1984 Masters

In January of 1984 the Masters changed their policy to allow caddies from outside Augusta National to work the tournament. Until that time only full time Augusta National caddies could get bags at the event. I caught the small note on the change in an early January issue of 'Golf World'. Could this be an opportunity to do something fantastic?   A friend of mine, David Tentis, would be getting an invitation to play the Masters as a result of being on the 1983 Walker Cup team.  This could be a win - win situation. David would have a free caddie, while I would get a bag at the Masters.

At the time, members of the Walker Cup team were invited to play the Masters.  That policy was changed a short time later as Minnesota’s next Walker Cup team member, Jim Sorenson, did not receive the much coveted start in 1987.  Rumor had it the PGA appealed to the Masters committee to invite the members of the Ryder Cup team.  Not wanting to extend such an invitation, but seeing the inconsistency, the committee revoked the invitation to the Walker Cup team.

David Tentis was a senior at the University of Houston. He was named to the Walker Cup Team as a result of advancing to the quarter finals of the US Amateur in 1982 and 1983.  He and future PGA Tour player Chris Perry dominated golf in Minnesota during that period. He had all the tools. He was long, a good iron player, and had a good short game.

David grew up playing at Dellwood Golf Club in White Bear Lake.  Dirt poor, raised by a single mother, the members of Dellwood helped David as he grew into a great amateur player.  Knowing David through playing competitively in Minnesota, I was aware of his background.  I assumed he would not have money to pay an Augusta caddie.  For a chance to caddie at the Masters, I might pay him!

Moving quickly, a call was made within a day of my reading the magazine.  “David, do you have a caddie for the Masters?” I asked.  David knew I would be calling because our friend Tom Otteson had given him a heads up.  

“Glad you called", said David. "I don’t have a caddie and need one.  Can you do it?”

“No question, I would love to!”  So it was done.  I had a bag for The Masters.

The first clue that being a caddie at the Masters was going to be something different was when my name had to be submitted two months in advance of the event.  They wanted to know everybody who would be on property during the tournament. 

We agreed I would come in on Sunday, the day he would play his first practice round.  I arrived at the course, was cleared through the gate, and headed for the caddie shack to get outfitted in my “milkman’s” outfit.  The standard Master’s caddie outfit was white coveralls with green trim, white tennis shoes with a green stripe on the side, and a smart Masters green cap.

Like everything at Augusta National, the caddie shack is well thought out in size, functionality and location, a short distance from the first tee.  Having caddied for many years at courses all over the country, I consider myself to be an excellent judge of a caddie shack.  This attractive, green concrete block building is not a caddie shack. The 2000 square foot building is more locker room than caddie shack.  

Each caddie was given a towel and bar of soap along with a locker for the week.  There was a new color TV mounted in the corner, an accommodation I had never seen.  It was a good enhancement as the caddies would be able to get up to date information during a weather delay on Saturday afternoon.

The building had the standard common area with tables and chairs and caddies playing cards.  I watched as Herman Mitchell, Lee Trevino’s 350 pound caddie, won a few dollars from a local. The local accused Herman of cheating to which he replied, “How’m I gunna cheat shu?  Ya just teached me da game dis monin.”  End of conversation.

Some things are common in all caddie shacks.  Caddies do not sit down while playing cards.  Augusta National is no different with the players standing and the onlookers kibitzing behind. Caddie shack card games have as many varieties as there are clubs.  Wist, hearts, a thousand nuances of poker - hybrids of all abound in caddie shacks. I couldn’t figure out how to play the Augusta version.  It seemed to be a blend of hearts and old maid.  My days as a 12 year old caddie taught me to enjoy the flame but not touch the fire that was the card game.

I was originally a bit apprehensive about how I would be treated by the Augusta caddies.  Would I be perceived as taking a job away?  Fortunately my fears were unjustified.  Along with about 20 others, who had figured out the new caddie policy, the local caddies were helpful reading greens throughout the practice rounds and in general.  Unfortunately for us, it would not be enough.

After asking who I was working for, an old Augusta caddie asked if I knew where Magnolia Lane was.  “Sure, right out front,” I said.  

“Good," he said, "cause dat’s where yous and yo man be headed, come Friday aftanoon!”  How prophetic he would be.

Caddie food fare spans the culinary horizon for variety.  The featured item at Augusta National is two thinly sliced, deep fried pork chops, slathered in hot sauce on a wheat bun.  A perfect bit of sustenance just before your man heads to the first tee for a 10:00 time!

