Masters Tournament | New Georgia Encyclopedia First played in 1934, the Masters Tournament is one of golf's four "major" events, alongside the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. The tournament is staged every April at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta . Origins The Augusta National Golf Club dates back to 1931, the height of the Great Depression , when two men joined resources to create the club. One of the club's founders was the outstanding amateur and Atlanta native Bobby Jones , winner of thirteen major championships between 1923 and 1930. After winning the Grand Slam in 1930 (all four major titles: U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, British Open, British Amateur), the twenty-eight year old announced his retirement from competitive golf. During the next several years he was involved in several carefully selected golf projects, one of which was the Augusta National. Less Masters Tournament prominent than Jones but no less important to the success of the club and tournament was New York financier Clifford Roberts, who had befriended Jones in the mid-1920s. Whereas Jones brought the venture credibility and publicity, Roberts brought it business acumen.

In the midst of the depression, Roberts skillfully sold the concept of a national golf club to a handful of investors and raised the capital necessary to purchase land and begin construction of the course. The famous golf course architect Alister Mackenzie worked with Jones on designing the Augusta National course. Mackenzie, designer of such world-renowned layouts as Cypress Point in northern California, complemented Jones because they agreed on many fundamentals of golf course architecture. They discovered Fruitland ( Berckmans Nursery ), the abandoned 365-acre plant nursery near Augusta, where, among other things, peaches were grown by Prosper Berckmans. Because of the depressed economy, the land, originally a plantatation, was available at bottom-dollar price. Jones decided that it was the ideal location for a golf course. While Roberts handled the finances, Jones and Mackenzie oversaw the construction of the course, which began in 1931 and was completed in 1932. Within Bobby Jones months of its completion Roberts and Jones discussed the possibility of hosting a major tournament, such as the U.S. Open; however, scheduling conflicts and climate—Augusta was too hot to host the U.S.

Open, traditionally held in the summer—ultimately prohibited that idea. Yet Roberts remained determined; if they could not hold a national open, then why not stage an annual invitational event hosted by the legendary Bobby Jones? To make the event even more viable, Roberts proposed that Jones enter the tournament, coming out of retirement for a week each year to compete against his old opponents and friends. At first Jones resisted the idea of competing, but Roberts convinced him that the excitement surrounding his participation might make the difference between the survival and failure of the tournament. Jones very much wanted the tournament and club to succeed, so he agreed to play. Roberts had been correct. The first Augusta National Invitation Tournament was held in the spring of 1934; it was won by Horton Smith (Jones finished in thirteenth place) and was an instant success. The following year Gene Sarazen scored a double eagle two on the par five fifteenth in the final round to force a play-off with Craig Wood, whom Sarazen defeated the next day to win the tournament. In 1939 the tournament officially changed its name to the Masters.

The natural beauty of the course's eighteen holes—each adorned with the plant from which it gets its name—and the fact that the golf calendar did not already include a major event during those months made spring the ideal time for the Masters to be held. Moreover, early April was the best time to catch the nation's sportswriters as they returned north from baseball's spring training in Florida. A few days in Augusta provided them a respite from their travels and from the national pastime. In sum, the schedule, the weather, the environment, the competition, the business leadership of Clifford Roberts, and the presence of Bobby Jones all combined to make the Masters a success from the beginning. Rise in Status Masters Tournament it became a regular stop on the professional tour in the 1930s, the Masters was not immediately recognized as one of golf's major events, a fourth component of a modern Grand Slam. Several factors helped the tournament evolve into that prestigious position in the 1950s: the support of Dwight D.

Eisenhower, who often played at the club during his presidency; the tournament's success with the emerging medium of television ; and the annual presence of such stars as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and a bit later, Jack Nicklaus. The Masters was a pioneer in many respects. Roberts devised the over-under (+/-) to par scoring system. In 1949 Jones and Roberts originated the post-tournament ceremony in which the defending champion presents the new champion with the coveted green jacket. The Masters was the first golf tournament to be televised, in 1956 on CBS. In time, other tournaments adopted many Masters innovations. Controversy In spite of its rise to major tournament status and success with television, the Masters became a target of controversy in the 1960s because of the Augusta National club's general exclusivity and, in particular, perceived racism. As club chairman, Roberts seemed determined to make it difficult for any black player to enter the Masters; at best, he was extremely careful about the qualification procedure and insensitive to the obstacles blacks faced in professional golf.

