“When people think of The Augusta National Golf Club, usually they think of its beauty, and when they picture its beauty, invariably they mean its appearance in spring, at Masters time, with its flashes of flowering crabapple and graceful dogwood and blazing streaks of azalea. What attracts us so irresistibly are those glorious patches of color against a majestic green canvas of turf and trees.” — Frank Christian, writer of Augusta National & The Masters

Where?

Augusta National Golf Course
2604 Washington Road
Augusta, GA 30904

When?

The Monday through Sunday annual event usually occurs during the second week of April with the first three days devoted to practice rounds and the remaining time featuring the tournament itself.

Significance:
If you can only go to one golf tournament in your lifetime, this is it. Heck, if you can only go to one event, this is the one I have selected, and I shall let you know I am not even a big golf fan!

How many golf fans have imitated Caddyshack’s Carl Spackler playing Augusta and shouted, “It’s in the hole!” This is pure nirvana for players and watchers and akin to an All-Star game. Augusta National Golf Club is an exclusive association with immaculate landscaping. The most coveted of “Grand Slam” tournaments, the Masters is the only one that is played on the same course each year. The Green Jacket is the stuff of legend and the ultimate accomplishment for every professional golfer. There is not a more beautiful setting for an event than Augusta National.

Who attends?
Those lucky enough to get in are predominantly middle-aged men who likely dream of playing alongside their idols. Corporate executives are there with clients to get a peek at their favorite golfer. Private jets at Augusta Regional Airport are only outnumbered by the khaki pants and golf shirts embroidered with company logos.

How to get there?

From Atlanta (West):
Take I-20 East toward Augusta. Look for
signs to Augusta National at Georgia Exits
195, 196B, and 199.

From Columbia, South Carolina (East):
Take I-20 West toward Augusta. Look for
signs to Augusta National at South Carolina
Exit 1, and Georgia Exits 200 and 199.

Tickets:
A ticket to the Masters is hard to come by and comes at a premium price. Tickets for the practice rounds and badges to get into the tournament are purchased in the secondary ticket market unless you are a member of “The National.” Members and longtime homeowners in Augusta receive badges, along with broadcast partners and sponsors. For most of us, the only way to gain entrance is through a reliable secondary ticket provider.

For secondary market ticket access, consider:
GoTickets, Inc.
2345 Waukegan Road, Suite 140
Bannockburn, IL 60015-1552
Toll-Free: 1-800-775-1617
Fax: (919) 481-9101
E-mail: sales[at]gotickets.com

A full-access tournament badge for all rounds will give you general access to the course and grounds. The practice rounds (Monday and Tuesday) and Par 3 Tournament (Wednesday) are sold as individual tickets and give you general access to the course and grounds. The best possible option for the actual tournament, but extremely scarce, are the Trophy Room Passes or Clubhouse Badges. These will offer you additional access to private areas at “The National.” The Clubhouse Badges are the masters ultimate experience, offering an opportunity to mingle with actual members and professional golfers.

It’s important to note that badges are not souvenirs and must be returned. Secondary ticket providers will ask for the badges back after the tournament and will usually ask for a credit card deposit. They must be returned to the original owner as they run the risk of losing their access for future years if not returned to Augusta National.

Accommodations:
Doubletree
2651 Perimeter Parkway
Augusta, GA 30909
Phone: (706) 855-8100
Fax: (706) 860-1720

Note: Easy access to nearby restaurants and upscale shopping at Augusta Mall, and only minutes from the Augusta National Golf Club.
Indoor and outdoor pool.

Best Western
2562 Center West Parkway
Augusta, GA 30909
Phone: (706) 736-9292
Fax: (706) 736-9234

Note: Personalized service from an attentive staff. Fifteen minutes from downtown Augusta.

The Partridge Inn
2110 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30904
Toll-Free: 1-800-476-6888
Fax: (706) 731-0826

Note: Established in 1836, this hotel provides 145 rooms, studios, and suites containing modern comforts and amenities. Awardwinning, onsite restaurant.

Please know that during Masters week many hotels in Augusta establish a seven night room requirement. The option of reserving fewer nights simply does not exist. Something to note is that travel providers who secure hotel inventory in advance will offer consumers options for fewer nights with their all-inclusive packages. They simply divide the hotel space into different packages for people interested in only attending a few days of the tournament. Private homes and mansions can also be rented out for the week. This is a desirable option for those looking for plush accommodations. Many travel providers will offer private home options for varying budgets. With the limited quality hotel space available in Augusta a private home package is a nice option. The companies that are listed as travel providers for this event specialize in securing these private homes. Amenities include maid service and even the opportunity to hire your own personal chef for the week. It is truly a unique experience and my favorite way to attend this event. Many of the homes in Augusta are absolutely beautiful.

