It is some of the unique golf golf equipment on the planet, however what’s it wish to play?
Just a few individuals get to play Augusta Nationwide as a member of the general public (Picture: Getty)
Is it essentially the most iconic golf course on the planet? There’s solely actually the Previous Course or Pebble Seaside which are talked about in the identical breath. However one issues for certain, in comparison with the others, there’s nowhere that has as a lot mystique as Augusta Nationwide.
For starters, solely round 300 memberships are in circulation at one given time. There’s an argument to be made that successful the Masters is without doubt one of the best methods to get a membership (properly, an honorary membership) at Augusta Nationwide.
It isn’t the form of place the place having a hefty financial institution steadiness ensures you entry. Simply ask Donald Trump, who is claimed to have been pining for an Augusta Nationwide membership for many years.
As such, it’s fairly tough for normal folks to get a style of what Augusta Nationwide has to supply. However not inconceivable…
There are some avenues for members of the general public to take pleasure in a spherical of golf on the dwelling of the Masters. Understanding a former Masters champion would assist, however even attending an area school might earn you the privilege of traversing the well-known fairways (or let’s face it, poking round within the pine-covered woods).
One of many different methods is by masking the Masters within the media, because the event affords an unique alternative to twenty-eight journalists to play Augusta by way of a raffle yearly. That’s precisely how golf reporter Michael McEwan managed an 18-hole spherical in 2023, with the journalist detailing his account in an article for Bunkered.
Unsurprisingly, there have been a number of issues that shocked him in regards to the expertise. Considered one of them was earlier than he even acquired to the primary tee, with McEwan stunned with how lengthy Magnolia Lane was in particular person. He defined: “The drive up Magnolia Lane has been filmed and shared on social media numerous instances.
Augusta Nationwide solely has round 300 steady members at one time (Picture: Getty)
“Everyone knows what it appears to be like like by now. Even so, it’s surreal. A few issues: one, it’s loads longer it appears to be like; two, it’s infinitely cooler than you possibly can think about. All I might do was giggle to myself.”
One other got here whereas standing on the primary tee, with McEwan recalling he didn’t really feel significantly nervous. He added: “Lots of people have requested me how nervous I felt. The trustworthy reply will not be significantly. Positive, there have been some butterflies, however nothing in comparison with, say, the Previous Course.”
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In the meantime, the hills have been additionally a shock: “To start with, sure, it’s hilly. A lot hillier than it appears to be like on TV and, in an odd method, a lot hillier than it appears to be like from the opposite aspect of the ropes.”
And the greens? You guessed it, immensely tough: “The greens? Stupendously good and stupendously robust. On the primary, I chipped on from off the right-hand aspect of the dance ground and, at first look, I assumed I had completely nailed it. I ended up off the entrance edge.”
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