The exclusionary tournament policies, the fact that Augusta National had no black members, and the Old South aura surrounding the club and tournament made the Masters a focal point for the issue of racism in golf. The entry of the first black player, Lee Elder, in 1975 and the death of Clifford Roberts by suicide in 1977 (Jones had passed away in 1971) did much to diffuse the criticism, allowing the Masters to develop a more positive public standing. In the early 2000s controversy again visited the Augusta National Golf Club as women's groups began to target the all-male club for alleged gender discrimination. Uniqueness Tiger Woods Masters continues to grow in prestige and popularity. It remains the only major golf tournament staged every year on the same course, a feature that provides the event a sense of continuity and familiarity lacking in the other major tournaments. Recent competitive highlights include Jack Nicklaus's unprecedented sixth victory in 1986, Australian Greg Norman's heartbreaking losses, and Tiger Woods's spectacular victories in 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2005. The Masters has long taken pride in the international makeup of its fields.

It continues to draw the world's best golfers annually to northeast Georgia for what has become one of the world's finest golf tournaments. You Might Also Like When is the 2016 Masters? Home > Sporting Events > The Masters > The Masters 2016 When is The Masters in 2016? The dates of Masters in 2016 begin on Thursday, April 7th and end on Sunday, April 10th. Office practice rounds will begin on Monday, August 4th. This is the 80th Edition of the famous golf tournament held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, U.S.. What is The Masters? The Masters, also known as The Masters Tournament, is one of the four major golf tournaments of the PGA (Professional Golfer's Association) Tour. Since 1934, it has been held annually during the first full week of April at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Since 1949, the winner of the Masters has been awarded a symbolic green jacket. The four PGA major tournaments include the Masters, the U.S. Open Championship , The Open Championship (also known as The British Open), and the PGA Championship .

Unlike the other majors, the number of golfers competing at the Masters is very limited because it is an initiation only event. In 2015, Jordan Spieth won this prestigious tournament while setting several records including the most birdies in one tournament (28), lowest 36-hole score (-14), lowest 54-hole score (-16), tied for the lowest 72-hole score (-18), and the first wire-to-wire champion since 1976. The most successful champions of the Masters tournament include Jack Nicklaus (6), Arnold Palmer (4), and Tiger Woods (4). 19 Augusta: The Masters Golf Tournament - TripAdvisor Want the lowest hotel prices? You're in the right place. We check 200+ sites for you. Augusta: The Masters Golf Tournament Review a place you’ve visited JOIN We'll send you updates with the latest deals, reviews and articles for Augusta each week. Augusta Traveler Article: Augusta: The Masters Golf Tournament Save Article Comments (1) Although hidden behind fences and bushes, The Augusta National is Augusta's greatest treasures.

Designed by Bobby Jones between 1931-34 as his dream course, it is considered one of the most prestigious and beautiful courses in the world. The Masters is the annual tournament held on this course in the first week of April every year. The prize, in addition to cash, is the legendary green jacket, worn with the utmost pride by each year's recipient. Winners are a veritable who's who of the greats in golf. Tiger Woods was the youngest winner, at age 21 in 1997. He and Arnold Palmer are the only 4-time winners, only trumped by Jack Nickolaus, who has won 6 times and is also the oldest winner, at age 46 in 1986. Augusta literally doubles in size during the Masters, as the hard-to-come-by tickets are held by members and patrons from around the world. A handful of tickets are distributed via lottery each year, but the majority belong to members or are passed down via the generations. Watching the course is both exhilerating for the heat of the competition as well as breath-taking for the beauty of the course. Traveling to Augusta during the Masters must be planned months in advance.

Flights and hotels book early and restaurants are often reserved for private parties. The traffic will increase dramatically and it is helpful to have a local guide you through the side streets. But if one is lucky enough to score a ticket to even one of the days or the practice rounds, it's an experience not to miss. Specific Tips for Negotiating Your Day at the Master's: This is an event at which a lot is going on. Here are some highlights: 1. Go to the large white Master's Board where scores are kept and have your picture taken with the board in the background. 2. Definitely go to the area where the golfers are practicing teeing off. Here one will see golfers you recognize. The caddies in white have the name of the player they are assisting on the back of their white outfit: Ben Crenshaw, Freddie Couples, Earnie Els, and several others. When you have your fill of those two stops, you may want to ask around and see where the "name" golfer you want to see is playing. You will definitely want to see "Amen Corner" with its remarkable holes bedecked with the signature azaleas.