I was outfitted, fed and ready to head to work.  David played with some of his Walker Cup teammates.  An enjoyable round with Jay Sigel and Bob Lewis, who would make five birdies in a row on Friday to make the cut.  Pretty good for the Warren, Ohio native who spent the winter shoveling snow!

The first time around Augusta National is like reading your favorite book for the first time - you can’t wait to turn the page and hope it never ends.  Augusta National is one of the most surprising experiences one can have looking at a golf course.  TV does not provide the topographical perspective of what it is.  Right from the first tee it is nothing like you expect.  

Every hole comes with a surprise not envisioned on the television.  Over the last 30 years, coverage has expanded to all 18 holes.  In 1984 only the last nine holes were televised.  Thus, the front nine was a completely new experience.  The severity of the sloping fairways is dramatic.  Holes five, eight, and eighteen always find first time attendees amazed at the uphill fairways.   One of the constants on the course are the few flat lies.  A player is forever playing from some type of uphill, downhill, or sidehill lie.

Then there are the greens.  I have never seen anything like them.  Every one is a tremendous challenge.  Greens on holes we think of as straight forward, like number one or number eight, are incredibly challenging.  Some greens, like five, nine, ten and fourteen have so many rolls and slope, you wonder how they got built.  A course built today with the identical greens would be criticized severely.  Crazy, goofy and stupid would be the terms heard.  At Augusta they are fantastic, challenging and difficult!

Following practice round play on Sunday, I walked out onto the course because I heard Jack Nicklaus was playing.  Sunday before Masters week, Augusta National is just like any other country club, members playing, practicing and sitting around enjoying the setting.  

I shed my milkman’s suit and looked like any other member as I approached the 15th green occupied by Jack and his three playing companions.  It so happened that Secretary of State, James Baker, was at Augusta with his entourage that weekend.  I stood on the left edge of the par five green, just past the water, watching. 

The group putted out and moved to the 16th tee with me following.  I walked up onto the tee and stood near the caddies when one by one each member walked over to me and introduced themselves.  Finally Jack came over and shook hands with me.  

“So, are you with James Baker’s group?” the first member inquired.  The bulb went off.  They thought I was an assistant Secretary of State or with Secret Service or some such involvement!

“No, I’m here to caddie,” I responded.  

“Oh really, who for?”

“Ah, David Tentis.”

“Who?”  

“He’s on the Walker Cup team," I reported.  

“Ok,” the first member said.

The members suddenly didn’t have much interest in me.  

However, I walked the rest of the way with the group and had a most pleasant conversation with Jack, who could not have been nicer to this caddie.

Because movement around the club is unrestricted on Sunday before the event, David and I wandered around looking at the memorabilia.  Clubs donated by past champions are displayed along with old photos of the club and Masters contestants.

On the second floor is the famous locker room that holds all the green jackets, which can only be worn while on property.  Thus the lockers contained all past green jackets.  We wandered looking at the names of past Masters champions on the lockers and the old clubs mounted in the display.  

It’s not a large room, containing maybe 50 medium brown wooden lockers around the perimeter, with an oversize bench in the middle.  There is a smallish display of old clubs adjacent to the entrance.  

Up a narrow staircase from the second floor is a wonderful area, the “crows nest,” where all of the single amateur contestants are welcome to room for the week. David and I walked up the narrow stairs.  Without a front desk to check in, nobody had any idea who I was.  “Why don’t you just stay here tonight," suggested David.  "There are four sleeping rooms and only three of us up here.” 

“Why not!” I responded. 

The walls of the Crow’s Nest are covered with photos of President Eisenhower and early Masters tournaments.  It's a walk through the Masters from the 30s. The club produces a video of each Masters tournament. Following dinner in the main dining room, we retired to watch the ’67 Masters, with Hogan shooting 67 on Saturday. 

It was a great bed with crisp white sheets.  That’s 'living the life' at the Masters, sleeping in the crow’s nest and eating in the main dining room!

A night in the Crow’s Nest at August National, a real treat!

To comply with amateur status rules, David paid $5 per night and would stay the week, while I moved on to a hotel.

The next morning we showered, dressed and went down for breakfast.  Master’s week had begun.  With breakfast complete, I moved back to my role as caddie having spent one of the most thrilling 24 hours in A Life Of Golf.