b'individual admission every day of thecop, would have a bruised ego at being tournament week. a Rent-A-Cop with absolutely no real Unpaid volunteers work long hours,authority, nothing could be further but are rewarded with the opportunityfrom the truth. It was refreshing to to play a round at Augusta National inroam around, giving directions and May, following the Masters. Scoring aanswering questions from the patrons, volunteer slot is super tough, as once onrather than being on high alert for the board, people do not want to give thatreally bad guys. There are platoons plum role up.of actual law enforcement officers Then theres entering the annualfrom various state and local agencies lottery, hoping to get a chance toeverywhere on the property, and they purchase one or more daily tickets forare extremely professional in demeanor either the practice ($100) or tournamentand appearance. rounds ($250). Like all lotteries, youreIt also doesnt hurt that the throngs relying on luck to buy tickets, and even ifof patrons know to be on their very selected you are limited to a total of fourbest behavior, as even the most minor tickets for a practice round, or two passesinfraction of the Masters rules can lead for a tournament round. to being booted out, and banned from But unknown to many, a reallyfuture attendance. cool option is available if you know theThe biggest thing we had to watch right people. Every year, Securitas, afor was the illicit use of cell phones, worldwide private security corporation,which it seems almost everyone triesHall (left), a U.S. Army veteran and retired police officer who now caddies at Chambers provides hundreds of paid security officerto smuggle on to the grounds. (TheBay, and Steve Johnson, a caddie at positions to support Augusta Nationalscomplex schemes patrons, volunteers,Bandon Dunes, worked security in tandem Masters Week events. I found out aboutand employees devise to get their iPhoneat the 2023 Masters. this opportunity from both a current andon the course would do credit to the best a former colleague at Chambers Baybank heist movie script.)(where I work as a caddie), who workedAdding to my overall satisfaction withsandwich (perfect on a hot day). the Masters for a couple previous years,this experience, my good buddy SteveOur security credentials allowed us and were returning last year.Johnson (a looper at Bandon Dunes)access pretty much everywhere, including To my surprise, no previous lawand I were assigned to work one of thethe fabled underground tunnel system, enforcement or security experienceemployee entry gates for the entire 10practice areas, administrative and support is required, just a willingness to workdays. While the downside was having tobuildings, and the awe-inspiring course long (very long) hours, most of the timestart our shift at 3:30am every day, weitself. And we got to watch a lot of golf, up standing or walking around the golfwere also finished screening employeesclose, every day.course and grounds of Augusta National.by 8:30am.People who have been to Augusta We are issued Securitas uniforms,Thanks to having great supervisors,National always rave about its perfection, consisting of a black baseball cap, whitewe had the option of rotating to the mobbut I thought they were exaggerating. I short-sleeve shirt, black pants, a badge,scene of a Patron gate or going out on tocouldnt have been more wrong. While and a black clip-on tie. We have to supplythe Augusta National grounds to relievethe word breathtaking is overused, it our own black belt, and black uniformfellow security officers for breaks. Whileexactly describes my reaction upon first shoes or boots. But we get paid, plus athis meant walking nearly 10 miles persetting foot on to the golf course. The turf per diem, and our lodging is providedshift, that was nothing to a couple ofis so flawless it looks fake, until you reach in area hotels, which offsets the cost ofveteran caddies.down and run your hand over it. Every air travel, rental car, and the obligatoryWe also got our fill of the iconic andsquare foot looks to have been groomed splurge on souvenirs from the Mastersvalue-priced Masters food items, like theby hand, and the same amazing attention Golf Shop.pimento-cheese sandwich (overrated),to detail applies to the bunkers, rough, While you might expect that someonechicken or tuna salad sandwichesand the pine straw under those gorgeous like me, an Army veteran and retired(thumbs up), and peach ice creamtrees and shrubs. MAR 2024|PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER21'