Mastering the Masters - An Infographic Overview in Vintage Style

I received word of this Masterful infographic via Twitter.

Created by the folks at American Golf Corporation, it presents Augusta National and the Masters in a delightful vintage style.

Mastering the Masters... in vintage style                     American Golf Corporation

The Masters of Golf Infographics: Tiger Woods Edition

Remember the Masters data visualization challenge I mentioned a few days ago? Well, I haven't designed my own Masters Infographic... yet... but I have received several impressive submissions including the presentation above featuring World Number One, Tiger Woods.

It came to me today via sports betting communications consultancy Square in the Air, who designed it for Sporting Index , and while there's not a huge amount of data, the important stuff is all there.  And the design is very powerful. As it should be when the number one player commands so much of the media spotlight.

I'll present additional Masters Infographics as the week progresses and as they're submitted.  Hopefully I'll even come up with my own. In the meantime enjoy the continuing pageantry of Masters week.

Champions Dinner 1952-2013: Infographic of Memorable Masters Meals

Dinner is Served, Masters - 20 Years of Menus from the Masters Champions Dinner

On Tuesday evening, the anual Champions Dinner will take place at the 2013 Masters Tournament.  As tradition dictates, the menu will have been selected by the previous year's winner; in this case, 2012 champion Bubba Watson, who has chosen to keep the contents of his selection under wraps till serving time, leading some to surmise that it might include a few... um... exotic regional specialties.

Well, we'll soon see if there's any substance to that speculation but in the meantime, I recommend you check out Masters Champions Dinner, an awesome infographic I received yesterday.  It features winner selected menus from the past 20 years.  BTW, you may not want to click on an empty stomach.

The Masters of Golf Infographics - A Data Visualization Challenge

A well rendered infographic can enhance just about anything.

The most mundane data set... in the hands of a skilled infographics designer... can be transformed into an engaging visual, likely to draw in and enlighten a wide swath of viewers.  Even those with an aversion to statistics... and no particular interest in the data itself.

So imagine potential awesomeness when the subject is something you love, and the statistics are ones you're seeking out anyway.

That's what got me searching for infographics on The Masters today. With less than two weeks left before the annual orgy of understated excess begins in Augusta, I found myself in the mood for for some Masterful data visualizations.

Well I did find a few, including some that little more than stylised charts.  Others contained a wealth of information and all the elements of modern infographic design.  There were even a couple I felt could comfortably contend for a Malofiej gold medal, the Infographical equivalent of a green jacket.

My favorite has got to be the one about course changes at Augusta National.  Displayed in side-by-side illustrations are the iconic course's 18 holes and the changes that have been made to each throughout the years. Both the art and the typeface are rendered in a vintage style, reflective of the event and its venue.  Then there was Foreplay to the Masters, a powerful presentation that came out last year and provides a surprisingly detailed history of the tournament, course and players, in a darkly elegant style.  I've also got to mention the visualization created by Kyle Porter, editor of Pistols Firing, the OKState Sports Blog. I'm guessing Kyle isn't a infographics designer by trade but looking at his 2012 Masters Infographic, you can tell he's got a genuine enthusiasm for his subject, and I'm quite sure had a lot of fun creating this piece.  The lamest of the lot has to be the infographic I created, to depict the most popular early pics to win in 2011.  I've got to admit I just plugged in the data. Wordle did the rest.

Here's the thing though.  We need more Masters infographics... don't we? I think we do, and to that end I'm going to: A) try to make one... or two. and B) have a contest during Masters week for anyone else who might want to make one.  More details to come on that in the next couple of days.  In the meantime if you should find any Masters-related visualizations I missed I'd love a link.

Augusta Admits Female Members but Sexism Struggle Continues Elsewhere

photo: brettchisum via photopin cc

Believe it or not, many golf fans I've spoken to recently are already well into waiting-for-the-Masters mode.  

It may seem premature to be fixated on an event that's still two months away, but when it comes to the Masters, that's generally the way it goes; the longing will germinate in the depths of February and develop rapidly from there; events leading up to it just make the feeling stronger... like water, warmth and oxygen on an nascent seedling.  By the end of March thousands of azaleas and dogwoods will begin to flower and the lilting acoustic strains of Augusta will find their way to the top of playlists.  Some strange people will be craving the tangy taste of pimento cheese.

This year, in the minds of many fans, anticipation will no doubt be accompanied by a sense of relief.   Relief that the uncomfortable issue of sexism at Augusta National has finally been addressed with the inclusion of two female members... the first since the club opened its doors in 1932.  Though largely symbolic, this makes it unlikely the sexism debate will rage in Augusta this coming April with the same fervor we've seen in past years.

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