re: Going to the 2025 Masters

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That was my second trip and I was much better prepared for the pro shop visit. I'll be honest, I was completely overwhelmed the first time, even with a list in hand.

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That is absolutely the truth.

And great point about making sure you bring a paper list of merch that you want to buy with you. I was buying stuff for me, my kids, and friends and definitely would have forgotten a few things had I not had that list with me.

This topic gets posted every now and again, so I've just kept the same general response over the years, that I've changed some as I've gone more.

Golf:

If you are looking to golf on the way up or back, I played Reynolds Plantation in 2015. They have a couple options. I think one of the courses is only open to the public the week of the Masters. It was a lot of fun. Pricey, but worth it.

If you don't mind adding time to the trip, once you leave Augusta, you are just across the river from South Carolina. Lots of courses that way.



Where to stay:

I've stayed in Lithonia before. It gets you on the East side of Atlanta, because there isn't a ton between Atlanta and Augusta.

I've stayed in Reynolds Plantation twice. It's essentially an hour or so drive in the morning. It's an early start, but I'm an early person, so it isn't a big deal.

You can do Augusta, but it isn't cheap or nice. You can also stay in SC, but if you're driving from LA, it's probably better to stay in Atlanta or thereabouts. Just start the process of booking now.


Day of the Masters:

Do the free parking. It is closer than some of the pay parking.

Get there at least an hour before the gates open, they let you in early. If you show up on time, you'll be in a long line to get in. You want to be as close to the front of that line as possible.

Buy your stuff as soon as you walk in. It helps if you have in your head what you're after. I had a list of what shirts and sizes I needed for my friends and what I was after. If you go in there and are truly shopping, you could spend an hour just walking around aimlessly. The process of picking out shirts/hats is seamless, so you can do it quickly if you know generally what you want. You can check your bag right next to the gift shop. That way you don't have to carry it or walk back to the car.

Grab a coffee and some breakfast and head to the course. There is a concession stand near the pro shop somewhat near the first tee.

First thing to do is walk the golf course. You can't get an appreciation for the course on TV. Start at the clubhouse by one tee and imagine all the great who have teed off there. It's truly surreal. It will take you a few hours to walk the course because of the elevation changes.

Don't be scared to snack all day. The mini moon pies are delicious. I basically hit the concession stand every time I pass one. It is really cheap, so why not.

I've never dropped a chair, and never felt the need to put one out. There are plenty of places to watch without needing a chair. I love the grand stand on 16. If you get in the right spot, you can watch the par 3 16th, the second shot and on for the par 5 15th and you can see the tee shot on 17. Truly a non stop action spot, especially if the pin is in a good spot for 15 and 16. Since you are going for practice rounds, they will try and skip balls on 16, and this is fun to watch.

Once you have walked the golf course, go towards the par 3 course and you can get your picture made on the other side of the club house. I have a picture there with my dad and one with my wife, and both are something I'll always treasure. It's free and it doesn't take that long.

For lunch, the bar b q sandwich is tops. Everyone loves the pimento cheese sandwich, but it isn't for me. But you have to at least try it.

Hang out by one tee and you'll get to see a lot of famous people and golfers doing interviews.

Another good spot to watch is 5 green on the left side where you can see down the hill and watch 6 and 16 is awesome.

Bottom left of 10 is good just to see the severity of the slope of the fairway. Top of 10 green makes you wonder how anyone keeps it on the green.

Obviously amen corner is worth spending some time.

With practice rounds, it's tougher to get a feel for where you need to be. During a tournament day, you know who is going to be where and when. Practice rounds, you are just walking around aimlessly at times waiting on people to come through. If you drop a chair at 18, you may not see anyone for a long time and it could be very sporadic. You can have a couple of guys go off in a row and then an hour before someone else goes off. It just depends on the day and the weather, etc. On practice round days, you have to be far more flexible.

I hesitate to tell someone who has never been to spend time at the driving range, but it's always a good time. I hang out there while everyone is finishing up shopping. You get to see how really great these guys are. If you went on a tournament day, they shut the gates an hour after the last putt, so you can hang out at the range, extend your day and watch some good golfers practice. I think the same goes for the practice rounds.

Another fun one is to wonder towards Amen Corner towards the end of the day. It empties out and you can have it almost all to yourself. One year, my dad and I were the only ones over there. Was the most peaceful experience of my life.



Day 2, you'll have more time because you won't have to shop. You can really investigate and experience the course. You can go on the other sides of holes so you can see it from different angles.



I hate to say it, but the golf is ancillary to the course, especially practice round days. Just enjoy the experience of being out there.

Went this year for the first time. Skip the first two sections of polos on the wall in the merch shop, the better quality brands are in the very back along with the better headcovers. I wasted a good half hour browsing the cheaper stuff until finding the better items in the back.

Also, many of the common items like flags and ball markers are by the registers at the end. Wasted time looking for this stuff as well.

We got there about 45 minutes before the posted gate opening, the merch line was already about 1.5 hours long

CSB i went to a practice round in 2007. While walking across #1 fairway toward the clubhouse I accidentally bumped into a player (looking in the other direction at the time). It was Zach Johnson, who won that year. I still take credit for that. BTW he was as gracious as you could ever imagine (I was mortified). If you ever get the opportunity to go, drop everything and do it.

I personally like walking the course backwards, starting on 18 green. Totally different view from what TV shows, and see plenty of golfers playing their rounds. Spend some time at 5 green! Insane.

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Setup several meeting points during the day if someone gets lost. No cell phones allowed, so if someone gets separated from the group you are not likely to find them again without designated meeting points / times.

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Good advice. That happened to us a couple years ago.