You will want to see the clubhouse, the cabins, and the bridges. Note the pinestraw which is a challenge for many a golfer, but do particularly enjoy the azaleas. Ask about the whole with the water feature in which golfers playfully try to skip their golf balls over the water. It's a sort of fun tradtition, and it is enjoyable to watch. This tournament and practice rounds are very crowded. Be prepared for that. The good thing is that the facility has done this for many years and is well-versed in crowd managements. Lines are long, but they move fairly quickly. This is true of the restrooms, the pro shop (where you can pick up a shirt or other item), and the food concessions. A traditional offering is the egg or egg salad sandwich.The gallery bleachers is a fine place to sit, eat, and enjoy the golfers. It was a treat. Ample free parking is provided by Augusta National Golf Club on their newly-required acreage along Berkmans Road, within walking distance of the gate. If you're fortunate, you'll get a day in which there is no rain. Then, you are off to the races...or, rather, THE MASTERS!

About the Masters - 2016 Masters Tournament TOURNAMENT INFO About The Masters Since 1934, the Masters Tournament has been home to some of golf’s greatest moments. Amidst blooming azaleas, towering pines and flowering dogwoods, the first full week of April ushers in a stage unique to golf and to sport. Over four days and 72 holes, the smallest field in major championship golf competes for a chance to capture the Green Jacket and a place in Masters history. Take a journey down Magnolia Lane or stroll through Amen Corner, and explore the iconic traditions, moments and history of Masters Tournament like never before—past and present. Awards & Trophies A Brief History of the Masters Looking to provide a service to golf by hosting a tournament, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided to hold an annual event beginning in 1934. The final decision was made at a meeting in New York at the office of Club member W. Alton Jones. Roberts proposed the event be called the Masters Tournament, but Bobby Jones objected thinking it too presumptuous.

The name Augusta National Invitation Tournament was adopted and the title was used for five years until 1939, when Jones relented and the name was officially changed. The first Tournament was held March 22, 1934, and beginning in 1940, the Masters was scheduled each year during the first full week in April. MILESTONES IN MASTERS HISTORY Augusta National Golf Club Upon his retirement from championship golf in 1930, Bobby Jones had hoped to realize his dream of building a golf course. Following a brief conversation with Clifford Roberts, with whom Jones had met several times during the mid-1920s, it was decided the Club would be built near Augusta, Georgia, provided a suitable piece of ground was available. Thomas Barrett, Jr., a mutual friend of Jones and Roberts, was consulted and recommended a 365-acre property called Fruitland Nurseries. An option was taken on the property for $70,000. It was decided to establish a national membership for the Club, and Jones proposed Augusta National would be an appropriate name.

Construction on the new course began in the first half of 1931 and the course opened in December 1932 with a limited amount of member play. Formal opening took place in January 1933. The Founders Augusta National Golf Club was founded by Bobby Jones, the legendary amateur champion, and Clifford Roberts, an astute investment banker in New York. Jones helped design the golf course, working alongside the esteemed course architect Dr. Alister Mackenzie. Jones's popularity within the game helped attract golf's biggest stars to the Masters, beginning with the inaugural event in 1934. Roberts oversaw innumerable details of the Tournament. He tirelessly sought to refine the Masters experience for patrons, competitors and the wider world of golf. The Founders Masters Tournament Foundation At the beginning of 2011, Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Billy Payne announced the formation of the Masters Tournament Foundation – a charitable extension of the Tournament designed to annually invest in development programs for the game of golf worldwide.

2017 Masters Final Round Tickets | TicketIQ $1,056.80 A Tradition Unlike Any Other, the Masters Tournament is the only one of the PGA’s four major tournaments held at the same location every year. On the first full week in April every year the best golfers in the world descend upon Augusta National Golf Club for the biggest tournament in golf. As the biggest tournament in golf, Masters tickets are also the most popular tickets for any golf tournament. The field for the Masters is the smallest of golf’s major tournaments. For the invitation only event, only 90-100 players make the field in Augusta every year. The prestige of the Masters is held up by its many different traditions during the tournament. The 11th, 12th and 13th holes at Augusta, known as Amen Corner, are the most famous group of holes on any golf course in the world. The Masters was also the first officially recognized major in golf. It’s also unique in its playoff scenario if the tournament is tied after four rounds. The tied players play sudden death holes alternating the 18th and 10th holes until there is a winner.

