I found myself caught up in The Masters this weekend - glued to all the media outlets (mobile, Web and HD broadcast). I’ve watched the sacred tournament for as long as I can remember but this year something was noticeably different about the viewer’s experience.

Most of us will never get a chance to set foot on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National Golf Club. We have to rely on CBS and their broadcast coverage (starting in 1956). The Masters was one of the first golf tournaments to ever be broadcast in High Definition and this year, the tournament committee added more new media than ever before!

To compete with the CBS blanket coverage of 60 HD cameras, Direct TV offered the “Masters Mix Channel” – three separate views with interactive controls. AT&T had the “Blue Room” for web and mobile users. But for me, the Official Masters website powered by IBM was the most impressive (despite it’s excessive use of green). Maybe it’s obvious that the Augusta National team is desperately trying to appeal to a younger audience with a focus on the web and interactivity.

Masters chairman Billy Payne; “This current initiative is more accurately described as a continuing effort to reach more and more potential golfers, especially kids, by communicating with them and delivering content to them in the manner in which they want it delivered in this 21st century technological era. “Our Web site, Masters.org, has been significantly enhanced to deliver information and offer participation to a more youthful audience by the addition of full-screen streaming video, photo sharing and blogs, among others”.

For me, the killer app of the website wasn’t only the new and improved “Interactive Leader Board” but the incredibly awesome full screen video application – “Augusta Live!” The quality was extremely impressive but the controls and dynamic data all layered on a 960 pixel wide streaming video image, simply blew me away!

So, what does all this broadcast technology have to do with real estate? Well… EVERYTHING!

Here’s my realization tonight - if an institution as historic and respected as The Masters Tournament can truly be an innovator in interactive and experiential new media, then why can’t every real estate developer in the United States? Even consider the fact these guys have been playing golf on the same 18 holes since 1934. Icons like Jones, Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus are all associated with the rich history of Augusta National. The Masters is proving you can really merge High Tradition and High Tech.

It also strikes me that both The Masters and a typical new home community share a similar physical layout of “place” (fairways and greens; streets and lots) in addition to the same core “product” (emotion and experiences). In one sense, selling golf is just like selling homes.

The next time someone tells your marketing or sales VP that “…we don’t need high tech stuff to sell our community here”, simply remind them that times are a changing and the good old boys in Augusta, Georgia have a head start on you!

“Once again, we must be at the leading edge, delivering sports and entertainment to our fans as they want it delivered”, said Billy Payne.

How do your home buyers want it delivered?