On-Site Hospitality:
Off-site corporate hospitality is your only upscale option for this event. All of it is managed by private companies. An air-conditioned venue features premium bars and buffet-style catered meals. The closest high profile hospitality areas can be found on Azalea Road right off of Washington Road. Stands providing reasonably priced food and beverages are located on the course. However, it does not boast the quality or the selection of the more private locations. The travel providers listed below are able to secure access to the better off-site hospitality venues.

Angel Cabrera of Argentina hits a shot on the second hole hole during the final round of the 2009 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2009 in Augusta, Georgia.© Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Travel Packages:
If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed in this book have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must See Sporting Event.

Premiere Corporate Events
14 Penn Plaza, Suite 925
New York, NY 10122
Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
E-mail: requests[at]tseworld.com

Premiere Sports Travel
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 205
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
E-mail: sales[at]sportstravel.com

As the “filet mignon” of sports travel packages, the Masters is the most expensive. It is all about the coveted badge when it comes to cost. Ranging from $7,500 to $10,000 per person, the package should include all four days of the Masters experience, hotel or private home accommodations, private off-site hospitality, transportation, taxes, various amenities, and, oh yes, that badge.

Dining:
It is important to note that the Masters affects pricing at every area restaurant. Expect a 50 percent bump in prices during the tournament. There are many good dining
options throughout Augusta.

TBonz Steakhouse
2856 Washington Road
Augusta, GA 30909
Phone: (706) 737-8325
Fax: (706) 737-8324

Note: Good steaks and a lively atmosphere, but always crowded during Masters week.

Bistro 491
491 Highland Avenue
Augusta, GA 30909
Phone: (706) 738-6491
Fax: (706) 737-9795

Note: An eclectic menu for a restaurant considered the best value in town for a quality meal.

The Public House
399 Highland Avenue
Augusta, GA 30909
Phone: (706) 364-2711
Note: Forget Augusta. This is one of the best meals in all of Georgia.

Stonecrest Steakhouse
601 North Belair Road
Evans, GA 30809
Phone: (706) 651-0123

Note: Stonecrest Steakhouse opened in 2008 to rave reviews. The filet is the best in town.

Bonefish
2911 Washington Road
Augusta, GA 30909
Phone: (706) 737-2929
Fax: (706) 737-2733

Note: This is a great option right on Washington Road. Book early as the place fills up quickly during Masters week.

Airports:
Augusta Regional Airport
(fifteen-minute drive to most locations in Augusta)
1501 Aviation Way
Augusta, GA 30906
Phone: (706) 798-3236
Fax: (706) 798-1551

Columbia Metropolitan Airport
(fifty- to sixty-minute drive to most
locations in Augusta)
3000 Aviation Way
West Columbia, SC 29170
Phone: (803) 822-5000

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport
(over a two-hour drive to Augusta)
Department of Aviation
6000 North Terminal Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30320
Toll-Free: 1-800-897-1910

Sports Travel Insider’s Edge:

Best place to watch the action:

The best vantage point period is the grandstand on 13. That location gives you a vantage point where you can see the 2nd and 3rd shot on hole 13. You can also see the drive on hole 14, the 2nd and 3rd shot on hole 15, and the tee shot on hole 16.

Best place to get up close to the action:
The best amateur from the previous year's Masters gets to stay in the “crow’s nest,” an apartment at the top of the clubhouse with a great view of the grounds. For most of us sitting down in the grandstand, it gives you a great view of players working on their swings on the practice range behind the clubhouse.

Best travel tip:
How can you turn two badges into four when you have a quartet attending the event?

Easy. Buy two four-day badges, Thursday to Sunday, for the entire tournament. That allows two members of your group to watch one day while the other two can go golfing. Everyone in your group will get to go to the tournament for two full days and play golf for the other two days.

Notable Quotes:
“If you asked golfers what tournament they would rather win over all others, I think every one of them . . . would say the Masters.” — Sam Snead, golfer

“The first time I played the Masters, I was so nervous I drank a bottle of rum before I teed off. I shot the happiest 83 of my life.”—Chi Chi Rodriguez, golfer

Robert Tuchman is the Sports Editor for Wandering Educators.  This is an excerpt from his book, 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live.

Feature photo: Angel Cabrera plays from the fairway during the final round of the 2009 Masters. © Harry How/Getty Images

All photos courtesy of The Masters.