My drive to work takes me down Washington Rd. right by ANGC.  There has been very little traffic, foot or vehicle, so far this week when I'm driving by.  I don't know if people are going in later in the day or are getting to the parking lots before 7:00 am but they sure aren't trying to get in between 8:00 and 8:30.  I don't really go out on the town in the evenings so I don't know if the bars are full or not but the atmosphere during the day has been decidedly more sedate this year.

to me it will never be the same without Gary. I miss UncleJohnDawg.

(04-09-2025, 08:19 AM)Replying to ugafan49 to me it will never be the same without Gary. I miss UncleJohnDawg.

Yes, the whole thing has become very much a corporate event.  It has a very different feel than it did 20 years ago.  When Nike came in and dropped the huge money for tickets and houses Tiger's first year (1997), the whole feel around the event changed.

Like many things in our lives (i.e. college foosball), money ruins the in-person experience and enhances the television viewing experience at the same time. A true conundrum.

(04-09-2025, 10:43 AM)Replying to GriffWoody Like many things in our lives (i.e. college foosball), money ruins the in-person experience and enhances the television viewing experience at the same time.  A true conundrum.

Very true.  The thing about the Masters is; the television experience hasn't really changed much but the in person experience has changed drastically.  The big money difference around here is the price of tickets, housing and hospitality.  People, companies especially, spend stupid money around the tournament.  I know the gallery is much larger than 20 or so years ago.  A look at the gallery behind the 12 tee confirms that.  The obsession with buying things from the shops at the Masters has reached bizarre levels.  People pay crazy amounts for tickets to the practice rounds with their main focus being shopping in the golf shop.  You would not believe some of the huge bundles and armloads of merchandise people come out of the course with.  People will stand in line for an hour to get into the shop so they can buy Masters merchandise, all the time missing the course and the golfers.     

The actual tournament days are not as bad as the practice rounds or the women's or kid's event days.  The tournament days have more of a traditional feel.  The corporate nature of the event has led to the crowd being very much majority male.  I would estimate the Thur-Sat gallery to be 70-75% male.  Sunday is more balanced and feels more like the Masters I remember growing up.  The crowd on Sunday is also more local as a lot of the corporate types go home on Saturday and there are tickets to be had for locals.

(04-09-2025, 08:38 AM)Replying to JC-DAWG83

(04-09-2025, 08:19 AM)Replying to ugafan49 to me it will never be the same without Gary. I miss UncleJohnDawg.

Yes, the whole thing has become very much a corporate event.  It has a very different feel than it did 20 years ago.  When Nike came in and dropped the huge money for tickets and houses Tiger's first year (1997), the whole feel around the event changed.

Yes, the love of money has ruined it all.  Are you going ?

The nightlife has been lit. Same as any other Masters on the Washington Road Strip and off the beaten path.

(04-09-2025, 11:57 AM)Replying to Smokindawg The nightlife has been lit. Same as any other Masters on the Washington Road Strip and off the beaten path.

who's playing tunes?


VoH?

(04-09-2025, 11:52 AM)Replying to ugafan49

(04-09-2025, 08:38 AM)Replying to JC-DAWG83

(04-09-2025, 08:19 AM)Replying to ugafan49 to me it will never be the same without Gary. I miss UncleJohnDawg.

Yes, the whole thing has become very much a corporate event.  It has a very different feel than it did 20 years ago.  When Nike came in and dropped the huge money for tickets and houses Tiger's first year (1997), the whole feel around the event changed.

Yes, the love of money has ruined it all.  Are you going ?

Going Friday until around 2:00 and all day Sunday.  Going fishing Friday afternoon.

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(04-09-2025, 11:57 AM)Replying to Smokindawg The nightlife has been lit. Same as any other Masters on the Washington Road Strip and off the beaten path.

I'm sure.  Apparently, Doc's is the place to go now.  I'm eating at Washington Rd Reinhart's Thursday night, might walk over and check out Doc's.

(04-09-2025, 07:53 AM)Replying to JC-DAWG83 My drive to work takes me down Washington Rd. right by ANGC.  There has been very little traffic, foot or vehicle, so far this week when I'm driving by.  I don't know if people are going in later in the day or are getting to the parking lots before 7:00 am but they sure aren't trying to get in between 8:00 and 8:30.  I don't really go out on the town in the evenings so I don't know if the bars are full or not but the atmosphere during the day has been decidedly more sedate this year.

On Tuesday, they routed us off Washington Rd.  Wouldn't even let us take the exit off I-20.  So it could just be a traffic control thing.  The place was packed.