New Year's Resolutions 2010

I've always hated New Year's Resolutions. Just like giving up something for 40 days during Lent, I never stick to them. Instead, I disappoint myself within a month. So after about 10-15 of making resolutions, I decided to give it up. That is, until last year, when I decided to give it one more try.

The list was short but all were very important to me. And while I knew that I had about a one percent chance of carrying out the resolution, the fact that I ever wrote them down made me feel good about myself and my priorities.

For that reason, I am going to try to make resolutions again. This year, I give myself a two percent chance of actually keeping with them. Hey, that's improvement.

Before I write this year's resolutions, here's a quick recap of 2009.

2009 RESOLUTIONS
1. Pray every night - I'd say I did a decent job with this. Considering I don't go to church in Augusta, I found this one important. But there were some nights I fall asleep before I let God know how much I appreciate him.

2. Lose 20 lbs by April - What a dumb reoslution. I didn't need to lose weight. I just needed to get in shape. Glad I didn't carry through with this one.

3. Call member of family every day - This was a bit ambitious. There were a lot of days where calling anyone would have been impossible or just flat out worthless since the day was as exciting as watching paint dry.

4. Put $150 in savings every month - Eh, didn't do it every month. When I fell behind, I tried to catch up. But in the end, I fell short.

5. Write on this blog once a week - Well, as seen by the 6-month hiatus from this post to the last, I'd say that was a big fail.

6. Watch a new movie every week - I surely thought I could do this one. But alas, I just forgot too many weeks. In the end, I think I saw just 20 movies in 2009.

7. Become a better golfer by May - This was strictly aimed at playing Augusta National. By May, I was a better golfer and shot 115 on the course. It could've been better so I'll just give myself half-credit for this.

8. Run a half-marathon - SUCCESS!

Alright, now that I depressed myself with my lack of motivation, here are the 2010 New Year's Resolutions

2010 RESOLUTIONS
1. Eat out no more than twice a week
2. Write on both blogs at least once a week
3. Shoot better than 115 at Augusta National
4. Get to the gym 3-4 days a week OR complete P90X
5. Put $200 into savings each month
6. Run a second half-marathon
7. Call and catch up with a different friend each week
8. Start thinking about the next career step

There are more but they'll still hidden to your eye. For now though, that's the short list. Happy New Year everyone and of course, Hakuna Matata!

Happy Anniversary To Me!

That's right boys and girls, I have successfully completed my first year in the real world. As of July 2, 2009, I have worked a full year at my job here in Augusta, GA. In all honesty, it doesn't feel like a year at all. At the most, maybe 6 months. It's just gone by so fast.

But since calendars don't lie, I have accepted the truth that I have spent 365 days in the real world and in typical Matt Barnes style, it is time to reflect. I thought about doing this on the anniversary of my graduation from OU but this date seemed so much more relevant, because my first day walking into the TV station truly felt the first day of my professional career.

If I had to rate the last year on a scale of 1-10 (something I despise doing), I'd give it an 8. Yeah, it's been that good. Since I've been here, I've met some amazing people. I've been incredibly lucky that in every step of my life (ES, MS, HS, College and Real World), I have met people that I will forever consider my best friends. The same can be said for here in Augusta. Unlike being in school and sharing experiences with people with 3-4 years, I've been able to bond with these people in one year or less. I know I can count on them and I hope they know they can count on me for anything. It has truly made my life easier knowing that I have that here even though I am 9 hours away from home.

The city isn't bad. Could it be better? Of course, but no city is perfect. I don't think I could see myself growing old here but that's the Ohioan in me speaking. I'm not a huge fan of 90+ degree weather for three months in a row but I will admit, only seeing two days of snow was a welcome sight. Oh, and having sweet tea available upon request anywhere is incredible.

I've learned a lot about myself in the year here as well. As far as the job, I'm 95% sure this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I leave that 5% there because I still have interests in everything from college admissions to campus recreation but in just one year, I think I know that this is it, and that's a pretty cool feeling.

I also learned that the whole living by myself and being independent thing isn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I am slowly becoming a better cook. No gourmet chef or anything but I don't rely on fast food every night. I can keep a clean place (when I want to) and am fairly good with managing my money.

But along with all that, I've also matured a ton. I knew after I left college that I still had some growing up to do, just like any college graduate. I can now say that for sure I've done that. I am a more patient person. I am a more thoughtful person. I take better care of my body and always keep a positive attitude despite the numerous problems that may pop up. It's only been 365 days but trust me, I've come a long way. I mean, I was a good guy then but I'm really happy with where I am now.

So now what? What's in store for the next year? Well, I have no clue and I love that. a lot of people always say they fear the unknown. I, on the other hand, live for it. I thrive knowing that I have no clue what tomorrow will bring. It gives me that element of surprise that I crave. Plus, with my "Hakuna Matata" mentality, anything thrown my way won't get me down. It may require me to adapt or change courses, but that's fine.

