Aiken ready for Masters crowd
The Masters Tournament arrives at the Augusta National Golf Club on Monday, and with it comes a tidal wave of tourists to the Aiken-Augusta area.
Local businesses have already begun planning for the influx of business the tournament will bring to Aiken.
“We’re pretty much booked up,” said Peggy Greer, front desk manager of Hotel Aiken. “We’re getting our rooms ready and getting ready for large crowds and lots of fun.”
Carriage House Inn is also booked up, according to front desk manager Rachel Gardner.
“We’re going to have a group of Australians here staying at the Carriage House Inn and at 13 other properties throughout downtown,” she said. “We’re putting on some extra staff, and I’ve made sure we’re ordering the right stuff they’ll want. We’re doing touch-ups with the painting and deep cleans of all the rooms to get ready for Masters Week.”
At Aiken Brewing Company, manager Jennifer Pruiett said the restaurant was preparing for a volume business.
“We’re ordering a lot of extra food. We’ve got a great staff, and we’re going with the staff we have; we think they can handle the extra volume. We’ve also got some former staffers coming back on duty through the week,” she said. “Basically, during Masters Week, it’s like every day is a sunny Saturday on the patio. We just have to be ready to go at any time.”
On the Southside, Outback Steakhouse is restocking everything, according to manager Neil Arbaugh. Full Story….
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New faces are on top at the Masters.
AUGUSTA — The winds of change whirled convincingly at the Masters on Friday.
Famed Masters champions Gary Player and Fuzzy Zoeller presumably played their final competitive rounds on a day where the wind – or the ghosts of Augusta National, depending on one’s perception – howled at Amen Corner and made its presence felt at the internationally known golf course.
Friday’s 36-hole leaderboard signified a changing of the guard – well, at least the norm, which was a fitting gesture in light of Player and Zoeller’s farewells. The top 10 players atop the leaderboard had never won at Augusta – a list topped by a pair of players with no major victories.
Texas native Chad Campbell and Kentucky-born Kenny Perry led the Masters at 9-under, followed by Angel Cabrera, alone in third place after he scored a pair of 4-under 68s in his first two rounds.
“Everything is a bonus now, it really is,” Perry said in light of his experience with the 2008 Ryder Cup team at Valhalla. “I’m just going through each and every day enjoying life a little bit.
“I think I can win,” he added. “You know, I’m not going out there very casually. … I’m burning inside, wanting to kick everybody’s butt.”
More Details.
The front nine: Nine daily facts to master the Masters.
By MICHAEL GIBBONS
Managing Editor.
Hole of the Day
#1 — Tea Olive, Par 4, 445 yards
2008 average: 4.245
About the name: The Tea Olive is an Asian native. The evergreen has small white fragrant flowers from December to March, and can grow to 20 feet tall.
On the web:
http://www.ernieels.com/
The gregarious South African golfer has a host of video interviews on his site, including one in which he reveals his “Dream Fourball,” which brings together three very different characters with whom he’d hit the links. Additionally, you can order his signature wines, which he began marketing in 1999 and describes as “big in stature and gentle in character,” much like Els himself.
Weather
Today’s high is expected to be 64 degrees with a low of 58 and a 30 percent chance of rain. Tuesday’s high will be 55 degrees with a low of 31 and no chance of rain.
When and where
Gates are open today at 8 a.m. and close at 6:30 p.m. Several new parking lots off of Berkmans Road will change the parking from years past, eliminating the jaunt down Washington Road. Patrons will be directed by myriad signage, so the most direct route – get on I-20 West and follows the signs and crowds. Tune to WGAC-580 am for traffic information.
Vegas odds
No shock the Vegas is putting Tiger Woods as a 2/1 favorite to win the Green Jackets. The Field (meaning any other golfer besides Tiger) gets 5/2 odds. Padraig Harrington, who was the top dog while Tiger rehabbed from knee surgery, is pulling 5/1 odds. Phil Mickelson (10/1) and Sergio Garcie (15/1) are the only other golfers south of the 20/1 mark. Current Green Jacket holder Trevor Immelman is at 50/1 odds, just one stop from the lowest odds, the 60/1 being given to Chad Campbell, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Kenny Perry.
eBay
Looking for a badge for the actual tournament? Get in on the bidding now. But, as of presstime, the lowest rate for one badge was around $1,600 for a Thursday-Sunday pass under the Buy It Now option.
Not going?
Put the ball in the hole at lunchtime. But skip the golf. Head to City Billiards on Richland Avenue and sink a few racks. And while you’re there, make sure you belly up to the bar for a slaw dog and a root beer.
What not to bring
Cell phones (and beepers and pagers) are big no-nos at Augusta National. Cameras are allowed during practice rounds, but are prohibited during the tournament. Other items to leave at home:
* Bags, backpacks, purses, packages (Personal bags/belt bags/purses no larger than 10″W x 5″H x 5″D are allowed)
* Weapons of any kind (regardless of permit)
* Alcoholic beverages
* Beverage containers/coolers
* Flags/banners/signs
* Folding armchairs/rigid type chairs or stools
* Ladders/periscopes
* Radios/TVs/Tape recorders
* Strollers
* Walkie-talkies
Merchandise
A few publications and the official Masters movie are available at masters.com. However, if you’re looking for that hat, shirt, belt or golf towel, there is only one place: At the Masters. And unlike last year, there will be no vendors outside of the National. If you’re not going and want an official shirt, you’ll need to find a buddy who is.
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC.
Masters business still strong.
The biggest week for the area’s hospitality industry is here, and it’s looking OK despite worries that the sagging economy would keep people at home.
It probably won’t be the boon of past years, but hotel and restaurant managers are still expecting Masters Week to be their best of the year. And golf course managers say it’s down but still should be a good week.
The difference is corporations and groups; there aren’t as many booking blocks of rooms and tee times. So managers are changing their strategies and working harder to get the business.
The Masters Tournament begins next week. On Monday the three days of practice rounds begin, and the four-day tournament starts Thursday.
Those days attract thousands of money-spending golf fans ready to have fun and take in the thrill of being a part of what many consider the greatest golf tournament in world.
A few hotels had major cancellations, but they’re slowly filling those rooms with individuals, managers said.
In previous years, there has been one corporation that reserved the entire Willcox Inn, said Tina McCarthy, general manager. This year it’s all individuals.
The inn is almost full for the whole week, she said.
At the Hotel Aiken, there were a few group cancellations, but this week they’ve gotten many calls and expect to be full for the week, said Peggy Greer-Buyers.Full Story.
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC.