The Sign

How An Episode of Bluey Put Twenty Five Years of Attending The Masters Into Perspective For Me

It took less than five minutes for Jim Nantz to sign off from Augusta before my four-year-old son asked if we could finally watch the newest episode of Bluey. For the last two weeks, he has seen advertisements for this new episode all over the Disney Channel and has been counting down the days to April 14th. I told him that April 14th was also Masters Sunday so we would be watching a lot of golf, but once it was over we could watch Bluey together.

He complied with that bribe and happily watched along with us - groaning when Morikawa dunked one in the water on 11, laughing when Åberg got his snack knocked out of his hand high-fiving a patron, and cheering when Scottie’s final putt dropped on 18. He enjoyed treats from our Taste of The Masters box and when they showed the main scoreboard, he excitedly said, “Hey that’s where we went!” - recalling our time there just a week earlier for the Drive, Chip, and Putt tournament.

But by the time the jacket was around Scottie’s shoulders, he was reminding me of our bargain and I was changing the channel. If you’ve never seen an episode of Bluey, let me just tell you that this show is advertised as a children’s television show but it is 100% made for the parents. I have cried watching more than one episode. This new release was a special 28-minute -long episode, which is four-times longer than their normal episode length. So I already knew it was likely going to pull at the heart-strings a little.

Full spoilers ahead (if you care about spoilers of a kids TV show…) but in this episode, the Heeler family has put their beloved home up for sale because the dad, Bandit, got a job in another city. The family is hosting a wedding for one of the other recurring characters as a sort-of last hoorah at their home before the sale and the big-move. The oldest child, Bluey, is not happy about moving and is letting everyone know about it - including her teacher and friends at school. This is when the teacher, Calypso, decides to read a story that she thinks might help.

 Calypso: Once there was a farmer who owned a beautiful horse, but one day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “That's such bad luck,” they said. “We'll see,” replied the farmer. The very next morning, his horse came back and it brought three wild horses with it. “Wow,” said the neighbors, “that's such good luck." “We'll see,” replied the farmer. The next day his son tried riding one of the wild horses, but it threw him off and he hurt his leg. The neighbors said, “That's bad luck." “We'll see,” replied the farmer. The next day, soldiers came to the village and made all the young men join the army. But they didn't take the farmer's son because his leg was hurt. "That's such good luck,” said the neighbors. "'We'll see,' said the farmer.
Bluey: Is that a happy ending or a sad ending?

Calypso: It's both.

Bluey: I don't understand.

Calypso: Come here.

Bluey scoots closer. Calypso puts her hand on Bluey's shoulder.

Calypso: Everything will work out the way it's supposed to, Bluey.

The rest of the episode you see parallels of this parable play out in Bluey’s own adventure, with moments of both good and bad luck intertwined throughout the day. They find a coin on the ground, they use the coin in a viewfinder at a lookout, the coin gets stuck, another couple finds the coin later, etc. etc. There’s even a double-meaning with the title of the episode, “The Sign”, referencing both the For Sale sign in front of the home and a metaphorical sign that the family was looking for to tell them they needed to stay. The metaphorical sign in the episode came in the form of a butterfly. 

Like I said, sometimes it’s hard to believe that this is a children’s television show. But my son watched intently for 28 minutes waiting to find out if the Heeler family would end up losing their beloved family home. It was the only thing that mattered to him at that moment.

---

This year, I attended my 25th Masters Tournament. 26th if you count the year I went in-utero when my mom walked the grounds pregnant with me. 1997 was my first Masters and the only two I’ve missed since were during COVID. I saw all five of Tiger’s wins with my grandfather.

"That's such good luck,” said the neighbors. "'We'll see,' said the farmer.

My grandfather passed away unexpectedly in August of 2019, four months after going with me to see Tiger win his latest green jacket. It was also ten days before my son was born. The day of the funeral, we checked the mail at his house and there was a letter in the mailbox from Augusta National Golf Club. It was an invitation to apply for the Legacy Program which allowed him to extend his series badges to one of his biological children. The invitation was dated the day of his death. 

"That's such bad luck,” said the neighbors. "'We'll see,' said the farmer.

