"We don't need no stinkin badges"

[wally888]

Although I have owned the book for years, read it many times, spent a couple of hours with Lynn, I can offer little in the way of instruction or interpretation of G.O.L.F. However I have a million stories for each time I have scored below par.
Below is one.
In the early 60's, when you could stand near the landing area of drives on # 13 at Augusta Nat'l. and pick your spot among about 20-30 others picking their spot, it was fairly easy to find someone who would loan you a badge for a day or two. Sometimes even borrow one for all 4 days!
I was stationed at Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Ga., in SAC and regularly was on alert for 7 days of each two or three weeks.
One day while discussing our upcoming matches, we all know matches are won and lost on the first tee but imagine spending 7 days on the first tee, another story, someone mentioned his father had Masters Badges, had received them for years.
The discussion turned to how difficult it was to get on the list, start receiving badges every year. These discussions, lots of bs, always were, no matter the subject, won by the last submission. "First liar doesn't have a chance!"
Suddenly a friend, Walt Loomer, known to have won a lot of discussions , stood up and asked, "O.K., how many of you guys want on the list, want to start receiving badges?" Going along with the joke, eight of us put our names, etc., on a list and he departed for the nearest phone. Upon his return he announced, we would all start receiving badges soon. Yow, sure!
Not long thereafter I received an application from Augusta for 4 series badges, as did all the others! Some years later my allotment was cut to two badges but I still get two.
An explanation? Will never know for sure but some years later I learned Augusta, about that time, maybe 10 minutes before Walt's call, had elected to increase badge allotments, maybe 10,000 more? Or did he lay some alligator tears, military, nom...................
One of us, McSweeny, did die in nom a short time later. stay off those scooters!