler and Berckmans roads. 364-0786.
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| BOOK SIGNING: Stan Byrdy will present a slide show and lecture and will sign his book, Augusta and Aiken in Golf's Golden Age, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Morris Museum of Art, 1 10th St. Seating is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A reception will follow at Augusta Golf and Gardens, 1 11th St. Admission costs $15, and a cash bar is available. For more information, call 724-4443.
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| RHYTHM AND BLUES GALA WITH JIM BELUSHI: Jim Belushi will appear at 9 p.m. Thursday at Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair St. The event benefits National Science Center's Fort Discovery. Reservations are required. For more information call 821-0607 or log on to www.NationalScienceCenter.org. |
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"We're always working," said Mr. Galloway. "But it can't be all work and no play."
Mary Murray and her husband, Ken Gaynor, from Westport, Conn., found the rainy day cure at French Market Grille on Highland Avenue.
"Bass (Ale), crawfish and peanut butter pie," said Murray, who attended the Medical College of Georgia and still has a house in Summerville.
The couple arrived at Augusta National early Monday hoping for a day of golfer-spotting, but left at 11 a.m. and headed to the restaurant.
The long lunch fit right into their plans. The two dined at Le Cafe Du Teau on Sunday night and D. Timms is next on their list.
"Every night we're going somewhere different," Murray said.
Her husband seemed quite amenable to that.
"It's not Yankee food," he said with a smile.
At the next table, Jeanne and Philip Helton, from Orange Beach, Ala., were having lunch with their son Bubba Helton of Augusta.
The couple have practice round tickets, but the rain might keep them off the course until they have to return home.
Philip Helton is praying it won't.
"We've been hitting all these discount golf stores and spending money," he said. "It'll be cheaper out at the course."
Last Call in National Hills shopping center had planned to open at 11 a.m., but because of the swarm of ticket holders looking for a place to go, manager Jonathan Vick opened the doors at 9:30. By early afternoon, he'd had about 400 customers.
"We've got lots of people looking for a dry spot," he said.
The cold cocktails were the perfect complement.
SPOTTED: Golfer Jonathan Byrd stopped by Broad Street's Coffee Break Cafe on Monday for a quick lunch, but took time to pose for photos and to sign a menu now displayed on the cafe's wall.
2002 Senior PGA Championship winner and 1979 Masters champ Fuzzy Zoeller was spotted relaxing Sunday night at Rhinehart's Oyster Bar on Washington Road.
YOU NEVER KNOW: Want to see the rich, famous and hungry? We hear that Publix on Furys Ferry Road is where celebrities shop for supplies while they're in town. Several folks reported seeing comedian Bill Murray walking the aisles during previous tournaments.
DO YOU HAVE NEWS? Have a tip on a hot party or a celebrity sighting to share? Give us a call at (706) 823-3338.
