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Smiling is permitted at Augusta National, but patrons are asked to not laugh loudly.

(Jack Gruber/USA Today Sports)

Augusta National is a serious place for serious people. There are the titans of industry, wearing their green jackets. There are the golfers, trying to secure their personal legacy and make millions. Even the kids picking up the trash take their jobs seriously, as if somebody is watching their every move.

(Note: Somebody probably is watching their every move.)

Still, the patrons -- and they are most certainly not called "fans" or "spectators" here -- are not always with the program. Some have waited all their lives to get here. Some have spent thousands of dollars for their badges. Some have stacked so many green beer cups, it is a wonder they are not sleeping in the azaleas.

They want to have a good time. But some make the mistake of having too good of a time, and this is what happened at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 13th hole. Four men, gathered in the pine needles, let out a loud and sustained laugh during the practice round. Heads turned in their direction. What are they doing?

Out of nowhere, a man in a blue blazer rushed to where they were standing.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, GENTLEMEN," he said in the voice you'd use if your toddler started drawing on the wall with lipstick.

The leader of the group immediately apologized. It was not enough to appease the blue jacket man.

"This is not a cocktail party. This is not a country club," he said, even though it kind of is. "This is a golf course. There are members here, and there are golfers over there. Please, keep ... it ... down."

Sufficiently admonished, they walked away grumbling with their heads down, looking very serious.