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communities where he sought outdoor recreation. That included attending church services on Sunday and eating at local restaurants.

Times were different in those years, and security was not as detailed and comprehensive as it is today. In Thomasville, Eisenhower often mixed quail hunting in February with golf at the Glen Arven Country Club, a very fine golf course in the Peach State.

After recovering from a massive heart attack while playing golf at Cherry Hills Golf Club in Denver at age 55, he survived with speculation about whether he would run for a second term. He made the decision at Glen Arven in February 1956 while playing the 18th hole, a 504-yard par 5 hole. The hole features a big mound near the final green which is known as “cardiac hill.” Ike reasoned that if he could climb that hill without complications, he would be healthy enough to run for office again.

His love of the outdoors, headlined by playing golf and quail hunting, inspired many Americans to appreciate the importance of physical fitness, diet, and exercise.

Everything about Augusta gets high marks. There you will find the most becoming and beautiful landscaping for any sporting event. The grounds of the tournament are pristine and kempt—the life expectancy of a spent cigarette is less than three minutes. Nature calls out to your senses. The fragrance is sensational, the color is magnificent, and the air’s freshness is world class.

Ole timers and seasoned Masters aficionados may see the scars left behind by hurricane Helene, but most fans will not see much change. With the priority that the Augusta National gives to the beauty and condition of the course, it will seem insignificant to most of the patrons who would give their right arm for a day at the Masters.

The long-range weather forecast for this year’s tournament is favorable, but it is April, and with the turbulent weather patterns of late—and following the aftermath of Helene— nobody is waxing optimistically.

Masters traditions historically have been for pleasant weather and a dramatic finish on Sunday. Let’s hope for another encore.