Before I explain the video, a story.
My dad, Hall of Fame sportscaster Ray Scott, called The Masters his favorite event to cover. For a few years, when he was the lead broadcaster at CBS Sports, he called the 18th hole at Augusta National each spring during the first "major" of the professional golf season.
I have never been on the grounds of Augusta National. I could have been, and that "could have" is one of the great stories of stupidity in my life.
When dad and CBS Sports parted company he remained very good friends with many and one of them was Frank Chirkinian. Frank was called the "father of golf broadcasting," in part, because of his Executive Directing and Producing of The Masters. Frank was an innovator, a demanding and brilliant task master who made everyone better.
When I moved much closer to Augusta, Georgia (Tallahassee versus Scottsdale, Arizona closer) dad said when I was ready "Mr. Chirkinian would love to host" me for a round of golf. My dad knew me which is why he said, "ready."
It was a fateful choice of words.
Dad knew "ready" meant my golf game was in shape. I was capable of playing good golf. He was at an NFL Alumni event when I played with several former NFL players, among them former Green Bay Packer Donny Anderson and Baltimore/Miami aurterback Earl Morrall. I played three rounds on three different courses at what was then Doral National - shooting 74, 71, and 72 at "The Blue Monster."
But when the "offer" came I was not playing much golf at all and I decided I would reach out to Mr. Chirkinian "some day" when I was playing again and playing well. You can predict the rest.
Life happened. And death.
In 1998 my father passed away and in 2011 Frank Chirkinian passed away. Obviously, these were two men who left family and friends behind. Still, what was also left behind was my round at Augusta National. Sigh ... no wait, a sigh is not quite strong enough. How about my eyes filling with tears?
There's a part of me glad I wasn't ready because I might not have fully appreciated the opportunity. Now, with my golf game coming around, but also with my age advancing I feel ready because I appreciate things more than ever. Maybe fate will allow me one more chance to walk the grounds of Augusta National as a player one day. Perhaps, someone will know a member who will offer me the opportunity (it's the only way it happens).
Regardless, I am richer for my exposure to, and embrace of, the game of golf (a book coming) and I remained transfixed by the annual pilgrammage professional golf makes to Augusta National for the playing of The Masters.
As a big fan of Golf Magazine I stumbled upon its YouTube channel and this video just dropped. It's a former grounds volunteer who explains who they do what they do on those amazing grounds.