In March of 2020, we were still heavily grieving the loss of my grandfather. The thought of The Masters without him made all of us sick to our stomach. To us, there was no Masters without my grandfather. As we all know, Augusta National made a historic decision, due to COVID, to postpone the tournament to November and have no patrons in attendance. The Masters wasn’t the only golf tournament that had to move their original schedule due to COVID. The Ryder Cup was pushed back to September of 2021; due to COVID regulations the on-site attendance would be limited. At the start of the tournament Samantha Marks posted a tweet asking if anyone would want to start a Ryder Cup group chat for those of us watching from home with FOMO. This group chat is where I met Adam and how I came to join the Golf Unfiltered team.

"That's such good luck,” said the neighbors. "'We'll see,' said the farmer.

In 2022 we were lucky enough to go again for a practice round, but it was the first time our family would walk through those gates without my grandfather. Eerily ironic that it was the same year Tiger had to miss because of his terrible accident a few months before. We were lucky enough to win the lottery for the Drive, Chip, and Putt in 2023 and were able to take my son for the first time. This past year, both my mother and my mother-in-law won the lottery for the Drive, Chip, and Putt. So for the first time we were able to take the entire family through the gates on the same day - my son with all of his grandparents.

Everything will work out the way it's supposed to, Bluey.

There were moments of both good and bad luck running throughout the tournament all weekend. A weather delay on Thursday morning meant the first groups wouldn’t tee off until around 10 a.m. But when the rain stopped, they played golf until almost 8 o’clock at night giving those Thursday patrons an extended day in Augusta. Similarly, the patrons with Friday tickets got to see Tiger play 18+ holes of golf. It was the windiest conditions the tournament has had in years, but it was also some of the most interesting golf we’d had a chance to see in a major in a while. Even the timing of Meredith Scheffler’s pregnancy - while not ideal that she had to miss the tournament, Scottie was able to share another victory with his family and make it back home before the birth of his first child. 

Augusta National Golf Club tends to just create these memorable moments, some more magical than others. While we were waiting in line for the gates to open on Wednesday morning, the two guys next to us started asking us for tips on the best way to walk and see the course. The older couple on the other side of us heard and joined in the conversation, asking for the best times to visit the Pro Shop or for good places to sit and rest. Immediately the young guy noticed the logo on the older man’s shirt, “I work at that golf course!” he said enthusiastically. The older man was shocked, “We live there, that’s our summer house!”

Sitting at breakfast that same morning and a couple walks up and asks if they can share a table with us. They mention that it’s their first time at The Masters. The husband said he’s been listening to podcasts to figure out the best way to do and see the course. The wife sees all of the pins that my husband likes to wear on his hat and comments that it must not be our first time. When I said that my first tournament was in 1997, the husband sat up and said, “Wait, are you Nikki Dunagan?” They listened to Will Bardwell’s podcast, The Lying Four, on the drive down. In the episode I shared our family’s story & talked about Johnathan’s pins - and they remembered.

Later that day, we sat in the grandstands on the tee box of 16 to watch some of the groups skip it across the water before heading over to the Par Three tournament. The last group we were waiting for was a trio of Sam Burns, Tom Kim, and Scottie Scheffler. We watched as they hit their tee shot - all three aiming for the Sunday pin location - and then began to cheer along with the rest of the crowd for them to “Skip it!” They happily obliged and took their turns entertaining the patrons trying to skip the ball across the water, carefully avoiding the turtles sunbathing on the edge of the pond. They made their way toward the green and we stood to leave, just as a butterfly landed on the sleeve of my dress. I stood motionless. The butterfly didn’t move. It continued to sit there on my shoulder for 60 seconds. When my husband tried to slowly get the camera to capture the moment, it flew away. Even the security guard standing behind us laughed and made a comment about how the butterfly must’ve liked the flowers on my dress. “It was your grandpa coming to say hi,” my husband said.

In the episode of Bluey, the butterfly is the sign the mom follows to show her the way. For me, maybe the butterfly was a sign from my grandpa. Maybe it was his way of saying goodbye, since it showed up on the 16th hole which is famously covered by Verne Lundquist who The Masters said goodbye to this year. Or maybe it was a sign of who would win the tournament later that week, since Scottie was the player we were watching there when it happened. 

