DIANE KNOX: Behind the scenes at the Masters at Augusta National, the most private golf club in the world where mobile phones and denim are banned
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It’s Masters week. You can almost smell the azaleas through the TV.
If you love golf, you’ve probably been counting down to this week since last April, and even if you’ve never hit a golf ball in your life, you’re no doubt well aware of the Masters, the magnitude of the first men’s major of the year and the lasting legacy established at Augusta National. And, of course, Tiger Woods and his historic victory in 2019 after numerous back surgeries – who could ever forget that?
I’m very fortunate to have attended the Masters three times – once as a supporting sister and twice with work, the last time being in 2019 when Woods captured his fifth green jacket. That is, without doubt, the greatest working week of my life. It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it.
Augusta National is known as the hallowed ground of golf. It’s the most private golf club in the world and, with that, comes a whole load of secrecy.
I thought I’d take you behind the curtain and tell you a few things I’ve learned from my times there.
1. The course is a tough walk, and it’s a lot hillier than it appears on TV. Also, if you were driving around Augusta looking for the course, it’s very easy to miss. It’s tucked off a road called Washington Road and the grand entrance, known as Magnolia Lane, is surrounded by fast food restaurants and dollar stores.
2. No mobile phones allowed, ever – not even on the practice days before the tournament gets under way. If you want to take photos, you can on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but you have to take in an old digital or disposable camera. I bought a digital camera in Augusta when I attended my first Masters in 2017 and have only ever used it on the course. I’ve even seen a player’s wife having her phone confiscated!
3. Speaking of which, the big wigs at Augusta National see everything. There are undercover security guards everywhere; if you look really closely at the galleries of patrons you’ll occasionally see an ear piece or a big, burly man speaking into the lapel of his shirt.
4. There’s a very strictly enforced dress code – for patrons and players. Players aren’t allowed to wear shorts on practice days. At the start of the week, Talor Gooch didn’t realise and, moments after arriving on the putting green, was given a pair of black waterproof trousers! No denim for spectators either.
5. There’s an incredible labyrinth of tunnels underneath the course – modeled on Disney World! You won’t see golf carts packed with bottles of water, sandwiches and any other type of food on its way to replenish the many concession stands. It’s all done underground! The merchandise building is the same; the goods are restocked from the ground up. Also, the average spend per guest in the shop is estimated to be in the region of £800!
6. The food is unbelievably cheap – just as well! Their famous pimento cheese sandwich is only $1.50, and a beer is a mere $5. In fact, you can buy every single thing at the concession stand for a grand total of $58.50.
It’s a truly magical week and, as I sit glued to my couch, I’m sad not to be there. As I said, I know I’m very lucky to have attended three times before… and I hope I’m lucky enough to go again. I’m now craving that cheese sandwich!
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