Westin: Media Day at Augusta National

David Westin is celebrating his 40th consecutive Masters Tournament, and this week is looking back at some of the journalistic traditions involved.

"Media Day" at Augusta National Golf Club was like Christmas, with lucky golfers receiving the ultimate present.

On that day, in mid- to late May, on the final week the course was open, the local media was allowed to play 18 holes at Augusta National Golf Club - and the par-3 course as many times as they wanted to.

There was another day of play for the out-of-town media, which happened the day after the final round of the Masters.

The out-of-town media day still exists (28 media types are picked from a lottery and still play the Monday after the Masters), but the local media day is gone. It is now part of what is called appreciation day, and the media spots have been reduced drastically.

When I started at The Chronicle, I know we were getting 44 spots, and Chronicle workers from all the departments could play (with those who covered the tournament automatically in).

Last year, there were four Chronicle representatives. I know that because I was one of them.

When it was just local media for the whole day, it was really something. My boss at the time, Al Ludwick, and his friend Pat Mulherin of radio and TV fame, would organize a tournament that day with prizes going to the winners. There would be a BBQ lunch and kegs of beer.

Ludwick, the Chronicle-Herald Executive Sports Editor who hired me, told me one day that he was responsible for the media tournament. He said during the Masters one year that he jokingly asked Augusta National and Masters Chairman Clifford Roberts if the local media could have a tournament at Augusta National. To Ludwick’s shock, Roberts agreed.

Ludwick died in May 2013 and I wish I had asked him when the local media day started. Roberts died in Sept. 1977 so it had to have been before that.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve played in Media Day and now Appreciation Day, but it’s well over 20. It drives people crazy when I tell them that.

Your ticket for the Media Day was non-transferrable, meaning only you could use it. A friend of mine almost didn’t get in the gate because his radio station had given his “air name” to Augusta National and that’s what was on the list at the front gate. Of course, that wasn’t the name on my friend’s driver’s license and he was turned away. After a few calls, it was straightened out and he played.

When you were picked for the local media day, you made the most of it. Some people knew it would be their only shot, that they would be employed somewhere else by the next Masters. That’s why people would play 18 holes in a driving rain (if there was no lightning) just for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

One of the strangest thing I ever saw happened at the local media day many years ago. Our group was waiting on a group to hit on the par-3 12th hole. After they hit, one cart DROVE OVER the Hogan Bridge and then behind the 12th green to the 13th tee. An Augusta National member in the area saw them do it, but it was too late to stop them. Every time I see the Hogan Bridge now, I can see that cart going over it.

The only drawback to the local media tournament was the fact it took so long, at least five to six hours. That’s because so many people would come out even though they didn’t play regularly.

That leads me to my favorite year in the media tournament. It had nothing to do with what I shot (though I did have an 82 once). Ludwick, my boss, made up the starting times for the all the local media groups, and this one particular year he put me off in the first group of the day, at 8 a.m.

Can you imagine what a great feeling it is to stand on the first tee at Augusta National and have the entire course open ahead of you?

We played in three and a half glorious hours. I have no idea what I shot, just that it was as good as will ever get on a golf course.