I think no matter how you look at it, it just shows that Augusta is creating magic around every corner. Good luck, bad luck, Masters magic, golf ghosts - however you want to describe it, there’s something that happens when you walk these grounds that can’t be explained. You feel it in the little moments - hearing the crunch of the oil slick as you trek across a crosswalk, when the morning sun starts peeking through the loblolly pines. And you feel it in the big moments - hearing a roar coming from an unknown destination behind you, seeing your kid get a high five from one of the players.

I would give anything to be able to experience The Masters with both my grandfather and my son. He would’ve loved seeing him dance up and down the hill in front of the scoreboard during the Drive, Chip, and Putt. He would’ve cracked up at him only knowing Fred Couples as “Boom Boom” and no other name. But my son is getting to make new memories in Augusta, ones with his grandparents. And as much nostalgia I have for those Masters tournaments in the past, at least I get a front row seat in a green-folding chair for the ones to come with the next generation.

Bluey: Is that a happy ending or a sad ending?

Calypso: It's both.

Why The Drive, Chip, and Putt Is More Than Valuable…It’s Priceless

A 1997 Masters badge - a token from Tiger Woods’ first of five green jackets and the first of fifteen major victories - is listed on ebay for $15,000. 

An unopened and original copy of Taylor Swift’s debut album - the first of 10 original studio albums and four re-recorded studio albums - is listed for $240. It even has the original price sticker on it showing the owner first purchased it for $13.99 in 2006.

The reason these items are so pricey and highly sought after by collectors, is because they commemorate a time before these all-time greats…were the greats. These items mark the beginning of their journey, a time that long-time fans like to point back to and say “I remember them when…”

With The Masters tournament being set against the same backdrop year-after-year, the tournament has a very timeless feel to it. It makes it easy to compare every shot to that of another year on the same hole. Walking the grounds or sitting in the grandstands you hear a lot of different versions of, “I remember when…”

“I remember when Adam Scott made that hole-in-one on 16!”
“16? I remember when Tiger had that putt fall there in 2005.”
“I remember when Tiger made that eagle on 15 in 2018!”
“Oh, 15? Remember when Sergio hit that OCTUPLE bogey?”

Sergio Garcia sets record with octuple-bogey 13 on Augusta National's 15th hole.

While there’s always conversation comparing magical moments from hole-to-hole, it seemed that this year there was also a lot of conversation surrounding certain competitors and remembering where they started.

“Bailey Shoemaker? I remember watching her in the Drive, Chip, and Putt in 2018!”
“Gianna Clemente? She competed in the Drive, Chip, and Putt in 2017!”

Girls, 12-13 division second-place finisher Bailey Shoemaker poses with Masters champion Bubba Watson during the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. Chris Trotman/Chris Trotman/Augusta National

The Drive, Chip, and Putt competition is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. One of the competitors in that inaugural competition was Ashkay Bhatia, who competed in the boys 12-13 age division. Fast forward ten years later and now Ashkay Bhatia holds a PGA Tour card and is (at the time of writing this) fighting to hold the lead at the Valero Texas Open. If he manages to keep the lead and win the tournament, he would become the first former Drive, Chip, and Putt national finalist to qualify for The Masters Tournament. 

However, he wouldn’t be the first former Drive, Chip, and Putt finalist to compete at Augusta National. In fact, this year alone there were nine former Drive, Chip, and Putt national finalists in the field for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Boys 12-13 competitor Ashkay Bhatia putts in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday April 6, 2014. Sam Greenwood/Sam Greenwood/Augusta National

I’ve talked at length about my family’s history with Augusta. (In fact, I forced Adam to let me create an entire mini-series so I could keep talking about it. The third season drops tomorrow, by the way…) Majority of the memories that I have revolve around those magical shots that made the greats…the greats. Last year we continued our family’s tradition and brought my son through the gates of Augusta National Golf Club for the first time. But we didn’t bring my son to watch the pros, we were there for the Drive, Chip, and Putt.

We are going again this year and will be watching for names like Hudson Knapp, the 10-11 year old boys returning competitor from our neck of the woods. Or Kipp Madison, the 12-13 year old boys competitor from just outside of Augusta who watched his brother in the competition last year. We could be seeing any of this year’s national finalists competing again in Augusta, whether for the Women’s Amateur or for a Green Jacket. My son will get to have “I remember when…” moments for the greats of his generation, before they become…the greats!

