‘I played Augusta National golf course – five things shocked me’ | Golf | Sport
Only a few people get to play Augusta National as a member of the public (Image: Getty)
Is it the most iconic golf course in the world? There’s only really the Old Course or Pebble Beach that are mentioned in the same breath. But one things for sure, compared to the others, there’s nowhere that has as much mystique as Augusta National.
For starters, only around 300 memberships are in circulation at one given time. There’s an argument to be made that winning the Masters is one of the easiest ways to get a membership (well, an honorary membership) at Augusta National.
It isn’t the sort of place where having a hefty bank balance guarantees you entry. Just ask Donald Trump, who is said to have been pining for an Augusta National membership for decades.
As such, it’s pretty difficult for regular folk to get a taste of what Augusta National has to offer. But not impossible…
There are some avenues for members of the public to enjoy a round of golf at the home of the Masters. Knowing a former Masters champion would help, but even attending a local college could earn you the privilege of traversing the famous fairways (or let’s face it, poking around in the pine-covered woods).
One of the other ways is by covering the Masters in the media, as the tournament offers an exclusive opportunity to 28 journalists to play Augusta via a raffle every year. That’s exactly how golf reporter Michael McEwan managed an 18-hole round in 2023, with the journalist detailing his account in an article for Bunkered.
Unsurprisingly, there were a few things that shocked him about the experience. One of them was before he even got to the first tee, with McEwan surprised with how long Magnolia Lane was in person. He explained: “The drive up Magnolia Lane has been filmed and shared on social media countless times.
Augusta National only has around 300 continuous members at one time (Image: Getty)
“We all know what it looks like by now. Even so, it’s surreal. A couple of things: one, it’s a lot longer it looks; two, it’s infinitely cooler than you can imagine. All I could do was giggle to myself.”
Another came while standing on the first tee, with McEwan recalling he didn’t feel particularly nervous. He added: “A lot of people have asked me how nervous I felt. The honest answer is not particularly. Sure, there were some butterflies, but nothing compared to, say, the Old Course.”
Meanwhile, the hills were also a surprise: “First of all, yes, it’s hilly. Much hillier than it looks on TV and, in a strange way, much hillier than it looks from the other side of the ropes.”
And the greens? You guessed it, immensely difficult: “The greens? Stupendously good and stupendously tough. On the first, I chipped on from off the right-hand side of the dance floor and, at first glance, I thought I had absolutely nailed it. I ended up off the front edge.”
