4 ms·

It's sad, because it doesn't have to be commercialized. That same event from 1999 is still entirely doable, but someone decided that profits must be made, as op

It's sad, because it doesn't have to be commercialized. That same event from 1999 is still entirely doable, but someone decided that profits must be made, as opposed to hosting a challenging competition of the sport's top players.

jerf 6y ago
"That same event from 1999 is still entirely doable" For better or worse, no it's not. If you tried to have the same event today, it would be flooded with far more people than were there in 1999. Demand has gone up. Some of the mentioned changes are just to accommodate that; for instance, as more people show up, you're going to need more security because the odds of someone needing to be removed go steadily up.
- chiph 6y ago
  Tickets are probably easier to come by these days (COVID notwithstanding), but it's probably still not "easy" to get them. Augusta National probably still has a policy [0] that if a spectator misbehaves in some fashion, they will trace the ticket back to the person who first acquired it, and ban them from future ticket sales. This is why you don't hear people yelling "git it!" at the tee or wearing brightly colored wigs [1] during the event - they get dis-invited and escorted off the property. [0] Mom & Dad used to go back in the 1970's, using borrowed tickets. After he retired he lost his connection for getting them. They always ate the pimento-cheese sandwiches, and loved them. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollen_Stewart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollen_Stewart -- who is still serving three life sentences in prison.
listenallyall 6y ago
You don't know anything about Augusta National or the Masters. It is most certainly a "challenging competition of the sport's top players," in fact it is likely the most coveted tournament by any pro golfer, and the Green Jacket is recognized worldwide. As far as commercialization, Augusta National could auction TV rights to the highest bidder, but it doesn't. It could sell VIP experiences, or skyboxes, or reserved seating, but it doesn't. It could charge $10 for a sandwich, but it doesn't. It could allow corporations to plaster their name all over the course, but it doesn't. It could sell official merchandise in retail stores or on the internet, but it doesn't. It could allow its TV partners to run the typical allotment of commercials per hour, but it doesn't. It could license its brands (either Augusta National, The Masters, Amen Corner, Unlike Any Other, etc) to golf courses around the world (like TPC) but it doesn't. It could leave amateur golf to the USGA or other organizations, but it doesn't... I could go on.

jerf 6y ago

"That same event from 1999 is still entirely doable" For better or worse, no it's not. If you tried to have the same event today, it would be flooded with far more people than were there in 1999. Demand has gone up. Some of the mentioned changes are just to accommodate that; for instance, as more people show up, you're going to need more security because the odds of someone needing to be removed go steadily up.

chiph 6y ago
Tickets are probably easier to come by these days (COVID notwithstanding), but it's probably still not "easy" to get them. Augusta National probably still has a policy [0] that if a spectator misbehaves in some fashion, they will trace the ticket back to the person who first acquired it, and ban them from future ticket sales. This is why you don't hear people yelling "git it!" at the tee or wearing brightly colored wigs [1] during the event - they get dis-invited and escorted off the property. [0] Mom & Dad used to go back in the 1970's, using borrowed tickets. After he retired he lost his connection for getting them. They always ate the pimento-cheese sandwiches, and loved them. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollen_Stewart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollen_Stewart -- who is still serving three life sentences in prison.

listenallyall 6y ago

You don't know anything about Augusta National or the Masters. It is most certainly a "challenging competition of the sport's top players," in fact it is likely the most coveted tournament by any pro golfer, and the Green Jacket is recognized worldwide. As far as commercialization, Augusta National could auction TV rights to the highest bidder, but it doesn't. It could sell VIP experiences, or skyboxes, or reserved seating, but it doesn't. It could charge $10 for a sandwich, but it doesn't. It could allow corporations to plaster their name all over the course, but it doesn't. It could sell official merchandise in retail stores or on the internet, but it doesn't. It could allow its TV partners to run the typical allotment of commercials per hour, but it doesn't. It could license its brands (either Augusta National, The Masters, Amen Corner, Unlike Any Other, etc) to golf courses around the world (like TPC) but it doesn't. It could leave amateur golf to the USGA or other organizations, but it doesn't... I could go on.