I have been given the amazing gift from my mother of bringing me to the Masters for my 40th. Going on Monday and Tuesday for the practice rounds.
Hoping to get advice and feedback from those who have been. I have read two threads here which gives some good info, looking for more if possible to have the best possible experience.

We are leaving NC on saturday, probably staying in Charleston, then heading to Aiken, SC to stay for Sunday and Monday night (we have to leave after the Tuesday round to head back to NC).

Some tips I have seen so far....

1. food is cheap so take advantage
2. merchandise isn't over priced, but most people spend ALOT
3. Augusta is very hilly, and can be wet so pay attention to shoe choice (I have seen several arguments over wearing golf shoes?...??)
4. Traffic sucks so leave early. Seems like course opens at 8 but gates to merchandise/food etc opens at 7 and many say to try to get there then.

Several people have said to go and 'buy' chairs and put them somewhere, and walk the course for awhile. I have looked on Masters website but havent seen anything about this. I'm assuming you can rent the chairs for the day? Anyone know how much they are?

Any and all tips from those who have been would be greatly appreciated. I am stoked to go (praying for nice southern spring weather!)

Anyone else going? I'd love to meet up. I'll buy you a beer....(ldo they are only $1.50)

Thanks

PokerDad,

It's late but iirc either Riverman or Hey_Porter had a pretty solid trip report about going on a practice day. It's late and I'm lazy but I'll link it tomorrow if nobody else has as it's a very good read.

I go at least once every year...traffic is bad but not that bad for practice rounds...you will be fine. Yes the course is hilly and you will probably try to see everything so wear comfortable shoes...MANY people (not me) will have on golf shoes so wear em if you want.

Yes the food and beer are cheap and good....

Shirts are not cheap but not crazy either...you will see people spend several thousand in there.

I have never had a chair...we just walk around and drink beer. The chairs people are refering to they sell there...its a tradition that you can just set a chair anywhere and when you come back its yours and you just sit down...no one will mess with it...

Its a long day if you go as early as you are talking....I find 4-5 hours is about as long as I can stand, then we go to hooters and drink beers...

remember you can take a camera on practice rounds!

Pokerdad, I am suppose to be going for the first time myself. Don't know the day yet, but I love your questions. I was gonna post similar once I find out the day. Maybe we can get a beer, I'll let you know when I will be there. I am so hyped, waited my whole life for this.

Monday and Tuesday are great days to be there. Tuesday is the best imo, you can see pretty much everyone.

I don't really have a lot of additional advice to offer. Yeah, getting there early is a good idea. The traffic can be pretty bad. Once you're inside the grounds though the crowds are very reasonable. You can even be close to Tiger if you want.

I've never done it but I assume the 'leave a chair' advice means bring in one of those collapsing folding chairs that everyone seems to have. I never saw any need, if I felt like sitting I'd find a spot in the grandstands.

Definitely bring a camera, otherwise just make sure you read the list of what's allowed and what isn't.

Have a great time, wish I was going this year.

OP,

http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/show...fpart=all&vc=1

Worth the read.

EDIT:
It occurs to me that you may have already seen this thread but doubtful since it's in the archives.

Where is the best place to stay? Did you find a good room in Aiken, SC?

Wear tennis shoes. Wearing golf shoes to spectate is for goober wannabe's.

Spend as many hours there as possible, visit the practice area, eat and drink a ton, take an obscene amount of pictures, and enjoy the hell out of the day.

Am assuming you guys already have tickets.

BO

BTW according to a ticket broker friend of mine it's ridiculously easy to buy tickets for these rounds from people who are either entering or exiting. Usually for right around face value too.

I am interested in 2 tickets for any day. PM me please if you have tickets you aren't using or know where I can get a couple for a reasonable price.

me too...and yes it is very easy to ask people as they leave...I have never paid over face and many times got them for free....

Congrats - you're going to have a blast! I've gone every year since '95 & it still amazes me!

Good advice so far, although I don't know of any place to "rent" the chairs. I've never done the chair thing, and I probably wouldn't recommend it on your first time - you'll want to see the entire course & unless you've seen it all before you might not pick the best spot to put a chair. Everyone has their own favorites, but I'd recommend walking around the entire property - most people don't go back by #3 & 4, but those are great holes & there will be very few patrons there, so check 'em out. A great place to watch on Tuesday is #7 - they cut the flag front right & players spin the ball off the slope about 40-50 feet away down to the hole - it's not uncommon to see someone hole-out there. Of course, Amen Corner is awesome & you can get right up on the back of #14 tee to watch some shots up close. The new range is awesome, and you'll see some great players anytime of the day, so I'd plan to spend some time there also.

If you are wanting to get a ticket from someone leaving, realize that no one is leaving very early, so if you want to go in early, make sure you have your practice round ticket ahead of time.

If you're going to wear tennis shoes, I would make sure they have some traction on them - like trail running shoes - Augusta is much steeper than most people think, and the rye grass is pretty slick, especially if there's been any rain (which is almost every year). Slick bottom shoes could definitely go out from under you pretty easily.

