Anyone been to Augusta National golf course?

[DeanFL]

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After once again watching Masters this weekend, I'm in awe of the beauty of Augusta Natl.

Not really a 'bucket list', but would love to simply walk the Augusta course - like a tour or something. Unfortunately no-can-do. Private, and closed in the summer per my research. Would NOT want to play ($2000...) and I don't have enough balls. But sure would be a treat to spend a few hours and simply walk the course...

Another one - "Payne's Valley" near Branson Missouri. Newer courses and had a National "Match Play" with Pros last Sept. Breathtaking courses and views. They do have 'packages', even if not playing golf.

...perhaps before this frog...croaks.

Payne's Valley Golf Course | Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Mo. (https://bigcedar.com/golf/paynes-valley-course/)
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[dewilson58]

The best thing about "being there"..............are the hills & elevation changes. TV does not give it justice. Also on the greens. From the member tees, tee to green is very doable, butt once to get to the greens......here come the three-putts.

[kstew43]

hubby was a air traffic controller and was invited to work the personnel jets used by the players and the spectators at Daniel Field the masters week 5 times, back
between 2000-2006. Along with that came Master's badges, which we used many times.

The best part for me were the gift shops set up on the course. "Master's" inside the course were the real deal merchandise, or "The Master's" outside, they were not official.

We went, the landscaping was indeed like the photos you see.

You can request practice round badges, go on there web site, they are a lottery but you never know...... They also have scalpers all over the area.... if you dare...

[tophcfa]

Twice, the place is so perfectly manicured it doesn’t seem real. As Dewi pointed out, the hills, elevation changes, and uneven lies can not be appreciated unless there. They have an army of course maintenance workers that literally trim blades of grass by hand. I have never seen anything else that compares to Augusta National.

[jebartle]

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After once again watching Masters this weekend, I'm in awe of the beauty of Augusta Natl.

Not really a 'bucket list', but would love to simply walk the Augusta course - like a tour or something. Unfortunately no-can-do. Private, and closed in the summer per my research. Would NOT want to play ($2000...) and I don't have enough balls. But sure would be a treat to spend a few hours and simply walk the course...

Another one - "Payne's Valley" near Branson Missouri. Newer courses and had a National "Match Play" with Pros last Sept. Breathtaking courses and views. They do have 'packages', even if not playing golf.

...perhaps before this frog...croaks.

Payne's Valley Golf Course | Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Mo. (https://bigcedar.com/golf/paynes-valley-course/)
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My husband was even luckier, he got to play Augusta National because a fellow club member at Mimosa Hills in NC, was also a member of Augusta. Some may know him, his name was Billy Joe Patton, (he played in the 50's as an amateur, and almost won the Masters, playing Ben Hogan) Augusta is a beautiful walk in the park (spoiled by a little whit ball)

[OpusX1]

We won the lottery for the Wednesday practice round in 2018. It was a bucket list item for us. The azaleas and dog woods and the grass is even more incredible than what you see on TV. The cost is minimal for a major event. 4 Tickets $200.00 total. The food was like $1.50 for a pimento cheese sandwich. The special armless masters chairs were I Think $20.00 each. Parking was free. You could park your chair in the morning on the hole you wanted to watch leave your stuff on the chairs and walk the course for a hour come back to your chairs with no worries. Overall a spectacular experience that we hope to do again as we still enter the lottery every year.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I've been several times. Not only is the course magnificent but the Masters is the most efficient, and classily run event of any type I have ever been to. The way that they move people around and the facilities located at six different points around the golf course are beyond belief.

The food is good and very inexpensive. There are no corporate logos on anything other than the Masters logo. There are plenty of grandstands and most of the time there are plenty of seats. I can't remember waiting in line to sit in a grandstand like I have at other events.

It is an amazing experience and if you ever get to go do it.

I've never had the pleasure of playing it. I could have back in the early 80s but at that time it would have cost $850 and I was an assistant pro making $225 a week plus lessons. $850 was a fortune to me back then.

[Joanne19335]

I would be happy just to walk the course. What a heavenly stroll.

[DaveG]

Member tees are 6,450 yards. Not exactly doable, but I have played there 9 times.

[Marathon Man]

The grass. It looks different. And it's perfect. Also, I was surprised by how many bathrooms and eating places there are. You never see them on TV. Well placed and painted green to keep them out of sight.

[dewilson58]

The grass. It looks different. And it's perfect. Also, I was surprised by how many bathrooms and eating places there are. You never see them on TV. Well placed and painted green to keep them out of sight.

The greens could have used some of that green paint this year.

[Miss B GA]

Yes, several times with my late father. Other than the priceless memories with my dad, three things that stood out to me were: the beauty of the course, the clubhouse, and the pimento cheese sandwiches.

[Caterking]

I worked there during five Masters tournaments. Had the opportunity to be inside the ropes, clubhouse and several cabins...got to see just about everything, except for watching the actual tournament....too busy for that! Best day to go is for the Par three contest.

[TimeForChange]

Been there many times. Company I worked for had three rented houses around the course. We had ten passes and shuffled customers in and out to see the regular tournament. First time is the best. It is unlike any golf course on the mainland you have ever seen as far as beauty. I played a couple in Hawaii that were just as beautiful but of course do not have the majestic history. I have taken and escorted people who were there for the first time and they were speechless.

[Bertram00]

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After once again watching Masters this weekend, I'm in awe of the beauty of Augusta Natl.

Not really a 'bucket list', but would love to simply walk the Augusta course - like a tour or something. Unfortunately no-can-do. Private, and closed in the summer per my research. Would NOT want to play ($2000...) and I don't have enough balls. But sure would be a treat to spend a few hours and simply walk the course...

