PGATOUR.com's Ross: A lot has changed in three decades

PGATOUR.com's Helen Ross covered her first Masters in 1980. Not surprisingly, a lot has changed at Augusta National in the three decades since she first set foot on the hallowed grounds. But one thing that hasn't are her memories, many of which she'll share over the next five days.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- I first set foot on the grounds at the Augusta National on a sun-kissed April day in 1980.

Little did I know three decades later, I would still be making that trek each spring to cover the Masters Tournament. It's been a pleasure, a privilege and always, a challenge to chronicle the stories that developed.

As my 30th Masters unfolds this week, my bosses have asked me to share some of my experiences here at Augusta National. There are three tournaments that stand out among the many, and two rounds of golf I was fortunate enough to play.

No matter how many times I come to the Masters, I never cease to be amazed at the contrast between the Augusta National and the strip malls and fast food restaurants outside the grounds on Washington Road.

The sprawling antebellum clubhouse dominates the property, a sanctuary of southern gentility and charm at the end of Magnolia Lane. Near-iconic azaleas, in brilliant shades of pink and red, dot the immaculate grounds. Dogwoods unfold like delicate white lace canopies over the bright green grass.

When I first came to the Masters, the current Press Building, a state-of-the-art facility with personal computers that double as TVs at every desk, didn't exist. We worked in a tin Quonset hut with green plywood tables on typewriters and port-a-bubbles.

There were two other female reporters at the time. One was from Spain, the other a long-time friend named Melanie Hauser, who was writing for the now-defunct Houston Post and currently is a contributor to PGATOUR.COM.

There were no women's bathrooms in the Quonset hut. We couldn't go into the player locker room, either. But Irwin Smallwood, my sports editor at the Greensboro News & Record, pled our case at the annual meeting of the Golf Writers Association of America.

The GWAA board of directors took the issue up with Hord Hardin, who was then the chairman of the Augusta National. A year later, we had the same media access as our male counterparts -- including the ability to eat in the Men's Grill.

So the first day Irwin suggested that we go up to the clubhouse for lunch. No heads spun when we walked into the Men's Grill but when he and I left, the maitre de followed us out to tell me that I was the first woman to ever dine there.

Of course, I found out later that he'd told Melanie the same thing. 

Check back every day this week and I'll take you behind the scenes for 30 years at the Masters.