Dawg24 made a good point about merchandise - they have so much stuff, but it's a good idea to hit the stands early, as they sell out (more later in the week, but if it's your first trip, I wouldn't risk it).

Sandwich & a beer for under $5, my fav is the pimento cheese (I eat so many of those each day!).

I'm not sure about practice rounds, but during the tournament there are very strict "no cell phone" policies - I was w/a good friend when he pulled his out while we were leaving during a weather delay - he was literally 10 feet from the exit & lost his privilege to return (he was a PGA Professional & they put his # on file). Either way, check on that before you go.

I'll be there everyday except Sunday (unless one of my players is in the hunt) - I prefer to watch the final day on tv as opposed to on the grounds. So maybe I'll see you & some of the other forum guys there!

Have a blast!

Just another typical MOTM story, and I love each and every one of them!

BO

I am stoked beyond belief as well. Post or pm when/if you know when you are going. Beer has apparently been raised to $2......pffft...what a ripoff!

My mother got the room. I think its the Hilton Garden Inn in Aiken. Jr. Suite I think came to ~$350 total for two nights. She booked and (had to) pre-pay in January iirc.

Thanks to everyone for links/replies. Keep em coming.

What are you talking about? Please explain

MOTM = Men of the Masters

Stories about them doing things their way and anybody who defies them will never return.

BO

Oh. Is that saying you don't believe it? Or that there's just a lot of people that f**ked up?

I think he's saying it gives him a raging hard-on. He isn't called "nitBO" for nothing.

C'mon man, you're a PGA pro, been to The Masters countless times, and you've never heard the stories about Augusta National running things with an iron fist?

I believe what you said 100%, that is typical for The Masters. Was not being snarky or sarcastic in any way. I was simply saying I love those stories about them doing things their way with no leeway. Such as Gary McCord getting axed from the telecast for his "bikini-waxed" comment. Such as CBS being given a 1-year contract each year. Such as no running no matter what.

BO

Admittedly, this comment is hilarious.

BO

Not to mention their television coverage allowance, I mean 4:00-7:30 on the weekdays, really? Give me a break, it's the most watched tournament of the year and they're too interested in monopolizing their own coverage online than give TV partners some extra time to show coverage. Frankly I'm shocked they even let CBS start airing at 2PM on sunday.

And that's exactly why CBS pays next to nothing to broadcast the tournament. Their terms are dictated to them, and they comply without question. And they profit tremendously by simply swallowing their tongue.

But also look at the changes in coverage over the last 20 years or so. When I started watching seriously, CBS had a 15 minute wrap up show on Thursday and Friday at 1030pm central. Coverage from 230-5pm on Saturday and 3-6pm on Sunday. That was it.

Now we have Wednesday par 3 coverage, several hours live on Thursday and Friday. And live coverage of the complete round (for the leaders anyway) on Saturday and Sunday. Plus replays at night.

Do you remember when nobody knew what the front nine looked like? There was no way to know unless you had been there in person.

BO

Gotcha - I wasn't sure how to take it. So many people who have never been don't realize how it works. I got nailed running (well, at my speed it was probably a jog)last year - a guy was supposed to leave a badge for my g.f. & gave me the wrong address - he & I were going to meet at #3 green @ 2:00 & I was late (she's waiting in the car & I've got a bunch of 1st timers w/me) - the security guy gave me hell & threatened to throw me out & I had clubhouse/range cred - he followed me for about 100 yards to make sure I didn't jog again.

Not to hijack the thread, but while we're on the subject of crazy MOTM (that was new for me) stories, I'll share one (100% true as well).

A player I've worked with off & on for a few years who plays Euro tour & Euro Challenge tour (their version of Nationwide), won the British Am (I don't want to post his name on an open forum, but it was the same time Tiger won one of his US Am's). He was looking for some sponsorship $$ and gets a couple badges for life. He listed his badges for sale in his hometown paper in England (around 40,000 people), within 2 days his wife gets a letter from Hootie (he was on the road) explaining that they are revoking his badges b/c of him trying to sell them. He wrote a very apologetic letter & was reprimanded, but they let him keep the badges. I have no idea how they found out so quickly (he was shocked!). I live 2 hours away, so we hear a lot of stories - I used to think they were all b.s., but after what I've seen, I completely believe it.

The first time I took my g.f. I was trying to impress her & took her into the outdoor seating in the clubhouse (right by the putting green & by the big Oak tree) I wasn't with my player (he was finished for the day & off property) we hadn't even ordered a drink when an employee politely whispered to me that some members had noticed she didn't have credentials & I wasn't with a player, and we could get up & follow him or he could "elevate" the situation. We walked, fast, with tails between legs!! I felt like a douche.

So true!! My first time there I was jacked to see the front 9!

Let's not forget the "limited commercials" by only Cadillac & Travelers the year of the Martha Burke "incident" - that was the best! 2 minutes of commercials every couple hours.