Hi All,
I was sat watching the Masters on Thursday night and like most I was enjoying the golf/ feeling inspired by the course conditions and I thought to myself, I wonder what it’s like to play at the Masters and then I realised, I had someone I could speak to who had actually played in the Masters and he is a member of Stoneham Golf Club!
Now Stoneham has never been shy of talented golfers, we have some of the best players in the county & country and have done for years on both the men’s and ladies sections.
Our Professionals for example :- Ian Young was a very good player before his injuries and still holds course records across the south and is one of the most known Club Pros in the country.
Adam Hickling is one of the best players in Hampshire and across the southern region.
Richard Bland (Blandy) has had the most amazing career playing on the European Tour, DT Tour, PGA Tour and now the LIV Tour. He’s proved to be one of the best players in the world and still is.
Nathan Kimsey has now joined the DT Tour after winning the Challenge Tour last year and is another emerging talent from the UK and a great ambassador for the club.
Harry Ellis - for those of you who don’t know but Harry Ellis is one of our members who is a Professional golfer and he’s played in the Masters!.
Harry can regularly been seen on the Stoneham Academy working on his game or out on the course when he’s in the UK and not at his other home in Florida.
Born in Southampton Harry was the youngest winner of the English Amateur at 16.
In 2017, Harry won the Amateur Championship becoming just the third player to win both the English Amateur and The Amateur Championship, joining Sir Michael Bonallack and Michael Lunt .
Following the win it gained him entry to the Open Championship, The Memorial Tournament, The U.S Open and the Masters. That’s three out of four Majors!
So from a players point of view let’s hear from Harry and some of the questions I put to him.
Hi Harry,
Can you tell us what year you played at the Masters and how did you qualify?
“After winning the British Amateur in 2017, I earned exemptions/ invitations into the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale, The Masters 2018, US Open 2018”.
Did you get the famous invite?
“Yes I did. The invitation came through the post around Christmas time and it definitely is quite special when you receive it”.
What were your first impressions of Augusta National?
“Extremely tranquil. I stepped onto the property the first time in the late autumn of 2017 with my Dad. The first visit on site was driving down Magnolia Lane with my Dad which really meant a tremendous amount to me. When you step through the pro shop (which is incredible) and onto the other side it’s an oasis in front of your eyes. Playing the golf course, the first thing that struck me was the topography. The amount of undulation, runs off, breaks, it is a lot to take in. TV never does it justice”.
Can you tell us what it’s like to play the course during Masters Week?
“I played the course the Sunday before Masters week, but when turning up on Monday and the ropes are out, the tournament week setup is live, there is a totally different feeling that hit me about Augusta National. The grass becomes stickier, the tee shots seem narrower and there is a growing anticipation that Thursday is a minute away. As the week progresses (I had good weather) the grass becomes that bit tighter, greens become that bit firmer and the roars amongst the patrons (especially down at Amen Corner) go up and give you chills whilst playing. It is no doubt an incredible event to be part of”.
What was the highlight for you?
“Highlight for me, the famous, “Fore please, Harry Ellis now driving”. You know you’ve done something pretty good in the game when you get announced like this”.
What is the one thing that you would take from the Masters experience back to your home club to enjoy on a daily basis if money was no object?
“I know we have a good one, but the one thing I would bring back is the tournament practice facility”.
(Thanks Harry, from this I’ve taken the positives, this must mean our greens at Stoneham are better…)
Who did you play with?
“Paired with Mark O’Meara and Brian Harman. Mark was really fantastic and a great honour to play with him in his last Masters”.
When will you be back?
“When will I be back? Well, it is one experience that I am proud of to have played in a Masters. However, one of the most frustrating parts since that Masters in 2018 was the scare tissue and frustration that it left me with after playing so poorly. There is no doubt, one of my greatest motivations is to be back competing at the highest level, and being in the Masters field is right where I want to be. I cannot put a timeline on when this will be, but it will certainly feel sweet when I do step back to Augusta for the Masters”.
Thanks Harry, It’s great to speak to someone especially a Stoneham member who has played in three of the four majors but also to have played at the Masters, the week that starts the golfing season at Augusta is something special and something you quite rightly are proud of and so are we all at Stoneham GC.
Harry recently won his Canadian Tour Card following a win at TC Weston Hills in February. Good luck with the season ahead.
For those of you who have missed the blog I done on the Masters a couple of years ago here is the link of the behind the scenes from the greenkeeping point of you :- Augusta Syndrome
The big question is which member will be the next to play at the Masters?
Enjoy the golf and remember you heard it here first, our greens are better than Augusta's... Well kind of ;-)
Matt Plested
