Going to Augusta Tuesday...1st time...any advice?
- Thread starter maygray1
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Walk the whole course. From 1 to 18 then turn around and go from 18 to 1. Walking up that hill at 10 from green to tee is a damn hike. You really can't get close to amen corner. You can see it from a distance. Take plenty of film or extra batteries for your digital cam. They allow pics during practice rounds. Don't let long lines discourage you from the gift shop and concessions. That is the most efficiently run place in the world. All event organizers should go there to take notes. If the USA was run like The Masters , life would be great. Not bad prices either. Go to Rhinehart's and get a few on the half shell. Lot's of celebs and talent there. My advice is go to the course early then head to Rhinehart's about 3 to 4 ish and get an outside table near the door. Starts getting crowded around 5. That first glimpse of the course as you come thru behind the clubhouse is unreal, especially for a 1st timer. Pause and soak it in. Oh yeah, and if you wanna see some famous people, golfers and non up close, hang out between the clubhouse and driving range. It's beside Magnolia Lane, kinda in front of the clubhouse.
I am heading that way tomorrow for a couple days. been there before. Spend time on 16 watching the players try and skip it across the pond onto the green. By far the biggest "party"on the course. Sit in the grandstand across the fairway from the 13th green and watch the players go for it in two while munching on a pimento cheese sandwich. Stand right behind the 6th tee and "see what the players see" as they hit to what appears to be a very small target. 10 green has a great amphitheater for just relaxing in the shade.
Get your hat, tshirts, ball markers, etc early in the day when you get there. Be sure to buy yourself a 2008 commemorative ball marker and a box of 4 ball markers to give to friends. Do NOT take your cell phone and think you can sneak it in. Beer and food is cheap, not like a normal PGA event. Don't be that jackass that yells "Get in the hole". Have fun and get their early. Gates open at 8:15. Be parked by 7:45 and heading towards the gate. Don't be cheap - pay the 20-30$ and park close b/c you don't want to walk for miles outside of the course, b/c you will walk plenty inside it. Don't forget to pick up a pairing sheet for the day. Pick an interesting group and follow them for a few holes. make sure to right down your ticket number and keep it in your wallet. If your ticket gets lost while you are in the course, you will need to know that as well as who paid for them/address/phone number etc in order to get a new one printed. Trust me on that one.
Get your hat, tshirts, ball markers, etc early in the day when you get there. Be sure to buy yourself a 2008 commemorative ball marker and a box of 4 ball markers to give to friends. Do NOT take your cell phone and think you can sneak it in. Beer and food is cheap, not like a normal PGA event. Don't be that jackass that yells "Get in the hole". Have fun and get their early. Gates open at 8:15. Be parked by 7:45 and heading towards the gate. Don't be cheap - pay the 20-30$ and park close b/c you don't want to walk for miles outside of the course, b/c you will walk plenty inside it. Don't forget to pick up a pairing sheet for the day. Pick an interesting group and follow them for a few holes. make sure to right down your ticket number and keep it in your wallet. If your ticket gets lost while you are in the course, you will need to know that as well as who paid for them/address/phone number etc in order to get a new one printed. Trust me on that one.
...and get in line with an armless folding chair. I know that's early, but you'll form a bond with the other crazies that were as stupid as you to get up so early for anything not involving wild turkeys. Also, you'll learn some useful stuff from those around you. When they open the gates, rush in like you're 15 years old and head with the crowd straight to #16 green. Put your chair as close to the green on the high side (water and tee box straight ahead of you or to your left). Once your heart rate is back under 150 from the extreme walk (walk... don't run... they're not kidding) from the gate, leave your spot in full confidence that nobody will bother your stuff to buy your first $1.50 beer of the day. Cruise around the course the entire morning doing your best to fill a 1 gig memory card on your camera. After all, it'll be 4 hours minimum until the first group comes thru 16. Have one $1.25 chicken sandwich around 10am with your 5th $1.50 beer. Sit at Amen Corner for 30 or 45 minutes... at least long enough to realize you can't really see anything there and be on your way. Meander thru one of the gift shops and drop $400 on two Masters polos, a windbreaker, a couple of caps and a tournament print (explain to the wife when you get home that you had to spend that much because they don't sell that **** anywhere else). Spend an hour or so behind #6 green watching them hit run-of-the-mill shots that are better than your best shot from every summer since you were 12. Also, don't miss a chance to sit at the practice range for a few moments to watch guys hit bomb after bomb.... slight fade, gentle draw... anything they want. About 1 o'clock head back to #16. Along the way buy another chicken sandwich and beer while being thankful they don't want to make money on food like they do in the gift shops. Finally, decide to sit in your chair that you wagged out of the hotel room 8 hours ago for the rest of the day... not budging other than to go drain the weasel, reload your cup and buy another chicken sandwich.
