Augusta National Golf Club is one of the world’s most prestigious and exclusive golf clubs and the only one to host The Masters each year at the same venue.
Every golfer dreams of playing on this legendary course, but the odds of landing a spot are almost negligible.
This diversity of golfers helps not only the PGA Tour but also amateurs.
Playing at Augusta National Golf Club isn’t impossible; however, it’s more challenging. Use these tips to play at Augusta National Golf Club:
Qualify for the Masters
Take this opportunity; it might be the only one you get.
Either way, you don’t need to become a pro golfer. The Augusta National Golf Club committee usually sends invitations to the British Amateur Champion and several other amateur players.
US Amateur Championship winners and the runner-up, Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion, Latin America Amateur Champion, and US Mid-Amateur Champion also receive invitations.
Become a Member
Only invited individuals can become members of the Augusta National Club. Business leaders are usually the most represented.
Remember that the Augusta National Golf Club no longer accepts applications.
Join Augusta Country Club
If you are a member of Augusta Country Club, you can still play golf at Augusta National Golf Club.
This course is just Augusta National and could present an overlooked possibility.
Sometimes, Augusta National members needing incomplete squads for fourball call Augusta Country Club to invite one of their members for the game.
Play at Augusta Country Club Instead
It might not be Augusta National, but you can say you’ve played golf there.
Avoid going into details about your experience to keep the audience intrigued.
However, you can highlight that you crossed Rae’s Creek, which separates the 12th green at Augusta National from the 8th green at Augusta Country Club.
Get a Press Pass
In most cases, the media representatives can play a round of golf at the Masters only a day after the event.
Of course, that depends on entry into a ballot for available tee times. However, opportunities to play golf at Augusta National Golf Club are rare.
Be Part of Augusta University’s Golf Team
How to play at Augusta National Golf Club, can never run short of possibilities.
In this option, you can consider playing for the golf team at Augusta University, the Jaguars.
Though the team primarily plays at Forest Hills, they sometimes get invitations to play at Augusta National.
Other Georgia golfing teams reportedly have similar opportunities.
The question here now is whether the time spent developing your talent and enrolling at the university is worth a shot at Augusta National.
Get a Job at the Club
Do you think of looking for a job at Augusta National Golf Club so you can play there? Cool, it’s one way to play golf on the same course.
Augusta National Golf Club employees have some rounds to play before the club closes for the summer months (May to October).
Caddie at the Club
Being a caddie at Augusta National Golf Club is an exceptional experience.
At the end of the season, you will play the course just like the players you’ve assisted all season.
Take advantage of this insider knowledge as a caddie at Augusta National Golf Club and get to experience the amazing feeling of this course.
Team Up With a Main Sponsor
Augusta National’s business partners, such as AT&T, Delta, IBM, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and UPS, have access to play on the Monday after the Masters.
Though the club details are kept secret, this remains a mysterious but promising chance.
Qualify for the Tournament
Qualifying for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club is challenging.
Specifically, entry is after participating in a PGA Tour event, ranking in the top 50 world rankings, or winning a top amateur tournament.
It might seem hectic to be at Augusta National Golf Club, but if you find yourself there, grab the driver and actualize your dream.
Female amateurs have the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) as an option. This event is more selective than the Masters.
Surprisingly, only 30 players make it to the final round. The privilege is that all competitors can play a practice round at Augusta on the Friday of the match.
Befriend a Member
The most popular way to play golf at Augusta National is to receive an invitation from a club member.
Although the membership list is not open to the general public, Augusta National has approximately 300 members who can bring guests on certain occasions.
Members should stay on the property with their guests but only walk with them during the golfing session.
Know a Masters Competitor
Another way to play at Augusta National Golf Club is to participate in a master competition.
The invitees can play the course and bring their visitors with them.
Little-Known Interesting Facts About Augusta National Golf Club
We are well-acquainted with Augusta, but the course’s intricate subtleties, traditions, and stories are accessible only to those who play it.
During the Clay Long and Bill Price interviews, they shared some facts about Augusta National that few have heard about.
Did you know that the clubhouse dining experience at Augusta National Golf Club is incredible? Actually, you can request any meal, even without a menu.
Both Long and Price testify to the exceptional quality and variety of the food.
Another exciting feature is Augusta’s secret shoe shine service, which magically shines shoes when guests leave their rooms.
Despite the extremely high quality of service, you never see the staff.
As you drive towards Washington Road to the course, no visible markers indicate the Augusta National Golf Club is nearby.
That is strange, right? Well, there is a subtle beginning that is likely to impact you once you turn onto Magnolia Lane.
It’s worth mentioning again that the par-3 course at Augusta National Golf Club is incredibly challenging. It has the fast and small greens, requiring very accurate shots.
Although often known as a stuffy and formal place, Augusta National is great for relaxing and being friendly.
The environment is a real golf course, and customers feel like part of the club. For, amateur golfers in the Masters sleep in the Crow’s Nest, a shared dormitory at the clubhouse that is not fancy.
In addition to detailed maintenance of Augusta National Golf Club, each divot on the tee boxes needs removal and replacement.
This guarantees flawless turf, which contributes to pristine conditions.
Notably, during the practice round at Augusta National Golf Club, the course undergoes a dramatic transformation from soft and forgiving to much firmer and more challenging.
Traditionally, the Masters at Augusta happen with a white tee.
Bill Price remembers a frightening moment when he had to change from his redshirt because the club chairman was around.
Let’s not forget to state that Augusta’s beauty is greater than that of high-definition television.
You will see the actual course in person and realize full grandeur, much like the first time visiting the Grand Canyon.
Overall, Augusta National Golf Club has special golfing elements.
They include the area’s grandeur, the trees, the grounds, the people, the affordable food, the patrons, and the natural surroundings.
Additionally, the flora around the trees, whether the bark or the flowers, catches your attention immediately.
Even when watching it on television, it’s intriguing, and the difference is staggering. Golfers say that experience at the Augusta National up close is unmatched.
How Much Does One Pay To Become A Member Of Augusta National?
It’s important to note that the Augusta National fees are not very high for a club of this caliber.
The initiation fee ranges between $40,000 and $200,000, although the exact figure is still unknown.
The yearly dues are set at “a few thousand” dollars annually, but these are within the range of $7,000 to $10,000.
Is It Possible To Play At The Augusta National Golf Club?
Augusta National Golf Club remains a private club whereby access is only to the members and their invited guests.
The public may only access the course during the master’s tournament and only under the condition of possessing a ticket or a badge. You can still use the tips discussed above.
Does It Mean That Masters Winners Can Play Augusta Any Time They Wish?
Not only do you get a lifetime waiver into the tournament, but you also get to be one of the members of this club.
You are not an ‘official member,’ but should you win The Masters, you have a lifetime invitation to Augusta National.
Wrap Up
A lot of golf enthusiasts look forward to being able to play at Augusta National Golf Club, one of the finest golf courses in the world.
Getting to the Masters can earn you the opportunity to play.
This can be achieved through a PGA Tour victory, being in the world rankings that fall within the top fifty, or emerging victorious in an important amateur golf tournament.
Women golfers can participate in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which is an opportunity to play at Augusta National Golf Club.
Another possibility is to become a member of the club, but the club admits only new members. In this scenario, they are mostly chosen from successful businessmen.
Also, if you are a member of Augusta Country Club, which is right beside Augusta National Golf Club, you might be able to get an invite to take the place of any of its members.
Also Read:
