How much does it cost to play Augusta National

How much does it cost to play Augusta National?

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How much does it cost to play Augusta National? And how does a person go about joining, anyway? No golf course in America is more steeped in history than Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts the Masters Tournament each year. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer are among the golf legends who have enjoyed historic moments during the Masters at Augusta National.

Each of the 18 holes at Augusta National has a name derived from a tree, flower or plant on the course. Some include Tea Olive, Magnolia and Holly. The 11th, 12th and 13th holes are collectively known as Amen Corner, due to the difficulty of the holes in combination with the wind in that location.

HoleNameYardsParHoleNameYardsPar
1Tea Olive445410Camellia4954
2Pink Dogwood575511White Dogwood5054
3Flowering Peach350412Golden Bell1553
4Flowering Crab Apple240313Azalea5105
5Magnolia495414Chinese Fir4404
6Juniper180315Firethorn5305
7Pampas450416Redbud1703
8Yellow Jasmine570517Nandina4404
9 Carolina Cherry460418 Holly4654
FRONT 3,76536BACK 3,71036

Total Yards 7,475 & PAR 72

Augusta National is not only one of the best golf courses in America; it’s also one of the most exclusive. It is a members-only club, and any guest must be accompanied by a member at all times. How much does it cost to play Augusta National?

The club was restricted to white men from the time it opened in 1932 until it admitted its first black male member in 1990. In 2012, Augusta National admitted its first women members: former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina investor Darla Moore. Augusta National’s official list of members is confidential; however, Bloomberg included CEOs and billionaires, among other high earners, in its 2015 list of the club’s verified and speculated members. How much does it cost to play Augusta National?

How much does it cost to play Augusta National?

Augusta National Golf Club’s members include some of the most powerful men and women in the worlds of business, politics and sports (some of them are listed below). But they all had to pay an initiation fee when they joined, and they all have to pay dues. 

They also have to pay other club costs, such as lodging (in the clubhouse or in one of the 10 cabins on the club grounds) and dining for those members who chose to use those services.

But the fact is, the club makes so much money off The Masters Tournament and Masters merchandising, it doesn’t have to charge the gargantuan membership fees you find at some other prominent, exclusive golf clubs.

  • The Augusta National initiation fee — a onetime fee paid upon joining a golf club — is believed to be between $20,000 and $40,000.
  • The monthly dues paid by members are believed to be less than $300, or less than $4,000 annually. 

In 2009, Golf World magazine published an article titled “Inside Augusta National Golf Club.” A club member (speaking anonymously) told the magazine that the initiation fee is in “the low five-figures.” So definitely less than $50,000, and possibly even less than $25,000. A lot of money, to be sure, but much less than many, many other exclusive golf clubs charge. In the United States there are many private clubs with initiation fees in excess of $50,000, and a smaller number that top $100,000.

As for monthly dues, another source told Golf World they amount to “a few thousand” dollars per year. So probably in the neighborhood of $250 a month/$3,000 a year. Lodging fees are little more than $100 per night. Members are mailed a bill once a year for dues and services.

How to apply for Augusta National Membership?

How do you apply for membership? Again, you don’t. There is no way to apply to join Augusta National. Asking to join or even just making it known you’d love to join? That’s sure to get a person booted off the list.

Augusta National memberships are by invitation only. When a membership spot opens — membership is always kept close to 300 — the club decides who to invite and mails the invitation.

Membership slots open primarily when a member dies. Very rarely, a member might resign or, even more rarely, be “asked” (read: told) to leave. The club maintains a list of prospective members based on recommendations from current members. When a membership slot opens, the list is consulted, the poobahs at Augusta National in charge of membership get together, a decision is made and an invitation sent out.

The prospective new member may have no idea he or she is under consideration until that invitation arrives in the mail.

Who are the Augusta National members?

Most of the Augusta National members are prominent, wealthy individuals, people who run in the “right” crowds, who know the “right” people. But some are people you’ve never heard of, including family legacies.

The club does not reveal the names of its members, but anyone paying attention to news reports can glean plenty of names. Those people running The Masters are members, for example; anyone walking around Augusta National in a green jacket while Masters Tournament play is happening is a member.

The Augusta National membership skews very, very rich and quite old.

Notable members

Notable current members include:

Deceased members include:

Chairmen

Chairmen serve for an indefinite amount of time. The chairman is the only person officially authorized to publicly discuss the Masters.

In 1966, the governing board of Augusta National passed a resolution honoring founder Bobby Jones with the position of President in Perpetuity.

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