Oh... and don't be afraid to be THAT guy. Take binoculars. And I mean the biggest, baddest pair you can find/afford. I wouldn't hesitate to leave them with your stuff at 16, but I'd carry them all over the course. But once back at 16 you'll be the hit of everybody sitting near you because you'll be able to say things like: No, that's Goosen on the left. ....and... It looks like that cocksmoker Sabbatini just re-clubbed. ..and... Tiger just punched that guy in the yellow shirt that whispered in his backswing.
Also.. the Masters is a sword fight. I guess not many hot chicks with unlimited funds find golf tournaments interesting. And not only that but the level of douche-baggery is absolutley off the charts. It's kind of like going into a fraternity house in college that's not yours. Overall everybody is really nice, but every time you turn around there's some guy you wish you could club like a baby seal.
Have fun and enjoy. It's a helluva place.
Oh... and don't be afraid to be THAT guy. Take binoculars. And I mean the biggest, baddest pair you can find/afford. I wouldn't hesitate to leave them with your stuff at 16, but I'd carry them all over the course. But once back at 16 you'll be the hit of everybody sitting near you because you'll be able to say things like: No, that's Goosen on the left. ....and... It looks like that cocksmoker Sabbatini just re-clubbed. ..and... Tiger just punched that guy in the yellow shirt that whispered in his backswing.
Also.. the Masters is a sword fight. I guess not many hot chicks with unlimited funds find golf tournaments interesting. And not only that but the level of douche-baggery is absolutley off the charts. It's kind of like going into a fraternity house in college that's not yours. Overall everybody is really nice, but every time you turn around there's some guy you wish you could club like a baby seal.
Have fun and enjoy. It's a helluva place.
It's a practice round, so take your cell phone and call all your friends from Amen Corner and make them jealous. Feel free to snap pictures in the backswings of players, and yell "YOU DA MAN" whenever anyone tees off from #16. Also, walk out onto the middle of one of the par-3 greens for a picture by the flag.
/extreme sarcasm- don't do that. The other advice in the string is all very good.
/extreme sarcasm- don't do that. The other advice in the string is all very good.
cup. It's worth it. I mean $1.50 for regular beer or $2.00 for a Masters stadium cup. Can't buy them off the course, only there(then again, you can't buy anything with Master's logo's on it but there). I walked out with about 12 cups that are my mainstay for serving friends on weekends.
Also, there's a bathroom hidden next to the club house behind some bushes across from the 2nd driving range. You would never know it's there, but it's one of the original bathrooms since the damn place was built. You can't go into any part of clubhouse without credentials, but this is about as close without getting tossed.
Also, if you sweet talk the security guard next to the Butler Cabin, he or she may let you go sit on the porch and take pictures. Not easy though, but ask politely.
Also, don't ask Tiger what he's gonna serve for dinner the next year if he wins!
Also, there's a bathroom hidden next to the club house behind some bushes across from the 2nd driving range. You would never know it's there, but it's one of the original bathrooms since the damn place was built. You can't go into any part of clubhouse without credentials, but this is about as close without getting tossed.
Also, if you sweet talk the security guard next to the Butler Cabin, he or she may let you go sit on the porch and take pictures. Not easy though, but ask politely.
Also, don't ask Tiger what he's gonna serve for dinner the next year if he wins!
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