The sudden death playoff has decided the winner of the past two tournaments, Bubba Watson in 2012 and Adam Scott in 2013. Before that the last playoff was in 2009. Awarding a green jacket to the tournament winner is perhaps the most recognizable tradition at the Masters. The winner of the tournament also receivers a gold medal and his name engraved on the silver Masters trophy. Other perks for the winner include automatic entry to the other three major tournaments for the next five years and lifetime entry to play in the Masters. Masters tickets aren’t the most expensive of all the golf tournament, but they are the hardest to attain. Even Masters tickets for the practice rounds can be very difficult to attain. Applications for practice round Masters tickets are made a year in advance for most cases. The majority of Masters tickets are only available to members of a patrons list, which was opened in 1972 and closed 1978. The list was again opened in 2000, but was then closed again soon after. In 2012 and thereafter, Augusta announced a limited number of Masters tickets would be released to the general public for both the practice and competition rounds.

Starting in 2008, children were also allowed to enter for free if they were accompanied by an adult with Masters tickets. Masters tickets are also available for the Par 3 contest held on the Wednesday before the tournament stars. The Par 3 contest originated in 1960 is a more laid back competition open to any player in the field for that year’s tournament. With the secondary market, Masters tickets are now easier to attain, but it has led the price to skyrocket because of limited availability. Since the Masters are the same weekend every year, it’s easy for fans with Masters tickets to plan for the trip to Augusta for one of the best experiences in professional golf. The Masters Golf Tournament Year-By-Year Winners Year -8 The Masters Tickets News 4-6-15: Now just three days out, Masters Tournament tickets continue to drop in price on the secondary market. The tournament’s most expensive day will be on Thursday, where tickets currently average at $1,702.32. That marks an 8.5% slide from Friday’s average of $1,861.83.

Saturday will own the cheapest single-day ticket, with average secondary price listed at $1,220.16, down 11.5% from Friday’s $1,378.67 average. 4-10-14: Masters tournament tickets continue to fall on the secondary market. Thursday competition session has fallen 2.6% in the past 24 hours to an average of $800.64 per ticket. Friday has fallen 1% to an average of $918, Saturday has fallen 3% to an average of $862 and Sunday has fallen to an average asking price of $1,008. 4-9-14: In the past 48 hours, each session of the Masters tournament has been a price decrease. Thursday is down 12.54% to an average of $895.29, Friday is down 11.57% to $908.91, Saturday is down 7.97% to $890.35 and Sunday is down 13.14% to $1,010.07.

The overall average of the competition portion is $939.10 and there are still 7 4-Day badges available. 4-8-14: With the Masters practice kicking off today, weather becomes even more of a factor. Thus far the forecast calls for precipitation during the practice sessions, but a 0% chance of rain during the tournament portion of the Masters. A four day badge averages $4,477 on the secondary market while the championship averages $1,142. 4-4-14: Paulina Gretzky has caused quite a stir amongst the LPGA members and the golf community as a whole. The fiancee of Master Tournament participant Dustin Johnson and daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, the 25 year old graces the cover of the April edition of Golf Digest magazine in a provocative pose. 4-3-14: After Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw from the 2014 Masters Tournament, many golf experts are debating whether the end of his professional career is near. Despite 5 PGA tournament victories in 2013, his body is noticeably breaking down and he's been forced to miss more tournaments than ever due to chronic injuries.

4-1-14: The Masters Tournament lost one of their biggest draws as Tiger Woods pulled out of the tournament after undergoing spinal surgery in Utah. The surgery will put Woods out of all golfing action for about a month until he can begin to work himself back in. Woods is expected to make a full recovery. 3-28-14: Augusta Magazine recently published an article previewing their dark horse candidates for the Master's Tournament. Their selections included: Jason Dufner, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Jordan Spieth, and Steve Stricker. The average ticket price for the Tournament on the secondary market is currently $1,137. Thursday's competition averages $1,157 with a get-in price of $894. 3-27-14: The average ticket price for the Masters Tournament on the seondary market is $1,164. An all session strip for the competition portion currently averages $4736. The most expensive session overall is Sunday with an average cost of $1,526.88.

