OT-First Time Masters Advise

[Rob Marshall]

I was lucky enough to get two Masters tickets for Sat and Sunday this year. I plan on going both days and my son and son in law are going to go to one of the days each. None of us have been there before. I want to obviously walk the whole course and see all the holes over the two days. I'm looking for advice from people who have attended before.


Thinks like:


Best place to set up chairs  to be able to see multiple holes


Best way to walk the course. (start on 1 or walk backwards from 18)


Places on the course to avoid


Best place to park


Things that shouldn't be missed


Any helpful information would be greatly appreciated. We are staying about and hour away in the Columbia area.


Thanks!

[Wayne_Kozun]

I like to stand by the 4th tee/3rd green.  The third green is always very interesting.
The grandstands behind the 12th tee.  From there you can see the 11th green, 12th hole and the 13th tee shot.
If you can get a spot in the grandstands to the right of the 15th green that are closest to the 16th hole then you will be able to see both holes.

[John Handley]

walk the entire course, buy more merch than you think you need, drink cheap beers, have a pimento cheese sandwich, and wear sunscreen.


The Masters is amazing and the experience is better than you can imagine.  This will be my 7th and I will be there on Saturday

[John Kavanaugh]

Don’t buy any Masters shirts or hats. No one cares. Not to mention, it simply is not proper attire for a serious student of the game.

[Mark Mammel]

Rob- The Masters is one of the few experiences I have had that exceeded my expectations! A note regarding chairs: you'll see empty chairs around lots of greens and in other viewing areas. Unspoken etiquette says it's fine to sit in an unoccupied chair, being ready to vacate when the owner appears with a cheerful "keeping it warm for you" or something. I disagree with John- buy things for yourself and your friends! Packs of 6 ball markers with the logo are always appreciated. Have a wonderful time.

[Ben Sims]

As much as I like solicited consensus (ha!), don't do what anyone else says. Just go and be. The entire event is the real deal.

[Jim_Coleman]

   Walk the course. Each hole is like meeting a famous person.

[cary lichtenstein]

I was advised to walk the course backwards, from green to tee, helps you understand the terrain better.


I liked the first 6 holes because years ago, they were never on tv.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Best place to set up chairs  to be able to see multiple holes


Best way to walk the course. (start on 1 or walk backwards from 18)


Places on the course to avoid


Best place to park


Things that shouldn't be missed


Any helpful information would be greatly appreciated. We are staying about and hour away in the Columbia area.


Thanks!

I bought chairs at the end of the first day and never brought them in on other days.  I am glad I bought them because they are a pretty affordable keepsake I had set up in my golf room.  Wayne gave you the grandstands that I spent like 75% of my time in.  I'm also not ashamed to say I stayed in the grandstands after the last groups went through and picked up used cups people left behind.  The only time I haven't been bothered by people leaving their trash instead of putting it in the trash cans.  I sent cups to friends and family with the merchandise I bought and they genuinely seemed to appreciate the cups more than the shirts/hats.

I got there early one day and walked the course backwards.  Most of the course was empty which was nice.

There really isn't a place to avoid.

You won't really have a choice on where to park.  I will say if you get there after like 10 or 11 you'll have to pay to park in someone's yard as they close off the free parking lots and even though lots of people will be leaving they staff the entrances and don't let people into the free parking once it's full in the morning.

The merchandise can change throughout the day.  Similarly different days will have different things.  If you see something you like buy it as it might run out.  I brought a suitcase and golf bag with clubs.  The suitcase was almost empty to allow me to bring home the merchandise I bought and the golf bag let me pack in the folding chairs.  If you'd prefer they do have shipping service where they will pack your stuff.  If you aren't wanting something limited like a gnome don't wait in the merchandise line in the morning.  If you do want to buy something in the morning they have a merchandise check system so you don't have to walk around with your items all day.  The merchandise check system can fill up.

Not sure if you have grandkids (or the age of your son) but juniors age 8-16 can get a free junior pass when accompanied by a ticketed patron (the ticket needs to be in the name of the person requesting the junior pass so not possible with resale tickets or borrowed badges - technically).  There aren't a ton of kids in attendance so the kids who were present did pretty well with autographs and keep sakes (balls and tees) at the practice facility.

[John Kavanaugh]

Repurposing discarded used cups is the greatest Masters advice ever!!!

