Attending the Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta
It's One of the Greatest Sports Events and One of the Most Expensive
Sep 3, 2009
The annual Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia is the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby and the World Series of professional golf. The world-class competition, tradition and the course itself make a ticket for the April tournament one of the most prized possessions in sports. Travel and housing add to the expensive package.
The tournament's final round is always scheduled on the second Sunday in April, a particularly beautiful time at the Augusta National Golf Club since the azaelas are usually in full bloom in northeast Georgia. In its 2009-10 ratings, Golf Digest Magazine ranked Augusta as America's greatest course.
Since 1949, the world's best golfers have competed for the Masters Green Jacket, perhaps the most prized piece of clothing in sports. The tournament has been won by Jack Nicklaus (six wins); Tiger Woods (four); Jimmy Demarest, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Gary Player and Nick Faldo (three each); and by Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, Jose Maria Olazabal, Ben Crenshaw, Bernhard Langer and Seve Ballesteros (two each).
Palmer & Nicklaus Honorary Starters
Palmer and Nicklaus will serve as the tournament’s honorary starters at the 2010 Masters, another milestone attraction for golf fans.
Although American players have dominated the tournament with 55 wins, players from nine other countries have won, including South Africa and Argentina in the last two years. Spain and South Africa have each won four times; England three times; and Germany twice. Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Canada and Argentina have each won once. They have made the Masters an international attraction.
The Masters is also a highly competitve and exciting event. Fourteen tournaments, including the last four, ended in ties and required playoffs. Five of the playoffs involved three players. Another 22 of the 73 tournaments were won by one stroke.
Partridge Inn Package Tops $8,600
It's not surprising then that individual tickets for the four-day tournament (Thursday through Sunday) run in the $700-to-$800 per day range, depending upon the day and seller. Four-day packages total about $3100, when you can find one of the limited number up for sale. Add four nights at the 4-star Partridge Inn and the bill tops $8,600.
All tickets are sold in advance and the Masters has no ticket window at the tournament. Tickets are sold by Ticketmaster and by auctions, resellers or brokers such as EBay, StubHub and Premiere Sports Travel. Many are bought as corporate incentives or gifts.
Even tickets for the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday practice rounds can run $200-to-$400 per day, again depending upon the day and the ticket source. Many fans want to watch the players practice to see if they can help their own game or just to see the touring pros up close.
Random Drawing for Practice Round Tickets
Augusta National sells the practice round tickets through a random applicant drawing. The deadline for applying is the previous July. Successful applicants are notified in September.
Another Masters lure is the possibility of seeing some of Augusta National’s notable members, such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Jack Welch, T. Boone Pickens Jr. and other celebrated members.
Numerous hospitality events and services are also available at the Masters, including catered breakfasts and lunches, complimentary beverages, on-site concierge, cocktails and appetizers and even secured coat and bag checks. Travel agencies also arrange hotels and private home rentals for the full tournament, as well as travel and tee times.
After the dramatic finish in 2009, which included the historic Woods-Mickelson head-to-head battle, tickets and lodging for the 2010 Masters should move briskly, especially if the recession subsides a bit.
Reference: StubHub.com
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