The cheapest is Monday's practice round with an average cost of $426.39 3-26-14: Sauk Valley.com recently took a look at some of the cuisine served around the Masters Tournament in Augusta. Today's post highlighted the pimiento cheese and egg salad sandwiches served on white bread. The sandwich only costs $1.50 and even comes wrapped in green cellophane in tribute to the tournament's famous Green jacket prize. 3-25-14: The Masters Tournament, The R&A and the United States Golf Association teamed together to form the Latin America Amateur Championship. The program hopes to contribute to growing interest of the sport in Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. Starting in 2015, the winner of the tournament will earn a slot in the Masters Tournament. 3-24-14: Still dealing with back spasms, 2014 masters favorite Tiger Woods is still unsure of his participation in the 2014 masters tournament. Woods has won 4 Masters tournament's throughout his career, with the first one being in 1997 and last in 2005.

A 4 day badge currently averages $4,736 on the secondary market. 3-21-14: The average ticket price for the four days of competition in the Masters Tournament is currently $1417. The average 4 day badge averages $4736 on the resale market. The practice round averages $734. The most expensive day is Sunday, at an average of $1581 per ticket. The cheapest is Monday at $512. 3-20-14: Tiger Woods, who has been plagued by the injury bug since August, has decided to pull himself out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament. Woods apologized on his official website as well as by calling Palmer himself. Thus far, the Master's Tournament may be up in the air. Despite a tainted image the past few years, Wood remains one of the biggest fan draws in the sport. 3-19-14: While Masters tickets feature a tough and expensive market, a recent article from Forbes breaks down ticketing trends and when and where to buy. The article makes note of the increased amount of quantity available over the 2013 tournament.

Very limited 4 day badges are available, but there's a minimum of 200 per day during the tournament. 3-17-14: Average ticket price for the 2014 Master's Tournament is $1,325. The most expensive session is Sunday at an average cost of $1704. The cheapest is the Monday practice round at an average cost of $534. The four day badge averages $4850 on the resale market with cheapest badge costing $4736. 3-14-14: We currently have 1,849 Masters tickets available with an average price of $1,393. Here’s a breakdown of each day’s prices, including practice round prices: Monday Practice Round The Masters Video Highlights A few good reasons to buy Masters tickets on TicketIQ.com TicketIQ.com offers a comprehensive collection of the best ticket sellers available so you know what you are buying every single time you make a purchase. You have the ability to purchase your Masters tickets for a fixed price. You can bid online via ebay auctions and if you end up as the highest bidder, the Masters tickets are all yours.

TicketIQ also allows you to make an offer with certain ticketing partners. If you make an offer and name a price that adheres to our recommended discount to price list that sellers are accepting, you have the chance of purchasing the Masters tickets for the price decided by you! No other Masters ticket selling website offers this much flexibility and versatility in regards to buying options and transparency. We put everything on display, from seller fees to 3D seating charts and zone stats. You will never miss out on the top deals and prices for your Masters tickets ever again 2017-04-03T08:00 When is the Masters Golf Tournament? When is The Masters in 2018? What is The Masters? The Masters, also known as The Masters Tournament, is one of the four major golf tournaments of the PGA (Professional Golfer's Association) Tour. Since 1934, it has been held annually during the first full week of April at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Since 1949, the winner of the Masters has been awarded a symbolic green jacket. The four PGA major tournaments include the Masters, the U.S.

Open Championship , The Open Championship (also known as The British Open), and the PGA Championship . Unlike the other majors, the number of golfers competing at the Masters is very limited because it is an initiation only event. The most successful champions of the Masters tournament include Jack Nicklaus (6), Arnold Palmer (4), and Tiger Woods (4). 18 Frequently Asked Questions | Masters Frequently Asked Questions What are the dates for the 2017 Masters? The 2017 tournament will be played during the week of Monday, April 3 through Sunday, April 9. How can I get Masters tickets? Follow this link to apply for 2018: Online Masters practice rounds and daily tournament ticket applications Note: The Masters Tournament is the only authorized ticket source. Tickets may not be bought, sold or handed off within a 2,700 foot boundary around the Augusta National Golf Club. 2018: April 2 - 8 Can I play a round of golf at Augusta National or can I go visit the course? No. Augusta National Golf Club is a private club and is only accessible to club members and their guests.

