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The National mail service delivers -- even on Sunday


Web posted 04/12/98


At least one post office in Augusta was delivering mail on Easter Sunday.

At the Masters Tournament, mail doesn't stop for weekends or holidays, and it's up to James Price and Travis Miller to get more than 100 letters a day -- for golfers, club members, officials and media -- where they're going.

The two retired U.S. Postal Service managers work out of a tiny silver Airstream trailer tucked away in the pine trees off a service road near the Augusta National Golf Club's main entrance. Inside, stacks of FedEx boxes cover the beds, and a wall of neat plywood cubbyholes is marked with hand-penned signs -- an alphabetical listing of golfers' names, three per cubbyhole.

For one week a year, this mail room is called into action.

``We handle all the mail coming in, fan mail addressed care of the club, golf clubs for players,'' said Price, who's on mail duty for the second year in a row. ``Maybe a guy wants a new putter, his has gone sour, or a new driver. They just have it delivered.

``It's a pleasure to work here -- everyone we work with is so nice and efficient. This place is symbolic of efficiency.''

The Augusta post office bundles up all the mail addressed to the club and delivers it to the grounds for Price and Miller to handle. The pair also collect outgoing mail, both domestic and international, for delivery.

``We had one player come by a couple of times last year, rushing to get his income tax forms off -- but we won't say who,'' Price said.

Patrons on the course for the day will drop by the trailer to hand over letters, envelopes and packages to be sent home.

``Here, weigh that on our scales, Travis,'' said Price, as a patron sticks his head into the trailer and hands over a manila envelope for postage.

``See our high-tech scales?'' he adds with a laugh, as Miller hefts the envelope in his hand, trying to gauge its weight.

A few minutes later, a CBS employee makes his own delivery: a CBS baseball cap for Price. Media representatives at the Masters are some of the mail room's best customers, particularly magazine and newspaper journalists who mail off film regularly, often for overnight delivery, Price said.

The pair also act as an informal information center, offering tips to sites around town.

``Players' wives will come pick up their mail, and the number one question I get is, `What's the best restaurant in town?''' Price said with a laugh. ``I always give them a list of five or six so no one can say I'm playing favorites.''

The two men work as volunteers, but their big payoff is the chance to watch the tournament on closed-circuit television and during occasional trips to the course -- and a chance to play at the Augusta National during the week in May when workers are allowed to play the course. They usually are grouped with the media on the day journalists play.

``I parred the first hole last year,'' Price said, imitating his own swagger after the putt. ``So I hitched my pants up like (Arnold) Palmer and took off for number two -- and the course proceeded to beat me into the dirt.''

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