OT: masters ticket monday

Same. I got 4 tickets to Tuesday practice round. 

Don't take any dining advice from Fuzzy Zoeller.

Get in really good shape if you aren't already. 

Practice round days are great because you can actually bring a camera out there (phones are still banned). Cameras aren't allowed on tournament days, the only picture you can get on tourney days is a specific spot where they'll take one for you and there's a line for it. 

Why don't you just meet me at the 9th green at 9, a little secret of the pros. Oh and, wear something nice.

-Shooter McGavin

I get free tickets to all rounds each year because I once designed the mgoblog top banner. True story.

10 years in and nothing so far. I live in hope

Bring comfortable shoes (you’re gonna walk a ton). No cell phones whatsoever but an advantage of practice rounds is you can bring in a digital camera (remember those?). Food is good and very cheap but they’ll recoup that  money in the souvenir shop. I usually avoid the souvenir shop early on because there’s a huge rush. Maybe go around lunch and you can take your purchases out to your car and still get re-admitted one time. Any other questions let me know…l live in Augusta and am happy to help 

that's a tradition unlike any other

I was oh-for-ten, or so, when I added a second email into the lottery. Now I'm banned. 

Don't leave get a tent and say you are camping. Wear only one shoe. You may get to caddie.

Oh man, I missed the application this year.

Went to a Monday practice round in 2019 (pretty historic one!). Arrived to see Tiger coming up the 18th. We walked the course in reverse order. Agree with hitting the merchandise prior to leaving. As everyone says, you don't appreciate the slope until you are there. Be prepared for a hike.

Congratulations OP, that’s great.  I’ve been to practice rounds twice but looks like I’m now about 0 for the 15 years.

Tuesday is great, pretty much everyone will be out there working - not always the case on Wednesday.  You will get up close to a lot of players.  It is hillier than it looks on TV but the conditions are nothing short of spectacular.  I personally enjoyed walking the course and seeing lots of groups, but nothing wrong with camping out by a hole for an hour or following the same guys for a few holes.

Food and drink really is cheap and tasty, so try stuff that sounds good.  Merch is an incredible operation, stop and shop even if you’re not planning to buy much. But you will.

most importantly, don’t sweat missing out on something.  You will.  Shit happens.  As long as you don’t let it bother you, you will enjoy the entire time you are there.

unless you do something stupid and piss off the Pinkertons.  Don’t do that.

My hot take is that unless it’s Sunday when the championship is at stake, practice rounds are better than regular rounds to attend in person. It’s hard to figure out who’s winning with no phones, etc. anyway, and with the practice round, you’re not worried about it at all (and can then follow the excellent TV coverage on the weekend). You just enjoy the beautiful grounds, concessions and souvenirs. Plus, the players are a lot looser and will even banter with you a little. I went to a practice round in the 2021 reduced capacity Covid year, was walking down 15, and Bernhard Langer just casually walked by and asked me how many people they let in.

As far as restaurants go, I recommend driving the half hour to Aiken, South Carolina. Great little walkable downtown with a bunch of good restaurant and bar options. Prime Steakhouse, Malia’s, the Whitney, and Whiskey Alley are a few good ones.

If you’re bringing your wife along, tell her there’s actually an Anthropologie outlet nearby. My wife always wants to go just to hit up that place.

I just created an account to get on the lottery list for next year. I've heard some stories of people getting selected their first year but definitely not counting on it! With my luck I will be one of the ten years and counting people!

Congrats!  Just got my dear john email for for the 10th year in a row.  Was lucky enough to know guys who invited me when they won Wednesday practice round tickets in 2013 and 2018.  Incredible experience, lots of walking, tv does not do the course justice.

People have mentioned going to the souvenir shop mid-day / late-day.  I have gone first thing both times.  Items do sell out during the day, plus there is a UPS stand right outside so you can ship it all home and not have to carry it around all day.  Players are not normally on the course when the gates open, but play it by ear.

Food, beer, soda are all pretty cheap compared to other sporting events.  FYI, one of the best souvenirs I brought back from both times were the green and clear cups they serve beer in (says Masters w/ logo and year).  Still first cups to be grabbed in our cabinet.

Get your reservations now as most hotels are already booked.  First year we did a hotel 1 hour outside of Augusta.  2nd time we got a AirBnb ten minutes from the course.  Would highly recommend being close to the course as possible!  Allows you get the full experience.

If you're going with someone else, agree on a time and place to meet if you get separated since you will not have a way to communicate with them. Practice putting green is a good meeting spot because at least you can watch guys putt if/when you're waiting on your partner to show up.

First time, just walk the course 1 to 18. Stop and chill when there's a group you want to watch, but I wouldn't try to follow specific players/groups. The only way you know who is out on the course is a few signposts that show the practice groups/tee times.

Best spots to sit and watch are the bleachers behind 12th tee (amen corner). You get to see the approach/putts to 11, all of 12, and the tee shot at 13 (kinda, it's tucked away but you'll be able to follow the ball). There's a food stall right behind the bleachers - only downside is the bleachers there are not shaded.

The grassy hill beside the pond on 16 is also fun but will get crowded on a nice dry day (you can only enter from the top of the hill). You can sit there and watch all the players skip their ball across the pond.

I go to a practice round every year and it's always amazing. Enjoy.

Augusta is fantastic - really a once in a lifetime (or more for those who are fortunate) experience - for golfer.

It's up to you regarding how you want to visit / see the course.   The undulation changes are very noticeable - so, wear  shoes you can easily walk around in.   One approach might be to arrive VERY early - as soon as the gates open - then, walk the course backwards, from 18 green to 1 tee - this will give you a feel for what the course is about.   Then - when you reach the first tee - follow a practice group around the entire course.   One option would be - you walk the back nine "backward" - then - depending on how you feel - pick up a group at the first tee - and walk the course with them.

It will be crowded which is why I suggest arriving early.   The food is very reasonably priced - so, take advantage of some of the traditional items.

Depending on how you approach it - you could walk 15 miles or more.

And, of course - check the weather.  The temperatures are usually comfortable - but, rain can be a factor - and, if there's rain - the temps may fall.   I've been there when the air temperature has fallen into the 50's.   That isn't necessarily cold - but, if you don't have a windbreaker / light jacket - it can be noticeably cool.

Have a great time.