Eight ways you can play golf at the Augusta National course that hosts Masters without being a pro
THE MASTERS is deemed by the many to be the pinnacle of golf.
And part of what makes it so special is the fact that it is staged at Augusta National every April.
Plenty of the greatest players in history have struggled their way around the iconic golf course in Georgia.
Every golfer would love the chance to see how they fare around the 18 gruelling holes at Augusta.
And that dream could be a reality thanks to these eight ways…
1. Become a member
Augusta National only has a total of 300 members.
But if you think there may be a chance of joining, we’ve got bad news for you.
It’s virtually impossible.
The general rule of thumb is that if you have to ask about becoming a member then you’re probably not welcome.
In other words, it’s strictly by invitation only and those invites only tend to go out when a membership lapses – ie when someone dies.
Do you have to be minted to join?
Not necessarily, although when you consider that some of the current members include billionaires like Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the investor Warren Buffett, it clearly helps.
And you don’t have to be that good at golf either.
According to one caddie, the average handicap is around the 15 mark.
Previously women were not permitted to become members but they bowed to public pressure in 2012 and accepted their first two female members at Augusta, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the billionaire investor Darla Moore.
2. Be invited by a member
This is your best chance, as long as you know one of the members and they sign you in as a guest.
But the Augusta National’s membership policy is a closely guarded secret – so finding a member who will invite you is not as easy as it sounds.
The good news is that any guest expense gets billed to the member.
And the member does not have to play with their guest – but does have to be on site.
3. Work as a volunteer
Though it’s never been confirmed by Augusta, it’s believed that if you volunteer to work at the Masters in April you’re entitled to come back a month later and play a round at Augusta.
That’s play a round, not play around.
That’ll just get you thrown out. So don’t do that.
4. Win the media lottery
Getting media accreditation for the Masters is hard enough itself, but not impossible.
Then on arrival at Augusta, all media are invited to enter the media ballot.
If you come out of the hat, you’ll be one of about 20 media members allowed to play Augusta National on the Monday following the Masters.
5. Play college golf nearby
Aside from being able to boast that you’re a high-level college golfer, one of the perks of going to nearby Augusta University is that once a year the golf team will be invited to play.
But the chances of getting into the university and then making the golf team are nigh on impossible, understandably.
6. Write a book
They say everyone has a book in them, and if you get a game at Augusta out of it too, then even better.
If you can convince the Augusta National to officially sanction your opus, you may be able to play the course… for research purposes, of course.
Author David Owen, who wrote The Making of The Masters, revealed he was once playing Augusta when one of his group desperately needed to finish, so they skipped the famous Amen Corner holes.
He said: “By that point I’d played there so often that I didn’t think anything of it.”
7. Become a caddie
If you fancy hanging out in white overalls and carrying a golf bag for four or five hours, this could be the job for you.
And you get to play the course once a year.
What’s not to love?
Pros often draft in friends and family for the Par 3 contest ahead of the main event with the likes of Niall Horan and Paulina Gretzky having a go for Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.
8. Get another job at Augusta National
Augusta National advertize online for green keepers, admin staff and other jobs.
If you get through the selection process, you’ll be eligible to play the course once a year.
But don’t turn up in the summer and expect to play.
The course closes in late May, after the Masters, and doesn’t open again until October.