Eisenhower Tree Taken Down at Augusta

[Joe Shlabotnik]

For all you golfers out there, maybe the most famous tree in golf did not survive the Snowpocolyse. It took so much damage from the ice, it had to be removed. That will completely change the 17th hole there.

Eisenhower, an Augusta member from 1948 until his death in 1969, was said to have hit the tree so often on his tee shot that he campaigned to have it removed and proposed during an Augusta National governors' meeting that it be cut down. This was in 1956, when Eisenhower was finishing the first of his two terms as president. Clifford Roberts, the club chairman and co-founder, overruled the president and adjourned the meeting.

It has been known as Eisenhower's Tree ever since.

"The Eisenhower Tree is such an iconic fixture and symbol of tradition at Augusta National," said Jack Nicklaus, a six-time Masters winner and Augusta National member. "It was such an integral part of the game and one that will be sorely missed.

[sighyoung]

So, in other words, the winter of 2013-2014 was really Operation Avalanche.