When I got the job here, I remember writing down some goals for my first year. I looked back at them a few days ago and you know, I'm doing pretty good. The first one, and most important one, was of course, Hakuna Matata. I think I'm living that every day. The second one was "No Day But Today". I think I'm still striving toward fulfilling that one completely. After those two, there are a few more ranging from getting in shape, learning how to cook, stay in touch with friends/family and save money.

But the last one I wrote is just as important as the first one. And no surprise, it's a motto I took from college, the most influential part of my life. "Work hard, Play hard". How we all define play is different. For me, that meant immerse myself in Augusta and the first year. Take some chances and try new things. Enjoy everything you do and be yourself no matter what. I'm proud to say a year later, I think I've done just that. Now time to set goals for year number two.

Augusta National = Heaven

You know, I'm not one of those people to ever say "If I died right now, I'd be a happy man" because I really don't wanna die. But I will say this. Being treated like a member of Augusta National for one day is about the closest thing to heaven I've encountered so far.

Let me start with a disclaimer. No matter what I write here will give the actual experience justice. It's just simply impossible. I'm already awful with sharing my emotions. Just part of being a guy. I mean, science has proven that right?

The whole experience started at 7:30am for me. I planned on getting there right at 6:30am when the gate opened but it took me quite awhile to get ready. I couldn't sleep much the night before so I was rolling on maybe 5 hours of sleep. And trying to do everything in your morning routine in double-time when running on fumes was causing me to do everything twice as long. Oh well. Once I got there, I immediately went to the golf shop and bought Masters clothes and memorabilia at discounted prices for friends and family. I'm not gonna say how much I spent but man, I felt like a kid in a candy store.

After my spending splurge, I headed right for the Par 3 course. You see, I didn't really see the course back in April. I saw it from afar but not up close. So for the first 4 hours of the day, until our tee time of 1:45, it was all about the Par 3 course. I mean, just for a par 3 course, this place is amazing. The greens are fast. Not a blade of grass is out of place. I mean, it's just beautiful. After 17 holes of par 3 fun, it was time to head to the clubhouse for lunch.

Now when I got the letter informing us about the lunch, I saw the word buffet and was excited. But trust me, that excitement truly built when I saw the food. Big burgers full of flavor. Huge hot dogs and bratwursts. Of course, all the fixins for those. Plus, potato salad, coleslaw, fruit salad, chips, and more. For drinks, everything from soft drinks to sweet tea to of course, beer (Michelob Ultra or Yuengling I think). And for dessert, all the cookies and ice cream novelties your stomach could handle. Trust me, it was tough smelling the grill from a distance for 2 hours until we finally sat down to eat. I scarfed down way too much and couldn't even move for 20 minutes. But hey, when in Rome right?

Of course, going inside the clubhouse was special too. Seeing the Masters trophy up close was cool. Seeing pictures of all the former champs also was neat. But by far, the most memorable thing was standing in the champions locker room. The likes of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Phil Mickelson, Nick Faldo, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, etc... all with a locker designated for their green jacket. I felt so out of place. There's just so much history in that room. I was honored to just be standing in there.

After lunch, it was off to the driving range. Surprisingly, I hit the ball incredibly well. You see, I had the opportunity to play free golf the day before and well, my driving was less than spectacular. But at the National driving range, every shot was solid. It was a good sign of what would hopefully be a good round of golf. Or more importantly, a good tee shot on the first tee.

Now, I had been dreaming about that drive on the first tee for a long time. Actually, pretty much since I got the job here. I was in awe in April of the pros as they stayed calm, controlled their emotions, and then bombed a 300 yard drive dead center. But I knew my turn would come in May. Well, there it was. Staring me in my face. The first hole of the famed Augusta National. I was pretty calm as everyone else teed off but once I put my ball on the tee, the nerves were back. Though there may have only been 10 people watching, it felt like 1000. The 360 yd hole felt like 550 all the sudden. Deep breaths weren't working. So instead, I figured, let's just grip it and rip it. Of course, the fear of shanking it, topping it or even whiffing it were still swirling in my mind. But somehow, someway, I didn't do any of those. Instead I ripped one 200+ yards dead center. The weight was off my shoulders. I could breathe again. And that's how my round at Augusta National began.

I finished with a double bogey on #1, which I was proud of. Considering all the nerves and reminding myself this wasn't a dream, I was happy with the result. Then came the 2nd hole, a par 5. I bombed a drive and left myself about 220 to the hole. But I don't have that shot in my repertoire. So I laid up about 100 yds away, leaving a wedge shot to the wide green. Thankfully, the hole was right in the center. I hit a great pitching wedge, about 12 ft from the hole, leaving myself a birdie putt. I couldn't believe it. Me? A putt for birdie at Augusta National? Unreal. Of course, I missed the birdie. And the par. I 3-putted from 12 ft and finished with bogey.

You see, the greens are not easy to read. They're even harder to read when you don't have a caddy, don't play golf consistently, and are trying to play at a faster pace than the pros. The greens killed me all day. I had at least 3 par putts and missed them all. I 3-putted nearly every hole. I made only one putt longer than 15 feet. The sad thing is that I used to always think putting was the strong suit of my game. Well, Augusta National humbled me.

