AUGUSTA, Ga. — Stepping onto the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club for the Masters is like stepping back in time.
The golf course looks the same as it ever has, the caddies still wear those all-white jumpsuits, the concessions prices have barely budged over the years and they still change the leaderboards by hand.
It takes a large group of workers, following a coordinated and precise methodology. And they’re working backward and blind, for the most part, as they can’t exactly see what the patrons see.
MASTERS: Third-round tee times | TV, streaming | Leaderboard
It’s quite a feat of synchronicity. ESPN’s Marty Smith got to spend some time in the leaderboard tower near the 17th hole.
The leaderboards @TheMasters are iconic.
I had the incredible honor to climb up in the 7/17 leaderboard, to learn the distinct language and intricate choreography the operators use to inform the patrons.
(I even got to place a placard in the scoreboard during tournament play!) pic.twitter.com/lP0yert29A— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) April 13, 2024