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Masters Week just passed, and with it came many memories of victorious thrills and agonizing defeats.
No doubt this golf major and its timing in early spring, when many of us are just finding our "golf legs" on the area's courses, make it special.
Rory McIlroy was trying to compare Augusta National to St. Andrews.
Both can be considered hallowed grounds to any golfers who have followed the sport.
But there is a vast difference in the two places, and that is simply 99.9% of golfers will never get to play Augusta National due its exclusivity.
Many have reveled in attending the Masters, and all come back gushing over their experiences. But St. Andrews is open to one and all.
A trip to Scotland requires some effort, of course, and while not cheap, it is certainly within reach of any golfer who desires to go there.
I will never know the feeling of standing on the first tee at Augusta, but I have stood on the first tee at St. Andrews Old Course, and I can honestly say the feelings that washed over me left me with tears in my eyes knowing that every great golfer over the last 150 years stood right there looking down that very same fairway.
And then walking over the famed Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole was indescribable.
So my vote goes to St. Andrews. The town and courses are golfing magic. Golfers, you should and can experience that magic.
Joe Maschue
Altoona
Cold Stream needs stocked
Another one bites the dust
It wasn't necessary to halt the stocking of trout in Cold Stream Creek.
All that stuff about protecting the wild trout that lived there is nonsense. Those wild trout have been living with stocked trout for years.
Obviously, stock had little effect on the wild population if the numbers were high enough to make it a class A stream. How can they justify not stocking?
Stocked trout aren't worthy enough for some in the Fish and Boat Commission.
Centre and surrounding counties have plenty of Class A streams to satisfy their egos.
The schemers in the commission are up to something. My guess is they will try to get as many streams under this classification as possible.
The hidden agency here is to make them open to fly fishing only. It was already proposed and vetoed on in a previous meeting.
How much recreation will be lost for the locals for years because of their actions.
Wild trout will never replace the recreation stocked trout provide or attract new anglers.
Nick Vrabel
Altoona