The approach of Easter seems to awaken the same feelings every year. Frank Beard, a hopeless devotee from his 12 appearances in the US Masters, captured the mood with the charming observation: "When I first set foot on the ground at Augusta National, it felt like a carpet had been laid at my feet."

It is impossible not to be stirred by the prospect of going back. And the astonishing thing is that new "historical" elements to the event are uncovered each year, even though the tournament is a relatively modern creation with a launch in 1934.

One of this year's revelations concerns a golfing unknown by the name of Ralph Stonehouse. Ralph who? He's the man who died in 1980, carrying to his grave the distinction of having hit the first shot in the inaugural Masters, known at that time as Augusta National's First Annual Invitational Tournament. Or did he?

Over the years, it was assumed that the opening shot was hit by Johnny Kinder. Indeed Steve Eubanks, in his book Augusta: Home of the Masters Tournament published in 1997, writes that on Thursday, March 22nd, 1934, Kinder stepped up to the then first tee, which is now the 10th, "at a little before 10.0 am. At 10.02 he struck the first shot . . ."

But Alan Hinds, a member of Forest Park GC Indiana, which was home to Stonehouse in the 1930s, now tells a different story. His account goes: "A chilly but sunny March 22 greeted the players on the first day as Stonehouse and Jim Foulis Jnr, whose uncle won the second US Open 38 years earlier, opened play.

"Starting 15 minutes ahead of schedule, Stonehouse got the event under way with a drive that curled nicely to the centre of what is now the 10th fairway. From there, he hit a five iron to an L-shaped green, got his par and moved on."

Hinds, who suggests that his man may have been given the honour in view of his victory in the Miami Open that year, concludes: "In 1976, he was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame. Stonehouse died in 1980 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and is remembered there and elsewhere for his shot one spring morning 65 years ago - and all that it started."

There you have it. Two men are credited with hitting the first ball is what is now the US Masters. For the record, Kinder's only appearance was in 1934 when he finished 32nd, while Stonehouse was tied 16th, a stroke behind Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, so earning an invitation to return the following year.

So, what's the answer? Who hit that momentous shot? Perhaps the solution is to be found in another comment from Beard, who takes the view that such details shouldn't be questioned. Describing the Masters as a myth, he said: "By that I don't mean it's a bunch of falsehoods. It's a believable, lovable myth."

And we can't wait to revisit it.

"I remember as a kid, watching Jack Nicklaus shooting 72s and 73s on an off day and still having a chance to win. Now, if you do that, you usually get lapped, or have to come back with a 63 or 64 to get back in the hunt." Tiger Woods.

SUPREME shotmaking skills came to Seve Ballesteros at an early age, largely through being forced to make do with only a three iron, while hitting balls on the beach near his home at Pedrena. Now, he believes his eight-year-old son should follow suit - when he manages to drag the youngster away from soccer.

Ballesteros, who became a member of golf's Hall of Fame in Florida earlier this week, explained to an American audience how he sends Baldomero to a local, par-three course equipped with only an eight iron. When confronted by curious friends, the lad responds: "Why do you carry a full bag? My father says you're supposed to be playing with only one club."

The erstwhile conquistador illustrated the point during the second round of the Bay Hill Invitational last Friday. After studying his ball in the back of a bunker, with the pin cut close and the green sloping away, he successfully executed the 15-foot recovery shot with a putter. And I can remember him in a clinic at Royal Dublin in 1986, playing an exquisite bunker recovery at the 18th green with an open-faced two iron.

"It's simple and clear," Ballesteros insisted. "With one club, you have to develop your imagination."

And the successful amateur and professional will win a one-week trip to Ireland, "to play some of that country's great courses, including the Kildare Hotel and Country Club, site of the 2005 Ryder Cup." Who could resist such a prize? No golfer worth his or her salt, is the hope of US magazine Golf Digest.

The prize is on offer in an intriguing competition which presents a daunting test for America's teaching professionals. It challenges these tutors to help pupils increase the length of their drives, in a 10-minute lesson. In effect, the target is to gain a yard a minute, hence the competition's name, "Ten More Yards."

Armed with the special form in the May issue of the magazine, the amateur must contact one of the participating PGA professionals countrywide. If successful, amateur and professional are then entered into two, separate draws for a golfing trip to this country. Prepare the tiger tees.

WHILE at the US Masters a few years ago, I was extremely touched to learn that Gene Sarazen had been in a local golf shop earlier that week, having the grip on his driver fattened up. Even at 93, he was anxious to do himself justice as one of the three honorary starters of the tournament.

Now it emerges that fellow-starter, Byron Nelson, was observed recently on the practice ground of the Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas. The 87-year-old was trying out a new, titanium driver.

"I've got to hit in front of people, so I thought I'd come out here and get some practice," he said, after sending his first drive 225 yards straight down the middle. "Appearing with Sam (Snead) and Gene at Augusta, is the only time I still get nervous."

Meanwhile, Mark O'Meara, the defending champion, has been to Augusta for the first time outside Masters week. And on visiting the famous champions' lockerroom, he discovered he will be sharing a locker with the 1935 winner, Sarazen. "I don't have to worry about Gene stealing any of my golf balls," he said, smiling.

IN his capacity as manager of the US Tour during the period after World War II, Fred Corcoran had some wonderful experiences, many of which are included in his 1965 book Unplayable Lies. This one, concerning Sam Snead, caught my fancy.

"Coming home, we made the Grand Tour, stopping off in Rome for what Sam called an audition with the late Pope John (XXIII). I suggested facetiously that Sam might bring his putter along and have it blessed. I argued that a papal blessing might help steer in some of those six-foot, sidehill putts.

"Sam was impressed. I remember we were met in the vestry of St Peter's by a monsignor whose eyebrows flitted up into his tonsure when Snead checked in with his clubs. But he turned out to be a 100-shooter himself and he immediately went on to confess to Sam about his putting problems. Sam sighed, picked up his clubs and headed back to the car.

" `If you're this close to the Pope and you can't putt,' he drawled over his shoulder, `he ain't gonna be able to do anything for me.' "

THIS day in golf history.........On March 27th, 1977, Graham Marsh gained his only victory on the USPGA "regular" Tour. And the native of Kalgoorlie, Australia, did it in style, shooting an 11-under-par aggregate of 273 over Harbour Town to beat prospective Masters and US Open champion Tom Watson by a stroke for a top prize of $45,000. Leader of the Asian Order of Merit in 1972 and 1973 and highly successful in Europe, it was said of Marsh that he didn't need to prove himself in the US. But he has chosen to do so since turning 50 on January 14th, 1994, carving out a lucrative career on the Seniors' Tour where his five tournament victories include the 1997 US Senior Open. His flamboyant brother Rod, gained distinction as an Australian test cricketer.

TEASER: In strokeplay, a competitor plays a wrong ball to a putting green. He discovers his error and returns to the spot from which the wrong ball was played. He finds another ball and plays it to the green. He then discovers that he has played another wrong ball. Is the penalty two strokes or four strokes?

ANSWER: Two strokes, for a breach of Rule 15-3 (Wrong ball; substituted ball - strokeplay). A penalty of four strokes for playing two wrong balls in succession before a stroke with the correct ball would not be justified.