Another one - "Payne's Valley" near Branson Missouri. Newer courses and had a National "Match Play" with Pros last Sept. Breathtaking courses and views. They do have 'packages', even if not playing golf.

...perhaps before this frog...croaks.

Payne's Valley Golf Course | Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Mo. (https://bigcedar.com/golf/paynes-valley-course/)
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Seems more like a Bucket of Balls List.

[bncuhler@verizon.net]

I had the pleasure of going to a practice round. Walked all 18 holes. It is as magnificent as it looks on TV. They treat the patrons like royalty. It was my Disney World!

[Sthngirl]

I am from Augusta. My first time going to the Masters was 7th grade. Sunday’s final round was rained out. So the final round was held on Monday. I got called to the office in school and my dad was there waiting for me. He surprised me with a ticket. He had taken my sister earlier in the day but I was lucky to see the ending with him.

I went every year after that. My last time there was right before I moved away. I sort of took it for granted as practice round tickets were so easy to get. I enjoyed those more than the tournament itself as the golfers were a little more relaxed and friendly. I still remember the taste of the egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches and the souvenir cup that was only $1 more.

As I’m sure most of you who have been, I will never forget the first time I went and will always love and miss the times I spent there. If you ever get the chance to go, i highly recommend it. As Jim Nantz says , “It’s a tradition unlike any other.”

[karostay]

Been trying to get tickets for over 20 years just can't seem to win the Augusta National lottery

[Jerseyborn]

I had the privilege of going in 2017. The landscape is pristine and there is not a single weed. Although you can hear birds, you would be hard pressed to see wildlife. Everyone is friendly and considerate and respectful of your seat and your property. The best part may be that cell phones are not allowed so everyone is looking up, smiling and making eye contact. You get so close to the pros and they really appreciate the crowds.

[beeneyra]

Tickets are cheap, and the food is great for the price.

[gb1944]

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After once again watching Masters this weekend, I'm in awe of the beauty of Augusta Natl.

Not really a 'bucket list', but would love to simply walk the Augusta course - like a tour or something. Unfortunately no-can-do. Private, and closed in the summer per my research. Would NOT want to play ($2000...) and I don't have enough balls. But sure would be a treat to spend a few hours and simply walk the course...

Another one - "Payne's Valley" near Branson Missouri. Newer courses and had a National "Match Play" with Pros last Sept. Breathtaking courses and views. They do have 'packages', even if not playing golf.

...perhaps before this frog...croaks.

Payne's Valley Golf Course | Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Mo. (https://bigcedar.com/golf/paynes-valley-course/)
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Try Callaway Gardens in Georgia. Beautiful course and closer.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Member tees are 6,450 yards. Not exactly doable, but I have played there 9 times.

What's funny is that during the tournament you don't see the members tees. Do they just take dig them up, recontour and reseed the areas? I've looked to flat areas forward of the tournament tees and couldn't find any.

[NAB20]

My husband and I won the right to buy tickets for Wednesday's practice round a few years ago. It is a beautiful course and was a beautiful day. It is an absolutely enjoyable experience. Would recommend it for anyone able to walk hills. I don't know if I could do it today.

[donassaid]

Been there 3 times. More like a shrine than a golf course. Not a single weed anywhere. Absolutely breathtaking.

[Heytubes]

I’d love to go, but don’t think I’d pass the background check.

[scottid]

Lucky to have been there on moving day.The setting is spectacular. Everything is manicured and the azaleas are awesome. The best for me was being in the area of the 13th green,, 14th tee. It is almost a sacramental experience. It is so beautiful. God must have made it. You can see the15th green and all of 16 from that area. It is heavenly.

[MandG]

We were lucky to go for the first Women’s Amatuer held in 2019. I told my husband when we walked the course, “This is what heaven will look like. “

[rustyp]

I know I can not visit the golf course except during the Master's. Wondering is it worth visiting the Augusta area just for site seeing purposes at other times of the year ?

[DeanFL]

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I've tried to locate the web site for Augusta National to ask why they don't 'give tours' etc. Can't find an ACTUAL site for the Club - seems only for"Masters", etc.

Per Wikipedia,
Augusta National Golf Club, sometimes referred to as Augusta or the National, is a golf club in Augusta, Georgia, United States. Unlike most private clubs which operate as non-profits, Augusta National is a for-profit corporation, and it does not disclose its income, holdings, membership list, or ticket sales

hmm - sales from off-season 'tours' could provide a tidy $$$ haul...and alternative revenue for the Augusta area. I would go in a second...
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[karostay]

Try Callaway Gardens in Georgia. Beautiful course and closer.

Perhaps but not the point

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I know I can not visit the golf course except during the Master's. Wondering is it worth visiting the Augusta area just for site seeing purposes at other times of the year ?

There is nothing to see there.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Lucky to have been there on moving day.The setting is spectacular. Everything is manicured and the azaleas are awesome. The best for me was being in the area of the 13th green,, 14th tee. It is almost a sacramental experience. It is so beautiful. God must have made it. You can see the15th green and all of 16 from that area. It is heavenly.

I was in that spot a few years ago and just happened to look over toward 16 just in time to see Matt Kuchar make a hole in one.

It is a great spot but it's difficult to say that there is any one spot that is the best. I was sitting behind the twelfth tee a number of year ago when Freddie Couples won and saw the shot that stayed up on the bank.

I also like a couple of holes that don't seem to get mentioned vert often. Four and five are brutal. I like to stand by the left side of the fifth green and watch the approach shots and putting. That green is one of the most diabolical on the course. Then you can look over and watch the tee shots on the famous par three sixth.

By the way, a friend of mine's son played a couple of years ago and he made birdies on four and five then parred six. He stunk up the rest of the round after getting through maybe the toughest stretch of the golf course.