‘There’s no karate at the Masters!’

Greetings from the Hall of Justice (HOJ), my Morton Building. The Royals are getting destroyed by the Yankees, but it’s 75 degrees out and the jukebox is spinning the hits: Sublime, Radiohead, some Soundgarden. There’s a pork loin on the grill that needs another 45 minutes. Koko, my mutt, is asleep next to me while I write.

As of press time, we recently returned from the Masters. It was another memorable week in Augusta, and I’m grateful to have been back on the course again, this year during the Tuesday practice round.

My normal method of getting on the course didn’t pan out in 2026 like it usually does. I knew I was still going to Augusta — two dinners were already on the books, which is enough for me — but I was mentally prepared to be in Augusta, but on the outside looking in when it came to attending the 2026 Masters. 

I’m grateful for an old friend who came through for me. I’ll admit, when he slapped the badges in my hand, it gave me a chill. I’ve regularly attended the Masters since 2003, but I’ll never get used to attending the Masters. No one ever knows when their last time — for anything — is taking place. So, I do my best to soak it all in.

Extra bonus points for me this year in that I attended with Golfdom Editor Scott Hollister and Golfdom National Account Manager Jim Cummins (see our smiling faces in front of the No. 13 green in this month’s Golfdom Gallery). The three of us have known each other for a long time but only recently became coworkers (two years for me and Scott now; seven months for me, Scott and Brother Jimmy). 

There are so many stories I could write about my day at ANGC (and I’ve considered writing a longform travelogue online… but would people read it?). I’ll sum it up like this: We’ll always remember this short trip to the Masters. The people we met, the laughs we shared, the kind words that were exchanged.

A random moment that happened while the three of us watched tee shots tumble down the No. 11 fairway: Two young boys, brothers, were grappling with each other, enjoying themselves like brothers do. But mom wasn’t having it, and cracked the older one on the head. “There’s no karate at the Masters!” she scolded. 

Now our trip had a slogan. There indeed would be no karate at this Masters! Just business. Serious business.

And business was good. We spent all day Tuesday on the course, running into superintendents and industry folks right and left. This month’s Golfdom Gallery — for our industry, the place to be seen, in my opinion — shares most of those photos. We got so many photos, we had a few end up on the cutting room floor (we’ll share them in the online version, though). 

We also got to break bread with our friends at Textron, representing E-Z-Go, Jacobsen and Cushman; and we also were able to join our friends at The Toro Co. for a barbecue. And trust me, we’re always looking for a good barbecue to crash; if you’re hosting one next year, let me know. 

While in line for concessions, I couldn’t help but overhear a teenager in front of me tell his friend, “I’ve already seen three celebrities today!” I had to ask — who did you see? He then rattled off three names of people I’ve never heard of. They were all social media influencers, famous to a younger generation, but not me.

But I won’t judge — and I definitely won’t karate — because I’m just like that teenager. Because if he asked me who I’d seen that day, I would have rattled off the names of the people you’ll see photographed in this issue — these people are celebrities in my book.