Masters Blog: The Press Building
So, unbelievably, 2023 marks our eighth year in the palace that Augusta National calls the Press Building.
Old Building
When we moved from the old facility after the 2015 tournament, a facility that was still state of the art at the time, I wouldn’t say any of us were concerned about what the new building would be, but none of us could have imagined the space we’re in.
By now, if you’re close to the game, you’ve probably heard all about this building. The restaurant that pays an homage to the “Quanset Hut” we moved out of in 1990. They even, in the restaurant have someone manually posting scores on a leaderboard, just like they did back then.
The Food
The food has changed a bit since COVID. All of the sandwiches available out on the course are available to us at a “grab and go” station. If you each lunch in the restaurant is a menu that ranges from ahi tuna salads, to fried chicken and mac & cheese. Before COVID it was a buffet. Just a note, if you’re planning on having three hundred media folks over, don’t put out a buffet. We’ll eat you out of house and home.
The interview room is one of the last out on tour. In defense of the tour, they’re a weekly traveling circus that doesn’t allow for any permanence as far as structures are concerned. Since the Masters happens every year at Augusta National, and since money never really seems to be an issue here, the best interview facilities in the world. And it’s one of the last spots where players come through, are forced to sit for a period of time, without their hats and answer questions from the media.
Until COVID, the restrooms had attendants. What other golf tournament had restroom attendants? How many fine hotels still have restroom attendants?
It’s easy to take it for granted, we try not to be jaded and spoiled. Unable to speak for everyone in the building, I know that many of us consider it a privilege to cover this golf tournament, this is my 39th in a facility like this.
Perfection
Perfection is never found, although one should always strive to achieve it. This Club comes closer than just about any place in the game, heck, anyplace on earth to perfection.
It’ll be once again, a great week. A winner will emerge on Sunday evening. If it’s for the first time, their lives will be changed forever.
If you would like to see/hear more golf content, click here.
