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Been at Augusta for the last 41 2nd Sunday’s in April so this is odd to be at home watching taped golf. With over 120 rounds logged as a patron I’m putting this together to help those that may be going in November for their 1st time to maximize enjoyment at the hallowed grounds.
Go in the South Gate come in behind 13 green/16 tee. You get a glimpse of the exclusive Berkmans Place and the 3 replica putting greens after you scan badges. There is a smaller less crowded merchandise shop with the same shirts/hats. Grab a coffee and egg salad and turn right.
Walk down 13 after 400 yards you will see tons of chairs set up behind 12 tee. These are placed there at 8AM for patrons to come back to. Being no one is playing it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy your coffee. Or when I take the kids their breakfast peach ice cream sandwich.
After taking in the serene setting of Amen Corner with no gallery walk up the hill passing 11 and 10 walk up the left side of 10 to see the cabins and where Rory was in 2011 or right side to see Bubba’s famous shot in 2012. After catching your breath you will be at putting green.
Go to the right by the Eisnenhower Cabin and come out at the Par 3 course. It is roped off but you can see all 9 holes then get in line to get your picture taken in front of Magnolia Lane. This is a free digital download and the only way to get a picture during tournament rounds.
Go back around the clubhouse and head over to the practice facility. Amazing they put this together in less than a year as this use to be a huge gravel parking lot. Now it is the most impressive practice grounds in the world. Autograph area for kids there but players rarely sign.
About an hour before final group pegs it go to grab another sandwich/drink near the main scoreboard and head up the big hill to bleacher behind 1. This is the way to relax before a grueling 4 hour walk and guarantees you see the guy who is soon to slip on the coat start his round
Try to get a lower aisle seat in the grandstand as once the final group putts out everyone leaves and if you are top corner you will miss the 2nd hole getting out. Cross to right side of 2 in front of tee box. If you need a refill there is a huge concession area and restrooms.
If you make pit stop it’s best to stand at the top of the hill to look down on 2 green. They come right back to you and 3 green is to your right. If you don’t stop pin is cut far right and keep your head on a swivel as it can be a firing zone. Saw Sergio almost kill a lady here.
Go down the right of 3 and head towards green most guys play mid iron off tee and there is not much drama until the 2nd shot. That green is insane and there is a huge hill to the right to be able to see the approaches and putts better than most other holes.
4 use be a hole I would skip as if you weren’t in bleacher to left you couldn’t see anything. However with new back tee on 5 they opened up the right side so now you can walk that way and stand behind the green. Last year was new and people didn’t take advantage of the prime view
5 is tough since you can’t go to the left. You have to cross in front of the tee to the right then walk up the hill & back across. If you get through the crosswalks without getting held up you can stand on the hill to the left to clearly see the putts. This is another wild green.
6 is tough to get around as the ropes are moved way back behind that green but you can actually stand under the tee box and watch the shots fly over you then the players walk down the hill. Also 16 green is just to your right so you can a group try to use the slope to make an ace
7 has a big hill behind the green that has a great vantage point with a scoreboard to let you see who is making a move. If the final group is struggling this is a chance to catch up to another group since it’s the center of the property. 17 is just to right & 10 green steps away.
Can take a break as there as concessions around and if you go up 8 you have to come back down 9 since 8 runs 550 yards away. If you go down 8 don’t go right as you are held up 125 yds from the green. There is a grandstand behind the green and generally lots of birdies to be made.
Go down left of 9 as there is a big hill by 1 fairway/tee to allow you visibility. This green is also wild sloping back to front. Seen many balls roll 40 yards back. 2nd shot in 1996 is where it all began to slip away from Norman. Jack birdie here in ‘86 started his -7/10 holes.
10 you can walk down left or right side. Left is best vantage point for 2nd shots but right of green is where there is a huge hill by 15 tee so I recommend right to see approaches. Tiger restarted here in Sunday ‘05 at 7:30 AM I was with my dad and maybe 30 others he hit it stiff
The most beautiful part of the course is also the hardest to see. The closest you can get to 11 green is 60 yards & with the pin tucked left you can’t see the hole. You can go from 10 to 14 green (just 40 yards) but it’s silly to not be around the action at Amen Corner on Sunday.
12 is same you can’t get within 160 yards of this green but you have to watch the tee shots. Big hill behind tee allows you to see them. So many memories 2015 Spieth blew it but last year was eerie how winds picked up and 4 of the 6 hit in @RaeRaesCreek to open the door for Tiger
Behind 13 green is gorgeous & it can be a game changer but once again you can’t get within 100 yards so after watching tee shots/drops on 12 we head to 14 green to see the last few groups. There is a grandstand there now or a big hill right behind the craziest green on the course
The bleachers left are 15 are a great place to watch as you can also see what is going on at 16 plus the big scoreboard to right of 15 green. However if you watch 14 you likely won’t find a seat so after approach shots are hit crosswalk opens and you can stand at top of the hill.
16 has a massive hill to left (where you watched 6) There’s always drama here & really the last great chance to see unless you leave 15 crosswalk for bleachers left of 17. I recommend going to 16 green though. Crazy how Nicklaus shot in ‘86 and TW last year were identical twins.
Go down left of 17 as you get blocked right and forced to cross. By now it is tough to see anything but if you get lucky you can find a view behind to the back pin. That’s exactly where players don’t want to be & why Gary McCord was banned for saying they have “body bags there.”
18 is virtually impossible unless you came in at 8 AM and placed a chair. We’ve done that before it’s not my style just to sit in one spot and watch the same shot but it is cool to see the winner plus the playoff begins on 18. Any chance to see is right of green by hill near 10.
We typically skip 18 to find front row spot on putting green for green jacket ceremony. Had the perfect place in 2018 with my wife and daughter hoping to see Rickie slipping on coat but when Reed won we looked at each other shook our heads and went to see @Denis15Sonia at T-Bonz.
Augusta is such a special place for my family. Really missed it this week but totally get the quarantine is what needs to be done. This tragic virus has taken too many lives and I’m so sorry for those who have lost loved ones. Stay safe and hope to see you at Augusta in 7 months!