The public may visit the course only during the Masters Tournament and only with the proper ticket or badge. Can I bring children to the tournament? While there is no specific age restriction for children attending the tournament, guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children. In cases of repeated misbehavior, parents and guardians are subject to removal from the course if young patrons cannot behave in an appropriate manner. Every person must possess their own ticket to the practice rounds or tournament, regardless of age. Junior Pass Program explained The Masters allows accredited patrons to bring a child between the ages of 8 to 16. But there are certain protocols to follow. According to the club, fans ages 8-16 can attend free when accompanied by an accredited patron (the person whose name appears on the series badge application) ON TOURNAMENT DAYS (Thursday - Sunday). There is a limit of one child per patron. Also: The program does not apply to volunteers, employees or business partners who receive or purchase series badges. Juniors need not be related to the accredited patron to attend. Juniors must register at the ticket gate; patrons must show driver’s license. A complimentary pass will be issued to the junior, and it is not transferable. When will my tickets arrive?

Practice round tickets and tournament badges are mailed out about five weeks prior to the start of the tournament. How can I become a member of Augusta National Golf Club? Membership at Augusta National Golf Club is by invitation only. There is no application process. Where can I purchase Masters merchandise? Masters merchandise can be purchased only from one of the merchandise stands/shops at Augusta National Golf Club and it can be purchased only during the Masters Tournament. What is the name of the music that CBS uses during Masters Tournament coverage? Dave Loggins wrote the original score for CBS's coverage of the Masters in 1981. It was re-released by Leeds Music/Patchwork Music ASCAP in 1996 by Don Cherry. The name of the work is "Augusta." Can I have the recipe for the Pimento Cheese spread? Augusta National keeps the recipe for the pimento cheese spread a secret. Where can I park? Parking spaces are available in the parking lots located west of Berckmans Road. The parking spaces will be available on a first-come basis. Several handicap parking sections are available.

Where to play a round while in Augusta for the Masters | Golf Advisor Apr 07, 2015 + They come from all over the world. Passionate patrons absorb spring in Augusta as they wander about one of the greatest venues in sports. They get an up-close glimpse of tour tempo, hear the sound of pure contact, combined with a little sun on the back of their necks and legs, and they're overcome with the undeniable urge to tee it up. Which explains the frequency of the tweet: "Where should we play while we're in town for the Masters?" Here's a sampling of six golf options and four restaurants. I'll start with the golf, in order of preference. Palmetto Golf Club (1892) Aiken, S.C. Distance from Augusta National: 22.5 miles Masters week green fees: $225 per player includes cart, range and lunch. There aren't a lot of courses in the country with established dates in the 1800s. And adding to the prestige is the fact that Alister Mackenzie's crew, after finishing up at Augusta National, came up to Aiken to help convert Palmetto from a sand course to a grass course.

Both Tom Doak and Gil Hanse have been involved in some tweaks and restorations, but no one has touched the spike-riddled wooden benches in the locker room. And there's nothing like a wall of names that includes the likes of Nelson and Hogan, who would spend two weeks at Palmetto prepping for the Masters. Hogan felt nos. 3-through-5 are among the best three-hole stretches of par 4s in golf. For 51 weeks a year, Palmetto is private, but for the week of the tournament, they open their tee sheet to the public. Pay $225 per player and Head Professional Brooks Blackburn and his staff will make you feel like a member for a day. The price includes golf, cart and lunch, but it's hard to quantify the value of access to Palmetto's memorabilia room or the nostalgia and charm that drips from the dark wood in the old pro shop. In eight days of opening their gates to the public, Palmetto membership will raise close to $200,000, which goes right back into the maintenance of the course and facility. There are other good private courses in the area that allow some outside play the week of the Masters.

Sage Valley and Augusta Country Club are two courses that get a lot of attention and mentions, but their tee sheets are filled with friends of members or corporate outings. In that sense, Palmetto is much more accessible, affordable and might be the best course of the bunch. Aiken Golf Club (1912), Aiken, S.C. Distance from Augusta National: 23.5 miles Masters week green fees: $100 per player includes cart and tee prize. With links to the Tufts family, who owned Pinehurst, this is another course with an abundance of charm and nostalgia. Laying claim to being the first course with a set of "ladies tees," you'll be following in the footsteps of Babe Zaharias and Patty Berg. And locals say the current owner, Jim McNair, has brought the game's Scottish roots back to the prideful club that more than welcomes the influx of retail golfers the week of the Masters. The course is tight, short and fun. And after the round, I suggest a cold beer, a "blue burger" and a view of the first tee and 18th green.

