Momnesia

MSNBC swings and misses on Masters recommendations

AUGUSTA, GA. - MSNBC recommended this week that visitors to the Masters Tournament enjoy the life-size bronze statues at the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame’s Botanical Gardens.

Oops.

If WorldGolf.com contributor Tim McDonald had actually been in town on Monday for the Mayor’s Masters Reception, he’d have known that the board of the gardens removed the statues months ago, “for safekeeping,” to an undisclosed warehouse location.

“Well, why’d they do that?!” McDonald exclaimed in a phone interview, obviously surprised. McDonald was equally surprised to learn that three of his restaurant choices publicized on MSNBC — Chow, D. Timm’s Jazz Café and Café du Teau, have all been closed for years. If McDonald, WorldGolf.com or MSNBC had even called the numbers he listed in the story on April 10, he might have known that.

As we learned, when WorldGolf.com’s McDonald researches a story, it’s likely he doesn’t even pick up the phone, much less his feet. That’s because his recent “guide” to Augusta for Masters Tournament visitors was so woefully outdated as to be laughable.

Rush Limbaugh has it all wrong. The “drive-by” media is no more. These days, beware the “click-through” media.

McDonald said that he wrote the story last week from personal experiences that he’d enjoyed while last covering the Masters Tournament.

“It was several years ago, I can’t remember the exact date,” he said. “Then I was in Augusta, itself — was it last year I was in Augusta? I spent about a week there.”

While here he said he played all the courses he mentioned, plus five or six more, except for the Augusta National, of course. He also claims to have eaten at most of the restaurants mentioned.

From his home in northern Florida, near Tallahassee, he said, “I did have a martini at the French Market Grille.”

Perhaps.

It’s more likely that McDonald just googled terms like “Augusta, Ga. nightlife” before slapping together a shambles of a story on what there is to do in Augusta besides go to the tournament. Because had he taken a moment to fact-check, he’d have found out quickly that a number of the places he mentioned were closed.

McDonald boasts the title National Golf Editor, but even he answers to others.

“I turn it in to the editor,” he said.

The editor, however, isn’t in the office. “He’s overseas,” the office said when I called. McDonald shed more light on the situation.

“We’re a global organization. We all telecommute. The managing editor is in Prague,” he said. It must make it difficult for the organization to have a fact-checker in Prague. International calling must be fairly expensive, running up World Golf’s editorial costs.

“It is,” McDonald said.

So that puts it back on the writer to get their facts straight the first time. And did he actually call the places he listed?

“No, I did not,” McDonald said.

Obviously.

For shopping, he ignores the upscale Surrey Center, which boasts such adorable boutiques as Village, Soho and Swank, for such out-of-the-way places as The Boardroom and mall stores like Macy’s. He does a good job tossing in Summerville Rags in the revitalizing Central Ave. district, but then inexplicably lists Tuscany Spa.

He should have mentioned our galleries, like Pastel on Central, Gallery on the Row, Art on Broad and Broadstrokes Gallery. He could have tossed in our hip indie stores, like Midtown Threds, Blue Magnolia and Vintage 965. But he didn’t, because he doesn’t know a darn thing he’s talking about.

For massage? He recommends the members-only Health Central Wellness Center. He also mentions Tuscany (again), but leaves out Hand Over Stress, Serenity Day Spa and Rainforest Retreat.

He does get it right in just two instances in dining when he lists Bistro 491 and La Maison. For best martini, he lists French Market Grill. Now, we can think of no reason to denigrate the fine cuisine of the Creole/Cajun eatery. But they’re not known for martinis. The Bee’s Knees, on the other hand, has some fabulous martinis. Try the sake-tini with pomegranate. We realize at that point that it’s not actually a “martini,” but darned if it isn’t one of the best drinks you could ever put in your mouth.

He also leaves out favorite restaurants like Takosushi and the newly opened Broad Street Market. He ignores the fine dining in downtown Aiken, like cuiZine, Amanda’s, Malia’s and Linda’s Bistro. He shuns the famous Sconyers Barbecue, the quirky Old McDonald’s Fish Camp, the funky New Moon Café and the never-wrong Nacho Mama’s.

This man has obviously never eaten anywhere in Augusta that his guidebook doesn’t mention — or perhaps his taste buds were injured in a tragic coffee-tasting accident. Whatever the reason for his ignorance, no one with half a tongue should take his dining advice.

When it comes to attractions, the only thing he gets all right is in recommending the Morris Museum, the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, the Ezekiel Harris House Museum and the boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson. But had he taken a few more minutes to call around, he’d have been able to recommend to the readers that they purchase a Gallery Pass at the Augusta Museum of History, which gets them into all of these sites at half-off. And he should have mentioned the Augusta Canal’s music cruises. There’s not a more relaxing and beautiful experience to be had in town.

For celebrity-spotting, we actually like McDonald’s suggestion of Robbie’s Sports Bar for guys like John Daly — and favorite local characters like Blaine Prescott. But for a real look at some celebrities, check out the Soul Bar, Luigi’s and (haha) the James Brown statue.

In the future, perhaps McDonald could make the trek to Augusta to find out the real information that people want. He thinks he might be covering the Masters next year. Maybe then he can update his information. Barring that, he could pick up the phone and make sure the places he lists are open.