When we get home from the competition this year, we will safely tuck away our Drive, Chip, and Putt badges with our Masters badges from years past. eBay might have these memories listed for $15,000, but I’d say they’re priceless.

Experiencing The Masters Like A Pro Patron

There is a thick layer of pollen coating nearly every outdoor surface here in Georgia and that can only mean one thing: it’s almost time for The Masters.

The first men’s major of the season is the Super Bowl of golf, mostly because of how difficult it is to go if you’re not a series badge holder. If you did happen to get your hands on a pass and will be making your way to Augusta in April, let me share with you some advice I’ve learned in my years attending the tournament.

Getting There

Dress Code

Wear 👏 Comfortable 👏 Shoes 👏 Last year, all everyone could talk about was how Tiger Woods had switched to FootJoy when he debuted at Augusta in his first tournament since the accident. But even Tiger knows, the Augusta terrain is no joke. The one year I opted to wear sandals, they blistered my feet so bad I now have permanent scars on my feet. Learn from my mistake and please, wear good walking shoes. As long as it’s not a golf shoe with spikes as those are prohibited.

In terms of clothing, the attire you’ll see in Augusta is definitely more “formal” than other tournaments. You’ll see majority of the patrons sporting golf pants or shorts and a golf shirt. Women will be wearing a variety of options including golf attire, sundresses, and spring-colored pants & shorts with fun floral tops. You will see some denim jeans, but not a lot.

One thing you won’t see in Augusta compared to say, the Waste Management or the Ryder Cup, are costumes. I’ve seen security guards asking fans to remove their Tiger onesies at the gate. In 2018, fans were removed if they entered wearing a shirt with the popular catchphrase from the Bud Light Super Bowl commercial, “Dilly Dilly!” It’s unknown how Augusta National will react to any LIV Golf team shirts or logos on the course, if there will be any.

What To Bring or not to bring

You can bring a bag or purse to carry things in, but it can’t be larger than 10” x 10” x 12” (in its natural state). Usually a small fanny pack or crossbody purse works well if you just need something to hold your wallet, keys, chapstick, sunscreen, Tylenol, etc. If you usually keep a pocket knife in your purse, go ahead and take that out because they will turn you around.

If you are taking a ride share service to the course, or simply don’t want to leave your phone in your vehicle all day, there is a check stand at both the main and south entrance. You can check-in your phone and then pick it up again at the end of the day. They WILL NOT let you through those gates with your cell phone. If by some miracle you do happen to bypass the scanners with it, if you are discovered on those grounds with a cell phone not only will you be escorted out but your name will put on a “do not ever let this person get tickets ever again” list. So just don’t risk it.

Smart Watches are allowed, but they have to be turned on to silent/vibrate mode. Even if you have one of the upgraded versions that can place a phone call out-of-range from your cell phone, you can still wear it but it has to be turned on to silent. So you can still track your steps, cause trust me you’re gonna get a lot of them.

If you are attending the Drive, Chip, and Putt, or a practice round, you can bring a camera with you to take pictures. The camera must be still photography/personal use only; any device being used to record and/or transmit voice, video or data is strictly prohibited. I brought a Nikon D40 and had no issues. Regardless of what day you attend, they offer complimentary photos at Founder’s Circle. The line can get a little long so it’s best to either go early in the morning or wait until after the leaders have teed off.

Viewing Options

In my opinion, there’s two different ways to do a golf tournament: you sit and let the golf come to you, or you follow specific players as they make their way around the course. In Augusta, a lot of people do the follow option. They want to follow Tiger and walk the whole course, see every single hole as he plays it. While that is certainly one way to do it, there are other options that still allow you to walk the entire course and see a good amount of golf. You just have to know how to time it and where to go.

Here are some ways that we have mapped out our day over the years. We will change it up from time-to-time, switching out which hole we are going to camp out on for another. The end goal is always the same - just enjoy the day in a place we love.

Amen corner breakfast stroll

When the gates open, go in through the South Entrance. Personally, I love coming this way in the morning because there’s not as much hustle and bustle. Go ahead and grab a biscuit & coffee, you’ll want it after you set down your chairs. Head down the stairs to the right of the pro shop and make your way over to the 14th tee, Chinese Fir.

