The Duke Of Hazards

In Boone Schweitzer's Trashmasters, Trouble Is Good
What in the world is a Trashmaster? Hold on to your seats and we will explain.

A Trashmaster, as defined by Boone Schweitzer, founder of the Trashmasters Golf Tournament of Aspen, Colo., is a golfer who relishes the art of bouncing shots off trees and rocks and cart paths, gleefully skipping additional balls over ponds and other obstacles.

Which brings us to the Masters in Augusta, Ga. There is a kinder, gentler side to the Masters, and nobody knows this more than Schweitzer and his friends at the Trashmasters.

Back in 1998, it looked like the Augusta Masters might grind the Aspen Trashmasters to smithereens in a court case revolving around ownership of the name. What happened? The Masters decided to allow the Trashmasters to keep the name for generating charitable contributions.

Bravo for the Masters, which has turned into a genuine philanthropic juggernaut in golf. The Masters supports all sorts of worthy causes, including the national kids-only Drive, Chip and Putt competition.

And for more than 20 years, money from the original Trashmasters tournament has been distributed to youngsters who are headed to college but need financial help. All in the name of trash golf.

Schweitzer, a veteran ski instructor and real estate executive, is a fanatical senior golfer. His reputation precedes him as he aims his golf shots at trees, ponds, cart paths and a variety of additional hazards. The crookeder the better. H...