The Masters

[HuskyHawk]

So I got a nice surprise this morning, that I've got two tickets to the 2025 Masters for Saturday. I've been trying to just land practice round tickets for years. Never did. My sister lives in Aiken, SC so I'll stay with her (and she's my +1). Already bought my plan tickets as those get scarce quickly. Any suggestions on going to the tournament? Places to watch, "Amen Corner", what to bring with you, what the experience is like. Any useful tips from anybody who has gone would be very welcome.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I've never been on an tournament day but I've been to practice days on two separate occasions.

First TV doesn't give justice to the hills and changes of elevation. You're gonna get in your steps.
Amen corner is overrated. You can't get near the 11th green and all you really see is the tee shot on 12. You can't get anywhere near the 13th tee either.
The area near the tee on #1, green on #9, 18th green and 10th tee gets you a lot of action without much walking.

15th green, 16 and tee shot on 17 is another area you can catch a lot of action without much movement.

Regardless, golf tournies are always a compromise. You have enough "patrons" at Augusta who plop down their chairs and sit in one spot to watch every golfer, that you won't be in the front for anything. Use the hills as stadium seating to your advantage.
I'd recommend hang around 1,2 and 9 and once the leaders get past there, go to 15, 16 and 17.
It is a time warp. No cell phones on site and almost no live video of other holes.
Gift shop prices and concessions are ridiculously cheap- load up.
And enjoy.

 

[Chin Diesel]

One more suggestion. If you have time to see one of your favorite players on the driving range, do it. The driving range in general is a way underrated place to watch them work their craft and practice specific shots they know they'll have to hit in the round. Same for the putting green. It's usually not too packed and you can watch them work on their routines and really see the work they put in to their craft.

The line for photos out the Founder's circle with the Augusta logo to me is overrated. There are so many iconic photos you can take on the course, it's not worth spending time standing in line for that shot.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Awesome @Chin Diesel very helpful. I’ll be with my sister and a friend from KC, both of whom have been to practice rounds. I’ll try to pick the brain of the guy whose tickets we are using as well. He’s going on Sunday naturally.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Awesome @Chin Diesel very helpful. I’ll be with my sister and a friend from KC, both of whom have been to practice rounds. I’ll try to pick the brain of the guy whose tickets we are using as well. He’s going on Sunday naturally.

One thing I read yesterday after I gave my response. Current Augusta policy is no cameras on tournament days. I didn't know since I had only been there on practice days and we always took pics on the course.

 

[HuskyHawk]

One thing I read yesterday after I gave my response. Current Augusta policy is no cameras on tournament days. I didn't know since I had only been there on practice days and we always took pics on the course.

Even phones?

 

[uconn1999]

Had badges from 1994-2014, then my source died, literally.
NO PHONES or cameras, knives, guns, TSA on steroids. Plain Jane chairs allowed, although they sell a nice one.

I would arrive an hour before gates open, souvenir shop early, take your purchases directly to the shipping desk and then have your arms free for the day to hold beer and pimento cheese sammies.
Walk the course early, find a place you like and place your chair and you can return later to it. You’ll see chairs in a front row that are empty for hours, although I often “borrowed” them.
6th green/7 tee. 8th green/9tee are convenient spots to catch 2 holes
2 green and 3 tee also come to mind
Grandstands at 15 for a bit.
Be prepared for cold, heat and or rain. Pack accordingly. If rain in the forecast, take a pair of shoes than can be tossed.
Binoculars

Act like you’re at the Vatican.
Have a great time!

 

[Chin Diesel]

Even phones?

Phones have been banned for a long time. Cool thing was for a while there was a bank of pay phones where reporters would go to call back to the office to file their reports.

It really is like going back in time 50 years.

 

[cullaville]

Had badges from 1994-2014, then my source died, literally.
NO PHONES or cameras, knives, guns, TSA on steroids. Plain Jane chairs allowed, although they sell a nice one.

I would arrive an hour before gates open, souvenir shop early, take your purchases directly to the shipping desk and then have your arms free for the day to hold beer and pimento cheese sammies.
Walk the course early, find a place you like and place your chair and you can return later to it. You’ll see chairs in a front row that are empty for hours, although I often “borrowed” them.
6th green/7 tee. 8th green/9tee are convenient spots to catch 2 holes
2 green and 3 tee also come to mind
Grandstands at 15 for a bit.
Be prepared for cold, heat and or rain. Pack accordingly. If rain in the forecast, take a pair of shoes than can be tossed.
Binoculars

Act like you’re at the Vatican.
Have a great time!

If I acted like I was at the Vatican all i would be doing is pushing and shoving people and trying to keep my wife safe and not seeing anything. Hope Augusta is not like that. The Vatican lets so many people in at one time that you are just pushed along with the crowd and cannot appreciate anything.. The pre purchased timed tickets process is a joke, it doesn't limit the # of people inside at any. It is just a big money grab.

You are packed in there more that people were on the 11:26 out of Grand Central Saturday night.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Had badges from 1994-2014, then my source died, literally.
NO PHONES or cameras, knives, guns, TSA on steroids. Plain Jane chairs allowed, although they sell a nice one.

I would arrive an hour before gates open, souvenir shop early, take your purchases directly to the shipping desk and then have your arms free for the day to hold beer and pimento cheese sammies.
Walk the course early, find a place you like and place your chair and you can return later to it. You’ll see chairs in a front row that are empty for hours, although I often “borrowed” them.
6th green/7 tee. 8th green/9tee are convenient spots to catch 2 holes
2 green and 3 tee also come to mind
Grandstands at 15 for a bit.
Be prepared for cold, heat and or rain. Pack accordingly. If rain in the forecast, take a pair of shoes than can be tossed.
Binoculars

Act like you’re at the Vatican.
Have a great time!

Wow. That is going back in time I guess. Hoping my sister has chairs. Camp chairs work, right?

 

[cullaville]

Wow. That is going back in time I guess. Hoping my sister has chairs. Camp chairs work, right?

Enjoy.

Been trying to get some tickets for years.

 

[uconn1999]

Enjoy.

Been trying to get some tickets for years.

Chair Policy​

One chair/seat will be allowed per person. Chairs/seats with pointed ends, folding armchairs and rigid type chairs are prohibited. Any chair on the property when the gates are closed or 30 minutes after play will be considered an abandoned item.

https://www.masters.com/en_US/patron/index.html