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Masters - Practice vs Sunday

Posted on 3/23/24 at 9:22 am
Posted by CalcuttaTigah
Member since Jul 2009
769 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 9:22 am
Super lucky to have won lottery and just received my two Sunday tickets in the mail for this year’s tournament. I was very fortunate to go to a Tuesday practice round in the past.

Anybody ever been both? How different are the experience? Other than the obvious rules that only apply during tournament round (e.g. no phones out), anything I should do differently on a Sunday round?

We went to gift shop first thing on the Tuesday practice round and walked around afterward. Is that still the move? Isn’t there fewer people walking around?
Posted by Navajo61490
Baton rouge
Member since Dec 2011
6717 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 9:25 am to
Sunday you’re expected to talk as loud as you can on your phone. But only during the players’ backswings
Posted by TDTOM
Member since Jan 2021
14378 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 9:43 am to
I would rather watch Masters Sunday from home.
Posted by CalcuttaTigah
Member since Jul 2009
769 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 9:51 am to
Super helpful, thanks
This post was edited on 3/23/24 at 9:52 am
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
94956 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 10:09 am to
Practice days are the best because you can see the course and grounds the easiest. Which honestly, is really the only good part about in person golf viewing. Actual tournaments days for golf kinda suck if you actually like to watch golf tournaments. Easily the worst sport to attend live for a fan of the actual events
Posted by RummelTiger
Texas
Member since Aug 2004
89834 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 11:23 am to
quote:

I would rather watch Masters Sunday from home.


LULZ…
Posted by RummelTiger
Texas
Member since Aug 2004
89834 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 11:25 am to
The biggest difference is not being able to carry your phone in on competition rounds.

Otherwise, except for more people and more excitement, it’s basically the same.

See you out there!
Posted by DTP
New Orleans
Member since Sep 2015
152 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 11:26 am to
Completely agree with practice round. Went on a Tuesday several years ago and walked the entire course. Truly incredible. Has since given me a great perspective whenever I watch at home.
Posted by RummelTiger
Texas
Member since Aug 2004
89834 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 11:31 am to
quote:

Practice days are the best because you can see the course and grounds the easiest.


Agreed.

quote:

Actual tournaments days for golf kinda suck if you actually like to watch golf tournaments.


Disagree when it comes to Augusta. Every day out there is absolutely awesome.
Posted by GRTiger
On a roof eating alligator pie
Member since Dec 2008
62869 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 12:49 pm to
quote:

Super helpful, thanks


there should be a coded rule on this site to just auto post this from the OP after the first 3-4 replies.
Posted by theone
LSU
Member since Nov 2005
1811 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 2:55 pm to
quote:

The biggest difference is not being able to carry your phone in on competition rounds.


Did they recently start allowing phones in practice rounds? In the past it’s been cameras only.

Either way OP, experience it and enjoy it. You can watch it on tv next year.
Posted by The Johnny Lawrence
Member since Sep 2016
2162 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 2:55 pm to
Tournament rounds to me are better because it's more organized. You have a tee sheet and you know who is teeing off, in what order and they all play 18 holes. If you sit on 16, you'll see a group every 10-15 minutes. It you sit on 16 on Monday-Wednesday, you may or may not see any groups. No telling who is playing, how many, when they'll start, etc. It's still great, but tournament rounds are better IMO.

And FWIW, I think phones are always banned. You can bring a camera for practice rounds but not phones.

Posted by Dawgsontop34
Member since Jun 2014
42502 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 3:16 pm to
I love both. But with a tournament round, you need to have a plan IMO.

Plant your chair on the hole you want to watch the most, and then look at the tee sheet for which groups you want to watch. From there, use your judgment to figure out how many groups in advance you need to be at a specific hole. If I want to watch someone on 15, I’m going to get there while they’re on 14 fairway.

In between 2, 3, and 4 is a really good place to walk around (if you’re willing to move). Switching behind 1 & 8 can be fun.

Also, personally, I like to see the hole when people are putting, so when I do my early morning walk, I’ll scout out which pin positions are best for viewing (if that makes sense).

You’ll have a blast regardless.
Posted by RummelTiger
Texas
Member since Aug 2004
89834 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 3:36 pm to
quote:

Did they recently start allowing phones in practice rounds? In the past it’s been cameras only.


Sorry, now that phones are cameras and cameras are phones...I meant camera.
Posted by RummelTiger
Texas
Member since Aug 2004
89834 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 3:42 pm to
quote:

But with a tournament round, you need to have a plan IMO.


Agreed - especially if you only have one day.

quote:

Plant your chair on the hole you want to watch the most


Yep. We plant ourselves on the hill overlooking 16 green everyday so we have a view of 15 approach/green, 16 green, and 17 tee...also have 5 green and 6 tee behind us, as well as relatively quick access to bathrooms, food, and the smaller gift gift shop below.

Over the years, Thursday & Friday have been just bounce around days - we'll follow whomever we're interested in and maybe spend some time on holes we know we likely won't on the weekend.

On Sat & Sun we're generally following specific groups, and camping on a few holes like 4, Amen Corner, and 16.

I love it. There's no place on Earth like it.
Posted by makersmark1
earth
Member since Oct 2011
15773 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 5:49 pm to
You might as well go to the gift shop first.

The leaders will tee off around 1 o’clock.

Gates will open around 0730.

I mostly spend time on the course when I’m there. It’s just so beautiful.

Don’t pass out drunk or get to rowdy. They will escort you out. I’ve seen both.

The gift shops are always busy.
The one behind 5 green has most of the stuff the main one has.

There are some stands with limited selection of Masters merchandise.
They are usually not crowded.

If you are staying for the end, posting up around the 15/16 area gives you a lot of action.

Amen Corner is incredibly crowded, but you really don’t get a close view of 12 green or 13 tee. I’ll usually walk by early and look at a group or 2 play, but 15/16 has better sight lines IMO.

You can get fairly close to 6 and 7 green. Close enough to get a good look at the slopes they are dealing with, and they are not as crowded with people as 16 green.

You are pretty far from 11,12, and 13 green behind the ropes.

Posted by TDTOM
Member since Jan 2021
14378 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 5:51 pm to
quote:

Super helpful, thanks


Anytime.

Posted by lsujag
Member since Jan 2012
2321 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 7:07 pm to
I’ve been on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. To me the best day is Wednesday.You can still bring in a camera and you get to see the par 3 tournament. Set your chairs up on 9 as soon as they open up the course, and then go explore the course. If you have a youngster with you, it’s a great place to grab autographs
Posted by DivotBreath
On the course
Member since Oct 2007
3503 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 9:55 pm to
Will the gift shop hold your purchases so you do not have to walk around carrying the stuff if you hit the shop early?
Posted by kfont28
Parts Unknown
Member since Aug 2004
968 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 9:59 pm to
Yeah, when you leave the shop they have a checked bag area. They also can ship the stuff you just bought as well at the same place you check your bag.

Anything you can think to make a tournament efficient and smooth, Augusta National does it. This includes having attendants in every bathroom to keep it clean and the line moving.
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