Every golfer has a dream list of golf courses they wish to visit or play on if a chance presents itself.
Some highly rated courses, such as Augusta National Golf Club and Pebble Beach, top the list of potential golf courses that attract most golfers.
Unfortunately, some of these top golf courses are not readily accessible to everyone. This is especially true for the home of the Masters event.
The main reason is that Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most beautiful and challenging courses to play on.
This prestigious golf course in Georgia is famous for hosting the Masters Tournament each year.
It is also exclusive and very particular in the way it conducts its activities.
So, if you have a dream of playing on this prestigious golf course, you need to have relevant information.
Most importantly, you need to understand Augusta National Golf Club membership requirements and fees.
But don’t worry, because we will cover all these details in this article. So, read on to learn more.
Augusta National Golf Club Membership Cost
Augusta National Golf Club is among the few courses where legendary golfers have played. So, expect to pay a decent amount.
But that does not mean that it is a figure that would pinch your pocket. In fact, Augusta National Golf Club membership costs are relatively affordable when compared to other exclusive clubs.
So, you may already be asking, How much does it cost to play at Augusta National Golf Club?
Well, the initial fee for joining Augusta National Golf Club is about $40,000. Besides this, there are a few yearly dues, which are estimated to cost a few thousand dollars per year.
But just as with any other product or service, these fees are subject to adjustments.
So, it is advisable to keep checking the club’s website for such changes or even contact the club directly to obtain up-to-date information about membership costs.
As you can see, the economic cost of the membership is not too high.
But the social prestige that comes with membership is certainly high.
The only challenge is that the process of becoming a member of the club is not very straightforward.
Not all who can afford the membership fee are invited to become members of this prestigious golf club.
What complicates things is that there is no application process.
So anyone who expresses interest in joining the club is not guaranteed that he or she will be accepted.
So, How Does One Become a Member?
As alluded to earlier, the club has limited members.
In fact, it has only 300 membership slots. And whenever there is a vacancy, existing members have the opportunity to recommend a suitable individual to become a member.
These guys are not necessarily golfers, as they come from different fields, including politics, business, and sports.
If you are curious about famous people that are part of the club, you should know that the list includes people like former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, and chief executive officers of top corporations like Bank of America, IBM, and MillerCoors, among others.
It also includes famous individuals from sporting circles such as Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and former college football coach Lou Holtz.
The club has also incorporated some decorated golf personalities. A good example is Annika Sorentam, a 72 LPGA Tour titles winner, who is now among the personalities that make up the prestigious list of members.
Interestingly, the club didn’t admit female members into the club.
Thankfully, Augusta National removed the restriction in 2012, with Darla Moore and Condoleezza Rice becoming the first two women to join the club.
Given the secretive nature of how the club handles its membership and the fact that membership is strictly by invitation, it would be wise to develop relationships with current members if you want to become one of them.
There is no membership waiting list or any form of conventional application process.
Meeting the Unofficial Requirements
Based on the information we have learned so far, the Augusta National Golf Club membership is treated like gold. It is so precious and secretive.
While this is the case, there are certain qualifications that all members should possess. They include the following:
- Avid golfers: as with most private clubs, Augusta National requires its members to have a passion for the game. In this case, members should be able to play at a competitive level. For this reason, the club is not ideal for beginners.
- Power and influence: As you may already know, the club only attracts respected members of society. Most of them are leaders in politics, business, and sports, among other sectors. In other words, you can only become a member of the Augusta National if you have reached the pinnacle of your profession.
- Low profile: Augusta National Golf Club membership comprises respected personalities. While most of these people are popular in their fields, they value privacy and discretion. So, if you love controversy or publicity, you will not make the cut.
- Wealth: Members of the Augusta National Golf Club should afford the expenses associated with being a member of an exclusive club. But this shouldn’t scare you, as the fees are not too high. Initial fees to join the club exceed $40,000. On top of this, members pay annual charges amounting to about $10,000 or slightly more.
- Gender: Historically, the Augusta National Golf Club was a male-only club. Thankfully, the club opened its doors to female members in 2012, with the first female members being Darla Moore and Condoleezza Rice. Expectedly, there must be fewer female members than men, which might indirectly influence the nature of new members.
- Time commitment: The club expects its members to visit Augusta National on a regular basis. This is especially the case when the Masters Tournament is running.
Note that meeting the above qualifications does not guarantee your membership at the club. In this case, you need to do more than meet the prerequisites.
Network with Existing Members
The most important component of getting a chance to join Augusta National is developing a rapport with current members. Here is how you can do it successfully:
- Demonstrate passion for golf when you meet members at other events and clubs. Just make sure to seek an opportunity to be paired together.
- Develop genuine friendships with current members if you share experiences, interests, or affiliations. The last thing you want to do is force connections.
- Showcase your sound character and discretion to existing members. Be somebody they will like to have as a peer in the club.
- Attend social events such as the Augusta Masters, where members will be there.
- Participate in or support specific causes that are dear to the club. It could be as simple as supporting growth in game initiatives. You can also become a corporate patron or sponsor Master Activities. This way, you will also have the opportunity to establish business relations with members.
- Be patient and allow the relationship to develop organically. This may take time. What we discourage is overly pushing the membership issue.
If you are a good match, a member will confidently recommend you when a vacancy arises.
But keep in mind that admission is still subject to a thorough approval process by the club’s selection committee.
Lucky applicants usually receive the coveted call around April after The Masters.
If you are one of them, just accept the offer immediately.
Also, try to act surprised and humbled, attend the initiation events, learn the club’s rules, and keep everything confidential until the club announces it publicly.
When Can Members Play at the Augusta National Golf Course?
Part of understanding Augusta National Golf Club membership is knowing its timetable. Usually, the club runs a busy season from October through May.
Of course, there is a short break of ten days during the Masters.
Another thing to note about Augusta National is that it allows guests into the club. But this is only applicable for guests who accompany registered members.
If a guest arrives without a registered member, he or she will wait until the member has arrived. Besides this, you should also be aware that the club expects invited guests to pay relevant green fees.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t disclose the amount to the public. But the good thing is that every Augusta National employee has a chance to play on the prestigious course once a year.
Likewise, every caddy who works at the club also gets a rare chance to play on the course once a year.
Additionally, every professional golfer can qualify for the Masters, which take place at the club every year.
And after the Augusta Masters, premier sports journalists get a phenomenal chance to play at this course.
There is no doubt that securing Augusta National Golf Club membership is one of the most prestigious achievements.
For this reason, playing at the club is one of the most challenging and daunting tasks. Most of the members will not want to miss the rare privilege of playing on this golf course.
Final Word
Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, thanks to its prestigious list of members.
The club operates very secretively, especially when it comes to recruiting members. In fact, it only accepts new members that existing members recommend.
Sadly, the Augusta National Golf Club only admits a limited number of members. To be precise, it only allows 300 members at any given time.
That is why you will find well-respected members of society on this list. These are top business leaders, sports personalities, senior politicians, and government officials.
Thankfully, professional golfers, top sports personalities, and the club’s employees have a chance to play here at least once a year.
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