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Penny and Chuck Ballas Jr. see a number of golfers at their downtown restaurant, Luigi's. Ben Crenshaw and Jack Nicklaus have been among their guests. (Kathy Moore)

Restaurateurs know golfers draw a crowd


Web posted 04/07/98


In several restaurants in Augusta, framed pictures of golfers adorn the walls like the treasured memories of proud parents.

Grinning men with sunburned, leathery faces cup their arms around a humbled, awe-stricken admirer.A younger Jack Nicklaus, a smiling "Gentle Ben'' Crenshaw. If you're dining out during Masters week, you're likely to see photos of professional golfers -- maybe even the golfers themselves.

With about 90 players in town for the tournament, a famous face can show up in a steakhouse or a sushi bar.

On Sunday night, Seve Ballesteros was spotted at Michael's, and Gene Sarazen dropped in at Calvert's.

The crowd at Luigi's usually erupts into applause when Mr. Crenshaw walks in. The two-time Masters champion is a regular at the Broad Street restaurant, said owner Chuck Ballas. And although Mr. Nicklaus hasn't been to Luigi's in a while, his children frequent the Italian restaurant, Mr. Ballas said.

"The only special treatment we give them is that they don't have to wait for a table,'' he said. "And we don't allow them to be mobbed when they come in. We don't let people come up to them and ask for autographs. We're very protective.''

Masashi "Jumbo'' Ozaki has been seen at the sushi bar of Mikoto Japanese Restaurant, said manager Don Pak.

Golfers who come to the Washington Road establishment are treated to complimentary drinks and appetizers, Mr. Pak said.

"It's an honor to have them here,'' he said, as well as the followers famous people tend to draw.

Just down the road at Shangri-La, the wait staff makes a special effort not to treat the golfers any differently than the rest of their customers, said Manager Susie Kuo.

"We really don't talk to them much,'' she said. "We figure they come here so they can have a nice quiet dinner, and we want to give them that.''

Most Washington Road restaurants draw their Masters crowds at night, but a few golfers begin their days at Mally's Bagels and Grits, just a few blocks from the Augusta National.

Owner Henry Scheer said he mostly delivers catered orders to the Augusta National and golfers' houses.

Cadwallader's Cafe staffers said that even though the Martinez restaurant is a hike up the road for golfers, Fuzzy Zoeller, Scott Verplank and Ken Venturi have been known to surface from time to time.

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