There is already a grandstand at the tee-box, but if you walk a little further down the fairway you can set up your chairs right on the ropes. You’ll have the perfect view of the approach shot coming into the 13, and their finish on the green with that beautiful backdrop of Azaleas. You’ll also be able to see their tee-shot from here and catch them walk up the fairway of 14.

You can leave your chairs here & take a breakfast stroll around Amen Corner. (Pro tip: put a business card or colorful name tag in the back of your chair so you can identify it from all the others when you get back later.) There’s just something very peaceful about walking those three iconic holes in the early morning before play has started. As you eat your breakfast you’ll make your way around to Golden Bell and White Dogwood, you can even stop for more refreshments at the concession stand behind 12. In previous years this concession stand was the only one to serve a drink called The Stand 12, which was a mixture of lemonade, blue Powerade, and sprite. Last year they were not serving it, no word yet on whether or not it will return for 2023.

At this point in your morning would be a good time to head toward the Clubhouse to get your Founder’s Circle photo & get your shopping done in the pro shop. If you drove to the tournament & are parked on site, you can use one of your two re-entries to walk your merchandise back to your car. Augusta also offers shipping options and bag checks for you to pick up your items at the end of the day. (If you do take your items to your car, enter back through the main gates this time.)

Once you’ve done all of these things, it should be time to eat again. Grab a sandwich and a drink, then make your way back down the hill to Pink Dogwood (2). Just behind the green, there’s a small hill that makes for a perfect built-in grandstand that you can sit on, without needing your chair. Take a seat and catch some action on a great scoring hole - you never know, you might see an albatross!

From here, the ball is in your court. It’s up to you (or really, the day’s tee times) when to head back to your chairs where you can sit and watch the pairings come through. You can walk the rest of the course, do some more shopping, more snacking, or all of the above.

Justin Rose practicing bunker shots on the par-five second, Pink Dogwood, during a Monday practice round in 2022

hidden gems

Everybody knows to walk Amen Corner when they come to Augusta. Everybody knows to watch for an ace on 16. But one of the things I love the most are the pathways that are a little less crowded, but still so beautiful. One of my favorite walks to take is down the backside of the 10th fairway, Camellia.

If you are up by the practice putting facilities or on the 10th tee, with the clubhouse behind you looking down the hill, start walking toward the little white houses down the 10th fairway. Keep following the path all the way down the 10th hole and eventually you’ll come out at the tee of 11 and be back at Amen Corner.

Hardly anyone ever takes this way around to Amen Corner, but it’s so beautiful. It’s also way less crowded and a lot more direct. It’s mostly pine straw so there’s not a lot of comfy places to sit if you don’t have your chairs, but it’s not lacking in view. You’ve got a great eye-line of both the approach shot and the green. Pro-tip: in a playoff they alternate playing 10 and 18, so this little hidden path is a great spot to head toward if the scores start getting close on a Sunday afternoon.

Left side of Camellia, 10

Practice Round Fun

If you are going on a Monday or Tuesday practice round, you’ll definitely want to steak out a spot down by the water on Redbud, the par 3 16th. During the practice rounds, players (and their caddies!) are known to take shots attempting to skip the ball across the water and up onto the green. In 2020, Jon Rahm famously skipped the ball across the water for a hole-in-one.

Come in through the South Gate Entrance, grab a biscuit and a coffee, and then take a left near the exit of the concession. The tree-covered pathway will dump you out right onto the fifth fairway where you will cross and head straight down the hill (and it is a HILL) to the green and pond area of 16. There are already grandstands set up along the tee-box area, but your best view of the water-skipping will be from your own chair down near the water or the hole itself.

Tyrell Hatton, Paul Casey, Viktor Hovland and their caddies all skipping the ball across the water at the same time

Outside the gates

If you’re in town for a few days looking for places to eat and things to do, you’re in luck. Masters week is the one week of the year when Augusta explodes with activities. That being said, if you do go out to eat at one of these recommended restaurants please be aware that the entire golf world has descended upon this small town and all of these establishments are going to be busy. Prepare for longer waits and please be kind and courteous to your wait staff.

