It's The Masters
Any list of great Charleston golf courses has to begin with The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island but nothing compares to Augusta National and the annual kickoff to spring, The Masters.
As a child growing up in a golfing family in the cold Midwest (my father used those orange golf balls so he could play in the winter with snow on the ground), The Masters was a golf tournament that we gathered around the television and watched as a family. Of course, the early coverage was of the back nine in black and white and only 2 hours on Saturday and Sunday. At that time, television didn't showcase the beauty of Augusta National but I remember cheering for Arnold Palmer.
I've lived in the South for a long time, our winters are generally mild (you can play golf almost every day of the year and white golf balls work just fine) and spring began a while ago but when you watch The Masters, it just feels that spring has truly arrived.
The Masters is the most difficult ticket in sports and my wife was lucky enough to have an early week practice ticket several years ago and came home breathless with excitement about how beautiful Augusta National is and is determined for us to see The Masters more than just about anything. When I watch now, I can't believe the colorful azaleas in full bloom, the pristine and manicured grounds, the dogwoods, magnolias and most of all, the cheers roaring through the Georgia pines. My wife says that it's even more beautiful in person.
So I'll watch some early coverage on my computer today and tomorrow and a little television coverage later in the day, over the weekend, we'll take care of the lawn and do a little landscaping and gardening but we'll be tuned in for full coverage. It's a weekend to not show Charleston homes for sale. It's about priorities, it's The Masters.