Dear Cape Friends,
If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been along for the ride for a while, welcome back. Each week I try to share Cape Cod Real Estate with a little common sense, a bit of humor, and just enough market insight to keep you ahead of the curve.
There are certain weeks each year that just feel… well, different. This is one of them – my very favorite week of the year.
Here at home on the Cape, the forsythia is just starting to pop -our own quiet version of Augusta’s azaleas, signaling that spring has arrived.
There’s just something about Augusta National Golf Club this time of year. It begins quietly with the Champions Dinner- past winners returning each year to honor the game and one another. No noise. No excess. Just tradition. From there, the week unfolds with a rhythm all its own: The same course, preserved with care. And Sunday afternoon… where history seems to repeat itself.
It’s not just a tournament. It’s a standard. There is no other sporting event on the planet that even compares.
A Personal Note
Years ago, a great golf pal of mine, John Sargent - aka “Sarge” - from Greenwich invited me as his guest. A big deal.
He gave me a true master-class in how to experience the Masters (try saying “Master-class on the Sunday Masters” five times after a cocktail.. not easy - good luck). 😄
Where to go. When to move. Which holes to prioritize. How to traverse the property without wasting a step. The history behind specific greens, pin placements, fairways, bridges, creeks - even individual trees. The practice range: when to be there, where to sit, what to look for. Food-wise: what to eat, where to eat. Pro Shop: eye ya yie! And that’s barely scratching the surface..
Sarge operates w/ surgical precision: thoughtful & intentional. Every second had a purpose. It was experiencing Augusta the way it was meant to be experienced. What a gift he gave me – I will always be grateful.
A Moment I’ll Never Forget
We were standing just off the tee box at #11 - maybe five feet away - with no one in front of us except for Tiger. He stepped up and absolutely crushed his drive. You could feel it.
And then… it leaked right. Way right. Into the pine trees. (Rut Row!…)
Dead. Or at least, dead for anyone else.
Tiger stood over the ball. No window. No angle. No shot. (We were right there – standing on the pine straw – absorbing every second) He was all business. Zero emotion. And then -somehow - he saw something. Defying physics, Tiger hit a shot that looked impossible. The ball launched at a violent angle, slicing through the trees and over the water… and gently landed on the green.
Two putts. Par. Walk. Next!
Sarge and I just looked at each other. “Wait, what the fluff just happened..?”
Even If Golf Isn’t Your Thing
Even if you’ve never picked up a golf club, it’s worth watching for a few minutes this weekend. Because moments like that… aren’t really about golf. They are about decision-making, discipline, and execution under pressure, in real time.
(Click here to tune in—live coverage, featured groups, and Amen Corner all streaming for free.)
So… What Does This Have to Do with Real Estate?
If you caught last week’s note on the Stri-ped bass run, we touched on preparation and timing. This is the same idea. What you’re watching at Augusta isn’t just talent - It’s preparation, precision, and discipline.
The course doesn’t change. But how players navigate it - when to be aggressive, when to stay patient, how to recover when things don’t go perfectly - that’s everything.
Real Estate, especially here on Cape Cod, works the same way.
As we move into the spring market:
• Buyers are active - and more decisive
• Inventory is beginning to build
• The homes that stand out are the ones that are properly prepared, priced correctly and positioned from the start
• For Sellers, it’s no different – those who prepare & position correctly from the start are the ones who win
Final Thought
Fly fishing teaches timing.
The Masters demands precision.
Real Estate rewards execution.
Enjoy the week. It really is one of the best there is.
(And if you’re around Friday morning, I’ll be back at the Chatham Perk from 8:00–9:00am. As always, coffee’s on me)
See you around the elbow (and hopefully Fri AM – I will be monitoring the leaderboard),
Paul
P.S. If you’re thinking about buying or selling, PaulBorde.com is a great place to browse listings, catch past NEWSLETTERS, and stay current on the market - and, if I may say so, please click here and revisit a few of my Pulitzer Prize–level past newsletters. 😄