Distance from Augusta National: 4.4 miles Masters week green fees: $140 ($55 Monday after Masters). Includes cart, range and lunch. The home course of Augusta State (aka Georgia Regents), as well as the scrappy little Aquinas High School, I'm a big fan of Forest Hills. A Donald Ross design, later modified by Arnold Palmer, it gets some criticism for extreme greens, but I still like the routing and the setting. On any given day there's a healthy mix of ages and genders, walkers and riders, combing the rolling fairways of Forest Hills. There's a grass range and they serve a tasty 8-ounce burger in the renovated clubhouse. On the weekend before the Masters, the men's team at Augusta State hosts the 3M Augusta Invitational, which is made up of 15 of the best teams in the country. This year's individual winner was Georgia's Lee McCoy, who shot a final-round 64. The team title went to New Mexico, who beat Illinois by three shots. On Monday of Masters week, every team and coach received a ticket to watch practice rounds. (So, everyone gets a trophy.) Champions Retreat Golf Club (2005), Evans, Ga.

Distance from Augusta National: 13 miles Masters week green fees: $1,900 per foursome, which includes cart and all you can eat, all you can drink. "We don't take the word 'retreat' lightly," says Davis Sezna, managing partner of Heritage Golf Group. "We feel fortunate to steward what we consider one of the most distinctive clubs in America." What's distinctive about Champions Retreat is that it's the only architectural collaboration that includes The Big Three. Jack Nicklaus, Palmer and Gary Player all designed nine holes at this upscale private club that, during Masters week, opens its doors to the public. "We make sure you leave feeling like a member for a day," Sezna said. And might I suggest showing up hungry and thirsty. It's the only deal in town that includes all you can eat and drink, so if there's perceived value, it's because you've earned it. The River Golf Club (1998), North Augusta, S.C. Distance from Augusta National: 6.6 miles Masters week green fees: $1,100 per foursome. Includes cart, range, breakfast and lunch.

Tom Fazio has done a lot of work in and around town, including building Sage Valley and almost all of the renovations to Augusta National, but his brother Jim built The River Golf Club, which is one of the most convenient and popular options the week of the Masters. It's also one of the most expensive. At $1,100 per foursome, it's still tough to get a tee time at the River Club, which has the look of a coastal course and is flat enough to be a good walk. They also have three golf cottages (each sleep eight), which makes it a potential staging ground for a buddies trip to Augusta any time other than the week of the Masters, which is when green fees are usually $65 during the week and $75 on weekends.

2016 Masters forecast: Gusty winds to challenge golfers during early rounds of play 2016 Masters forecast: Gusty winds to challenge golfers during early rounds of play By By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer April 11, 2016, 2:06:50 AM EDT Another chapter in the rich and storied history of the Masters Tournament will be added this weekend as play continues through Sunday in Augusta, Georgia. Fifty-seven of the world’s best golfers made the cut to play this weekend for a chance to don the fabled green jacket on Sunday evening at Augusta National Golf Club. In order to claim victory, they will have to battle an early spring chill and gusty winds. The 80th edition of the tournament will see an overall weather pattern that will be cooler than normal, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski. Early April weather in Augusta typically means showers or thunderstorms will make an appearance at some point during the Masters, but storms will avoid causing delays this year. Dry conditions will last through the final day on Sunday, but in addition to the chilly air, there will be steady winds out of the west to northwest.

The winds are expected to remain a factor through Saturday. Which club a golfer will use, along with their shot selection, can become even more critical with blowing winds possibly altering the distance and trajectory of their shots. Temperatures during the day on Saturday will be in the mid-60s with gusts up to 30 mph possible. A normal high temperature for April 7-10 in Augusta is in the mid-70s. RELATED: Detailed Augusta forecast Spectators planning to attend the event will want to bring a jacket for the early rounds since below-average conditions are forecast. However, the weather take a turn for the better before the Masters concludes. While it will remain cold on Sunday morning with some dew or patchy frost possible, it will turn out to be a “gorgeous” day, Kottlowski said. The golfers who find themselves at the top of the leaderboard leading up to the final round typically do not tee off until early in the afternoon. “[Temperatures] will warm up close to 70 F in the afternoon,” Kottlowski said. “The big story Sunday is no wind. It will be the one day in which the wind will not be a factor.”

Question: During which month of the year is The Masters golf tournament held?
Answer: April