As the day went on, it was obvious that I would not shoot a low score on this golf course. Besides my putting ineptitude, I have a real lack of a short game. Anything within 100 yards is a mistake waiting to happen. Every so often, I'd play a nice chip but on that golf course, you have to play a nice chip every time. If you don't, you pay for it. Same goes for bunker shots. I'm awful at them. But that golf course has plenty of them and they protect the green like a moat protects a castle. For the most part, I wasn't in them too often but when I did find them, I lost quite a few strokes to just hacking out.

As the day wore on, I slowly became more inconsistent with all my shots. Thankfully, I never really blew up on a single hole. I never shot worse than an 8, which I find impressive considering all this course demands of a golfer. I did shoot 8-8-7 on Amen Corner for a combined +11, which was a downer but then I remembered just how tough that stretch is and I just smiled, remembering I just got to play one of the best 3-hole stretches in golf.

After Amen Corner, I wanted to finish strong. That didn't really happen. On the par 5 15th, I hit 2 good shots and was left with a 3rd from 120. But I chunked my wedge shot and it fell in the water in front of the green. I went on to make a 7 but it was shots like that that I wish I could have back. On 16, I envisioned hitting the green and made a great swing. But I ended up in the fringe on the right, which was not a good place to be. It left me a downhill putt for birdie, with no hopes of slowing it down. It flew by the pin and left me a 20 ft uphill putt. Of course, I missed the par and made bogey. 17 and 18 were struggles as well but it didn't matter. I played 18 holes at one of the most famous golf courses in the world.

My goal this year was to shoot below 150 and to take it all in. Well, I shot 115 and trust me, I took ALL of it in and more. Next year, I'm aiming for less than 115 and a couple pars. I don't think that's asking too much. Just gotta work on that short game.

When I got home that night, I thought about just how lucky I was and still am. Not many people get the opportunity to play golf on that course. But yet at the age of 22, I was able to. That's crazy. My whole life I've seen the best golfers in the world play the course. But for one day, it was me. I may not have won a green jacket. I may not have made a birdie or par. I may not have even broken 100. But none of that matters one bit. I played Augusta National. How amazing is that.

Hakuna Matata.

Augusta National - Update #1

Hello friends. I am live blogging from augusta national. So far, it's been the par 3 course for yours truly. Had just one par in 9 holes (hole #1) but didnt play too bad. I can already tell my lack of a short game is gonna make for a difficult round on the big course. I think as long as I stay out of the bunker, I'll be just fine. That's all for now. About to play the par 3 course for a second time. Look for aother update after that.

I've Got A Golden Ticket

The picture says it all. I've got a golden ticket. No, not to go to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but instead to play 18 holes at Augusta National Golf Club. Yes, the same course as the Masters. Don't be jealous. Just be happy for me. Actually, you can be jealous too if you want.


You see, a year ago at this time, playing at Augusta National was the LAST thing on my mind. I'm almost 100% sure that this time last year (Wednesday, May 19, 2008), I was at The Pub, drinking an aquarium with my best buds from OU. We were probably talking about the week that had been so far, insulting each other, and thinking about what lied ahead of us after graduation day, which was then just 17 days away.

But now, here I am in Augusta, Georgia, working as a sports anchor/reporter, excatly what I've been wanting to since I've been 8 years old. And now, that same job is giving me the opportunity to play one of the best and most revered golf courses in the world. Pretty cool huh?

So here's the deal. I'm really really excited about this. I've played the game of golf for now 7 years. I'm not good by any means but I still play. In fact, I'm not good at any sport but I still play. I think my 0-21 record in Intramural Sports championships speaks for itself. But despite my lack of athletic prowess, including in golf, I couldn't be more pumped.

I think the main reason is because I've been watching the best golfers in the world play this course for my whole life and now, I can say I've played the same course as the likes of Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and so many more. I mean, think about it. That's pretty cool. Augusta National is one of the most private courses in the nation and they are letting some Black kid from Columbus whose golf game is awful play 18 holes!

So what is my goal for my round? Well, first of all, it is to finish. As you can see, my tee time is set at 1:45pm. But thanks to John Smoltz, I may not be able to play all 18 holes. So needless to say, I'm gonna be playing like John Daly when it comes to approaching each shot. The second goal is to not whiff any shot. I remember my first drive in my first IM Alumni tourney, I swung and missed. I don't want that on the first tee. Finally, the last goal is to remember that my score doesn't matter. What matters is taking the whole experience in.

Speaking of my score, look for updates on the round here on the blog periodically but hole-by-hole updates on my Facebook page and Twitter page (follow me @ mattbarnes08). I plan on hitting every ball and playing by the USGA rules. So if that means taking a 12, then that means a 12. I'm not ashamed to do that. So I really hope you keep up with those respective pages and feel free to comment on the facebook or DM me on Twitter so I can see it on my phone. I'll try to respond.

So that's it boys and girls. That's the excitement to come on Thursday. Feel free to leave your comments and/or guesses for my score in the comment section right here on the blog.

I have no idea how long I will be here in Augusta. But for now, I'm gonna enjoy one of the perks. Make sure you check my pages and of course, Hakuna Matata!