Food

The three restaurants you’re probably going to see on everyone’s lists: Rhineharts, TBonez, and Frog Hollow Tavern. These are the places everyone is going to tell you that you must go to if you’re in Augusta (and they’re not wrong) but because of that, the wait is going to be insanely long. In fact, I’m pretty sure Frog Hollow Tavern has already been booked since January. You’re still more than welcome to try these places but here’s a list of some other great restaurants in the area that we also highly recommend:

• Sconyers BarBQ 🐖

• French Market Surrey Center 🦞

• Luigi’s 🍝

• Giuseppe's 🍕

• Raes Coastal Cafe 🍤

• Boll Weevil 🍰

• Farmhaus 🍔

• Craft & Vine 🧀

• Calvert’s 🦞

• Cork & Flame 🍷

• Pink Dipper 🍦

Things To Do

Obviously you came to Augusta for one thing, to go to The Masters. But if you’re in town for a few days or if you didn’t even get tickets but you just want to be in Augusta during Masters week, there’s still things you can do outside the gates of ANGC.

There’s a recently built Top Golf, which will probably be busier during this week than it has ever been, if you want to go test out your own golf skills after watching the pros do it at the most beautiful course in the world. Another great place to hang out is the Savannah River Brewing Company - a fun brewery with several different brews on tap. They’ll have the tournament on every TV in the place.

There will also be several party-style events happening around the area during the week, too. John Daly will, of course, be setting up shop at the Hooters on Washington Ave. No official schedule has been announced yet but they usually have daily wings & drink specials along with t-shirt giveaways, and times you can get pictures & autographs with John Daly.

Golf influencer Paige Spiranac is hosting a party and concert in one with country music artist, Jimmie Allen. The “Par-Tee” is on Wednesday, April 5th at 8pm at the Bell Auditorium and features other artists including Lewis Brice and music by Dee Jay Silver. Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased here.

Now that I’ve said all of that, the best tip that I can give: relax and have fun.

I know it might feel like there’s a lot of pressure to make the most of every single second because it’s this once in a lifetime opportunity. But let me tell you a little secret - the reason that Augusta is such a magical place is because of you. It’s because of the people who come here with their families, sharing these incredible moments together, that they can hopefully one day pass down to the next generation. Don’t rush it, don’t force it. That Masters magic is gonna happen while you’re there - because you’re there.

These tips are just a starting point, something to go by if you’re like me and you like planning and itineraries. But the Masters magic doesn’t come from getting your chair set up at the perfect place to see the perfect shot. It comes from the feeling you’re gonna get in the bottom of your stomach when you drive over Rae’s creek as you pull into the parking lot, before you’ve even gotten out of the car. It comes from the way you won’t be able to stop smiling (or maybe crying, who knows?) when they scan that ticket and hand it back to you and you realize, “Oh my god, I’m actually in.” It comes from the way your breath catches when your foot steps on that first patch of dewy grass as you walk out onto the course.

Those are the moments I can’t give you “tips” for how to experience. But those are the moments that make the whole thing, truly, unlike any other.

Augusta National Golf Club: A Bird's-Eye View

The Masters is less than 100 days away at this time of this writing, and the Reddit golf community is buzzing with excitement. One member of the massive online community is a helicopter pilot and snapped an impressive photo of Augusta National Golf Club from the sky.

(h/t to Redditor one3eb)

How many holes can you point out from this bird's-eye view of the greatest golf course in the world? Can you find Amen Corner? What about Rae's Creek?

Magnolia Lane can also be seen in the photo, near the top. If you look just above the golf course in the picture you'll see the driving range to the left (with all the bunkers), then a row of trees to the right, and another field, then another row of trees, then another field. Magnolia Lane is the row of trees in between the two fields.

Hint: The 12th green is hidden, but near the bottom third of the photo.

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 The Masters

This week is golf's Super Bowl. Fewer than 100 of the world's best players -- past and present -- are at Augusta National Golf Club for the 2013 Masters, and fantasy golf buffs are chomping at the bit for the year's first major. Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson... the list goes on and on this week.

Tiger is the favorite once again, but Augusta always has a way to bring the best out of a potential first time Green Jacket winner every season. Here are my picks for The Masters.