[Jon Sweet]

Hill on 6, you can see 16 green and 17 tee too.  Sure someone already said this.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Repurposing discarded used cups is the greatest Masters advice ever!!!

Some of my favorite cups and even have one with me now on my all expenses paid trip to the middle east.

[Tim Martin]

Rob-They have all manner of drinking glasses for sale in the merchandise tent in the form of coffee mugs, Tervis Tumblers, beer glasses, wine glasses, tumblers etc. and no one drank out of them yet which for me is an upside. Make sure you get a Georgia Peach ice cream sandwich.

[Peter Sayegh]

Be the first at the gate on Saturday. Walk the back nine in reverse.
Buy three times more merchandise than you plan. You're gonna brag to everyone you know you were there anyway so get them something tangible to share the experience.
Two buddies still won't wear the socks or use the ball markers I bought them...priceless.

[jeffwarne]

As much as I like solicited consensus (ha!), don't do what anyone else says. Just go and be. The entire event is the real deal.

50 plus Masters worth of experience says otherwise-very often escorting first timers,
The Masters has gotten increasingly more complicated to spectate over the years-from parking, a long hike in if you arrive past 9 AM(best to have an uber or taxi drop you unless very early) and ever increasing length of holes creating spectator logjams.
It's still top notch and still The Masters(though I would argue The Open is a significantly better spectator experience).
You can still have a great experience but...
I would most definitely have a plan
For example, being a student of the game/swing as you are, hole #11 tee is the one place you are  guaranteed to get a great closeup view of driver swings.
Plan where to stop and grab a snack-know where the spectator favorite players are and don't hit a concession stand near their gallery.
No phones-leave them in the car-don't check them at the stand. Use the provided free phones if you must be in touch.
Not sure I buy the walking the course backwards thing-especially if this is the only time you'll see it.
As a player, you want to see the challenge from where they will see it.
IM me for more info.

[Ian Cox]

Congratulations on the tickets, and what a great opportunity for you to create fantastic memories with your son and son in law.


If you are an early riser be the first at the gate, check what times the gate opens on Saturday, I can’t remember whether it’s related to the size of the field/and or first tee time.


Walk the course in the direction of play, with/ ahead of the first group, you’ll get to see the early holes with fewer spectators and therefore see the hole as you may experience it as a player, all tournaments allow you to watch tour player swings/shots only one allows you to view ANGC.


Enjoy The Masters.

[Wade Whitehead]

Rob:

Sent you a message with a few ideas.

Enjoy!

WW

[John Kavanaugh]

Don’t forget to prepare your body like you were going to hike a mountain. It will be the most physically demanding golf experience of your life.

[Paul Jones]

I like the spot behind 7 green. You can see approach shots to 7, tee shots on 8 and 3, plus approach shots to 2 and finally turn around and see 17th. 


Walk around the clubhouse and get your picture taken in front of the clubhouse.


Stands on 15/16 are pretty neat also.  Best place to see tee shots are behind 2 tee box and behind 8 tee box.

[Rob Marshall]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond. Greatly appreciated.

[Michael Morandi]

Don’t miss the tee box on 18. You will be amazed at how narrow the chute is. You will also be surprised at how uphill the hole is. TV doesn’t do it justice.

[Ian Andrew]

You can actually follow a lower profile player and see every single shot.
People are so kind, they see you, pull you through the crowd and over to the ropes to watch the shot.
Lots of handshakes and introductions. Cool experience.


Enjoy.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Have only been once in 2004 and I was a client/guest of a vendor.


Arrived on the grounds Saturday am around 9 or 10 when the first groups were teeing off #1.
My host guided us to the back 9 first where we walked barefoot down some fairways as there were no players and almost zero patrons in sight.


It was an geat way to see the famous holes without the crowds and was one of my favorite moments of the day.

[Tim Martin]

Have only been once in 2004 and I was a client/guest of a vendor.


Arrived on the grounds Saturday am around 9 or 10 when the first groups were teeing off #1.
My host guided us to the back 9 first where we walked barefoot down some fairways as there were no players and almost zero patrons in sight.


It was an geat way to see the famous holes without the crowds and was one of my favorite moments of the day.

Why barefoot?

[Michael Whitaker]

The reason for walking the course backwards is that you will see most of the players in the field hit a shot or two.


I think the Masters is the best sporting event to attend, bar none. They truly appreciate their “Patrons.”

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