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Lot # 1387: 1934 Masters Augusta National Inaugural Program

Starting Bid: $3,000.00

Bids: 9 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Classic 2022",
which ran from 5/20/2022 7:00 PM to
6/11/2022 10:00 PM



"The Augusta National represents my best opportunity, and I believe my finest achievement," opined Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the golf course architect and the designer of the Augusta National. Presented is the fortuitous chance to possess the very rare, inaugural program from the First Annual Invitation Tournament, held on March 22-25, 1934, at the Augusta National Golf Club. The name of this tournament was changed to the Masters in 1939. The program, measuring 8.5" x 11", is 44 pages, and printed in black and white. Page 1 lists the scheduled events, including contests such as Approach and Putting, Iron, and Driving in the mornings of each of the first three rounds. Page 2 features a photo of MacKenzie (born in England to parents of Scottish extraction), replete in his Scottish kilt, so apropos as Mackenzie designed key holes on Augusta to resemble iconic holes on courses, such as St Andrews, in Scotland. Mackenzie worked closely with famed golfer and golf course designer Bobby Jones, a co-founder of Augusta National. Three-and-a-half pages show small photos of some of the members of the Augusta Golf Club, and approximately half of the members are from New York, including famed sportswriter Grantland Rice, and Edward F. Hotton (yes, the famous financial maven E.F. Hutton). Several times, including once on the cover, the program is stamped "Pontoosuc Lake Country Club, Freeman M. Miller, Treasurer". The program also lists the scores of the tournament, showing the winning golfer as Horton Smith. The Augusta National Golf Club sold programs for 25 cents during the tournament. Only a very limited number of programs were printed for the actual tournament, because of limited expendable income for many during the time of the Great Depression, and because the new golf club was not yet on sound financial footing. Then, to increase membership and to increase advertising for the next year, shortly after the tournament, the programs underwent a second printing, with an insert listing the scores of the event, showing Horton Smith as the winner. Jack Nicklaus has won the most Masters with six victories, and Tiger Woods in second with five wins, the most recent in 2019. This year's event was won by Scottie Scheffler. The program does exhibit some minor wear. There are a few tiny creases, some slight darkening near the edges of the cover, soft corners, and a very few tiny stray marks. Overall, the program is in excellent condition, especially considering the passage of 88 years. Fewer than 60 of these programs are known to exist. Thus, the program makes an extremely scarce, sought after addition to any sports or golf collection. 

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