“The Masters Week”

I just finished binge-watching Golf’s biggest week – The Masters. Even though the weather was beautiful this past week in south Texas, I chose to sit inside staring at my TV, and quite frankly – enjoyed every minute of it.

The 89th Masters teed off April 7th at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. The tournament drew nearly 90,000 fans a day – and per tradition, zero sat on the grass.

The Masters is a unique event with a rich history and a strong emphasis on tradition. These traditions contribute to the event’s unique atmosphere and appeal. And is one of the biggest reasons I enjoy watching all week.

From the caddies dressed in white and the beautiful azalea bushes flourishing all around, to the infamous no-cell-phones rule that every person in attendance must adhere to, the Masters is iconic.

I continually heard the word “tradition” almost endlessly this past week while following the Masters at Augusta National but, like most clichés, this one has its foundation in truth.

Every year there are a number of unique traditions of The Masters which make it the revered event that it is.

For instance….

• There is the Par-3 contest. The family-friendly event that offers the opportunity for me to see my favorite PGA players as fathers and husbands, not the laser-eyed birdie Terminators we all know and love.

• Or how about the Honorary Starters. For me, this touching homage offers the single rarest experience a modern golf fan can have: the opportunity to see the game’s legends tee it up on the very ground they once ruled.

• And of course the Green Jacket ceremony. In the totally imaginary pantheon of American sports totems, I believe there are only three that deserve their own cavernous, echoing wings: the Lombardi Trophy, Lord Stanley’s Cup, and the Green Jacket – an antiquated, shoulder-padded swath of Pantone 342 with the power to bring grown men, quite literally, to their knees.

I guess you could argue that every sporting event is a form of escapism. But this is especially true of the Masters. While watching the Masters, I felt the world’s problems recede, the birdsong never ceasing, and Jim Nantz regarding me (and everyone watching) as “friends.” 

The Masters really is a cornerstone of golf, with a long history of legendary traditions.  

While watching the tournament, I was reminded of just how much I am pulled to all things “tradition”. I mean come on – I spent 23 years in the U.S. Navy – which is full of tradition!

So yes, it should be no surprise my life is full of traditions, from annual Thanksgiving dinners at my sister’s in Minnesota, to the annual DAD (Dinner @ Dad’s) with Marc’s family during the Christmas season. We even have a traditional song that we play everytime we hit the road for another RV destination. (And no, it is not “On The Road Again”!)

Traditions are a lot like heirlooms. Some I love; I can’t imagine life without them. Some I’m stuck with; I don’t know what to do with them.

Birthdays are another time where I include a tradition that I started while being posted overseas for many years. I leave a voice mail singing Happy Birthday, and end with the chorus of….”And Many Moooooore!”

I realize that traditions are not limited to just holidays. In fact, most of my life is built around traditions. Like our annual ski trip to Europe, or watching the Blue Angel’s fall welcome home show. It could be attending the National HDT Rally each October, or dipping the front tire of my bicycle in the Mississippi at the completion of RAGBRAI. For sure it is receiving a Luxe Gnome from a fellow Luxe Owner while attending the annual LOG Rally. And it is a tradition when purchasing a ball maker from each golf course we play, as well as riding our motorcyle in an annual charity event. And most certainly attending the Easter Sunrise Service. When I stop and think about my family, friends, communities, and faith I am a part of, traditions become very apparent.

Traditions have become the foundation of connections I have with others.

Recently a quote has become very apparent in my life, and I have found it to ring true in several aspects…. “Honor tradition, embrace change”.

We live in an ever-changing world. I believe it is our duty to embrace this change for the better so that we may better serve each other.

How we each celebrate traditions may change, but why we do it remains the same. Do not let change limit the meaning behind your traditions. Embrace the change for the better and continue to appreciate the meaning behind traditions, rather than how it is celebrated.

My Reads from the Reds – Traditions are a vital way of displaying our greatest treasures, and to honor those who came before us.

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting.   

Written by Kathy Festa