Who Has Attended The Masters?

[1badbadger]

I thought 2016 was the year I finally got to get inside the gates, but unfortunately it didn't work out.  Are there any Sand Trappers who have had the opportunity to go to The Masters?  Was it everything you hoped it would be/everything that you had heard, or did you think it was overly hyped-up?

[jsgolfer]

Going to Wednesday practice round in 3 weeks. 

[woodzie264]

every year faithfully, through the TV

[iacas]

Paging @NCGolfer.

And free admittance is one of the few reasons I keep doing this PGA thing…

[David in FL]

Twice.  It exceeded my expectations, even the second time after I had seen for myself what a special place and event it is.

 

[Jakester23]

Attending the Masters is a bucket list for me.  @David in FL would you mind giving some details?

[coachjimsc]

I have attended 4 Tuesday practice rounds. In person looks totally different then on TV. Meaning the elevation changes are more dramatic then can be perceived on television. 

I didn't recognize the 13th hole. It appeared to me that the second shot was downhill when it was actually uphill. The severe side slope in the fairway was also more dramatic. The ball is actually knee to thigh height.

The slope on the 16th green is incredible.

From the fairway on 18 you pretty much only see the flag stick. The green it self is relatively small.

Had a very difficult time finding a weed. 

[NCGolfer]

I've been to one Monday practice round back in 2009.  It was an absolute blast to go.  My father got tickets in the lottery and I went with him, my brother and brother-in-law.  I'd echo what @coachjimsc said on many things...especially the elevation changes.  The place is incredibly immaculate and amazing.

Also, @coachjimsc, if you read the link it took me until #4 (walking the course backwards) to find a weed.  I wouldn't be surprised if they came out the next day to remove it.

After we walked the course backwards we watched guys come through #15 sitting in the stands to the left of the green.  Enjoyed a pimento cheese sandwich and a beer.  Heaven.

[1badbadger]

47 minutes ago, coachjimsc said:

I have attended 4 Tuesday practice rounds. In person looks totally different then on TV. Meaning the elevation changes are more dramatic then can be perceived on television. 

I didn't recognize the 13th hole. It appeared to me that the second shot was downhill when it was actually uphill. The severe side slope in the fairway was also more dramatic. The ball is actually knee to thigh height.

The slope on the 16th green is incredible.

From the fairway on 18 you pretty much only see the flag stick. The green it self is relatively small.

Had a very difficult time finding a weed. 

 

14 minutes ago, NCGolfer said:

I've been to one Monday practice round back in 2009.  It was an absolute blast to go.  My father got tickets in the lottery and I went with him, my brother and brother-in-law.  I'd echo what @coachjimsc said on many things...especially the elevation changes.  The place is incredibly immaculate and amazing.

Also, @coachjimsc, if you read the link it took me until #4 (walking the course backwards) to find a weed.  I wouldn't be surprised if they came out the next day to remove it.

After we walked the course backwards we watched guys come through #15 sitting in the stands to the left of the green.  Enjoyed a pimento cheese sandwich and a beer.  Heaven.

The first thing it seems like most people mention is the elevation changes and how much more dramatic they are in person.  I've heard the 10th fairway is like a downhill ski slope, and I've also heard others talk about how much steeper the 18th hole is than what it looks like on tv.

Another aspect that I've heard from several people is how close some of the greens and tees are to each other.  Oh, and like @NCGolfer said...there is something about the pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches...

[CarlSpackler]

I was there 2 years ago for the Wednesday practice round. There is a thread around here somewhere about it. 

Yes, the hill (down 10 and up 18) is a doozy. My calfs were burning pretty good. 

[caniac6]

Used to go before the lottery was in place for practice rounds. No matter what words I would use to describe it, it will far surpass your expectations.

[jsgolfer]

Tournament week won't get here soon enough.  

[iacas]

If you attend the Memorial and watch it on TV you can get an idea how much TV flattens things.

Or the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

[woodzie264]

On 3/15/2017 at 6:59 PM, iacas said:

And free admittance is one of the few reasons I keep doing this PGA thing…

I never knew that was a perk - very nice

[gmohr]

In the almost 30yrs I have lived in the area I have only been lucky once and that was when my wife was given

practice round tickets back in 2006. Although I used to get to go out to the course communications and press

room many years ago when I worked for a media company.  I was in charge of the network and computer setup

and stability during the tournament.  Unfortunately at the time that was ALL I got to see.  In 2006 the course was

in amazing shape and we got to follow all of the major players, including Tiger, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and more.

It was an amazing day.  Even my wife who does not care for golf said it was an almost magical experience.

I am in the lottery every year and fail to win.  Will keep on trying. 

 

[tigerrag]

I was fortunate enough to attend last year on Saturday, and it was an incredible experience.  This has been a bucket list item of mine for the past 20 years.  Honestly, I felt overwhelmed by the presence of the place and can't even tell you exactly where all I walked to on the course because I was in such a daze by just being there.  A few things that I took away:

• The place is immaculate, not a piece of pine straw or blade of grass is out of place
• The most well run tournament out there.  Everything just flows so well, it is truly incredible.  The long line to get a beer?  That'll only take you about 3 minutes to get through because it is such a well oiled machine.
• You have to have a Masters breakfast of an egg salad or pimento cheese sandwich with a beer
• Much more hilly than it looks on TV
• One thing that kind of irked me was the amount of "privileged kids" there that seemed to just take it for granted and use it as a party with friends.  Seemed like they go all the time without even realizing that hundreds of thousands of people would give about anything for those tickets.  Maybe I was just jealous, but it rubbed me the wrong way.

[GolfLug]

On ‎3‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 8:44 AM, jsgolfer said:

Tournament week won't get here soon enough.  

Do you need an attendant to carry your beer and your pimto egginchees sammich on a tray?....

[Slowcelica]

I have not gone yet either but I have been trying to get tickets for a couple years now, when does registration for the 2018 masters start?