California man arrested on grounds of Augusta National

My God, give the man a break. People have been sneaking in there for decades. It's like when one golfer currently on the tour from Augusta was asked if he had ever played the National. He answered, "Never in the daytime."

Riverman1, would it be alright if you caught him walking around your house or in your house taking photo's? Trespassing is against the law. If he wanted to take photo's, he needed to get permission which I doubt he would have anyway.

Man, The Nationals Golf Course is like its own country. They have WWWAAYYYY too much power. They suck up the entire Sheriffs Dept. during masters week. They are buy all the property up and around the course.. And I even heared they are trying to "acquire" the stretch of Washington Road in front of the course. Something needs to be done to bring this dictatorship regime down of their high horse!

I guess the fact that the Augusta National brings in Millions of dollars a year in tax revenue and then turns around and distributes millions of dollars to Augusta non-profits, means they have no right for keeping people off there property???? Riverman, shouldn't people be arrested for breaking the law??

I think what Riverman is trying to say is that arresting him seems a little extreme. If someone was walking around on my property and I called the police, the only thing that would happen would be that they would be told to leave and don't come back (that's assuming that the police even bothered to answer the call). It's not like the guy was trying to steal something or destroy property. He just wanted some pictures. Its not like the grounds of the National are the freaking White House or something. The way they act around the National, you would think the Ark of the Covenant was being housed there.

I heard about this, something about a Cinderella story... some former greenskeeper, trying to come back to Augusta to find work. Think AC got the name wrong, his name is Carl Spackler.

They do do a lot for the community. Didnt they just donate 3million to the Kroc center? Charging this guy is a little harsh but if they don't everyone will sneak in there.

My friends would sneak in through Rays creek and mess around all the time. There was even some canoodling done back in those days and nobody ever got caught, it was part of growing up in Augusta.

I used to work at a gas station not far from the National and people would come in all the time and ask, "Are we close to the Augusta National?" and by their tone and expression I could tell that they were under the impression that they could just walk right in and play a round of golf even (you could see they were fully adorned in golf gear)! I would always reply, "What? You wanna go look at the bushes outside the gate? You can't go in there." It was a terrible thing to say to tourists, I could feel their hearts sinking to their stomachs each time.

We didn't think nothing about people just wanting to learn to just fly the plane!

So if the victim is big enough, or wealthy enough then it's really his fault and not the criminal's? I can tell you that if someone were in my back yard taking pictures of my house I would definitely call the police.

Without the Augusta National this city would be worse off than Macon. The ANGC paid 2-3x market value for the homes they bought (if someone wants to offer me 2-3x for my house I can be out by this afternoon), and I'd be willing to bet that a significant donation is made to the Sheriff's Department for their services.

It's ridiculous to think that the Augusta National is the problem.
Ridiculous.

People have been shot trespassing at the Augusta National, he was lucky!

Is that true Johnny?

Trespassing is trespassing and if he was taking pictures, he was "stealing" a bit of The National. Yes, we live here and know all about how it used to be, but things change and the Masters is a global event, not the small town tournament it was in the beginning. Why pics of the ticket booth...maybe he is working for a counterfeiter? And he "slipped in" in a secured gate, he knew he was doing wrong. Yes, the Augusta National did what it had a right to do, protect their property.

This does not surprise me. I worked at MCG during the 90's and we received a call from a physician in a distant state. His patient (an avid golf fan) was terminally ill and his one wish was to play the National before he died. We could not find one member who would agree to sponsor him for one day on the course. I pass the National every morning on my way to work and there are very few days that I don't remember this as I pass by the entrances.

Wow. The gall of some to blame the ANGC for prosecuting someone for trespassing on their private property or for paying a premium for land that surrounds its golf course is just ridiculous. It is a private enterprise using private money to do as it sees fit with its property and to grow its enterprise. How dare we allow private enterprise and capitalism to flourish.

Maybe he is a terrorist and the pictures are his blueprints.

We use to sneak in and play number 12. Others would sneak in to fish.

Yes, there are stories about the old security chief who would shoot buckshot at tresspassers. Yeah, I know it is illegal and the National does a great job with charities, plus brings in hundreds of million to our area. I understand their concern about copyrights of photos there and so on. I love um...okay? Still, this required him being shown the gate and told not to come back, etc. To arrest him and make it a news story, is frankly, almost funny. Read the comments about others who have snuck in there. I'm surprised Joe Bowles took it so seriously.

You can get in by way of the Augusta Country Club. I backs up to number 12.

Well, there you go, folks. 1677 has told you how. Heh.

Just another example of people being charged with frivilous offenses at every opportunity. I'm sure that all the Gestapo shills at the TV news outlets will be all over this. Perhaps he is a N. Korean spy sent to check and photograph all the top secret crappe at the Augusta National...lol. Message to terrorists: You can sneak bombs into federal buildings (according to the news reports yesterday the feds did it to themselves and told the media about it...lols) But DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PHOTOGRAPH OR TRESPASS AT THE AUGUSTA NATIONAL. YOU WILL BE BUSTED!! LMAO!!!

We actually don't know what the man wanted. He was trespassing and he was arrested. That's how the law works.

When asked by others, "What is Augusta known for?", I proudly answer, "James Brown and The Masters". When asked if I have ever attended The Masters, I reluctantly have to say "NO". I am not a supporting golf follower, but I would love to be able to say that I have visited the "Golf Course". With Augusta always looking for ways to make money, maybe we could charge a resonable fee for periodic tours of the course. I'm just saying, maybe that could help to justify arresting someone who may be limited to experiencing history.

There were some black kids back in the 80's that were around the cabins. And if I remember correctly, they were shot with a shotgun, maybe 00 buckshot. This was back when it was posted with signs saying there were guard(attack) dogs, which I don't believe there ever were.

It is refreshing that the ANGC is holding people accountable for their actions. That is something you nanny state wannabes need to learn about.

I just wish they would buy up the neighborhood on the other side of them.;) (Vineland)

I love how rumors and myth become reality after a few years. The guy that crashed the gate when Reagan was there got shot. Trespassing isnt that big a crime, he will get a warning and probation if it goes that far. They will probably drop the charges quietly after everyone hears 'they had him arrested' to discourage other idiots. When the course is closed for the season they do renovations, lots of them. The course gets mangled up and they dont want photos of it like that. When you go during the practice rounds they let you take all the pictures you want. If youve never been, sign up and when you get badges go, it is a great place. The snacks are inexpensive and delicous.

omg; private property is private property.

Oh Man, no, it isn't. Lots of difference in your backyard and the National.