‘The most prized, and the most difficult ticket in sport to obtain’, the US Masters Tournament at Augusta is the ultimate ‘must-be-there’ event in golf. This is a course in as beautiful and near perfect condition as effort and money can create. It hosts the world’s top golfers, past and present. It is the most prestigious and enjoyable of golf tournaments, and the Augusta committee are tireless in developing natural vantage points for spectators around the course. If you enjoy golf, this is the place to be. It is an event which will provide memories for life. And as a Member of CountryClubuk you have an unmissable chance to be there in person at the Masters Tournament, to take advantage of some exclusive, under-the-radar insider privileges, and even to play a round of golf at Augusta yourself—including taking shots across that world famous water hazard, Rae’s Creek.
This is an exclusive CountryClubuk arrangement, not offered even to the golf-playing public. The tickets are like gold, our numbers are limited to 12 places at this exeptional Club rate, and we know this will be hugely popular with our Members, so please book as soon as you can! Our experts have vetted the hotels, played the golf courses, driven with our transportation companies, visited the venues, and dined at our recommended restaurant, in order to know, intimately, all components of our exciting trip.
Augusta is a phenomenon. It was the brainchild of the great Bobby Jones, who when his championship playing days were over, built the course with Clifford Roberts. They found a 365-acre site, Fruitlands Nurseries, owned by a Belgian baron who had imported a great many flowering plants and trees (some of which can still be seen on the course, including the Magnolia Lane, which was planted before the Civil War). Jones, standing on what is now the practice putting green, surveyed the scene and pronounced the property ‘perfect’.
Building began in 1931 and the first Augusta National Invitation Tournament was held in 1934. The aim was to use the land’s natural contours, and as such it was a ground-breaker. Mounds were used instead of bunkers, there was no severe rough and a natural creek—the famous Rae’s Creek of course—created fascinating water hazards.
Many decisions made in the early years still stand today, including the change of name in 1938 to The Masters Tournament. The Augusta National member’s Green Jacket tradition began in 1937 when members were urged to buy and wear the garment during the Masters so that patrons could identify reliable sources of information. Sam Snead was the first Masters Champion to receive a Green Jacket in 1949. So much history, so many great players: this is where we shall see the world’s greatest lineup of golfers, the cream, present and past, on the course and in the crowd.
The best way to make the most of being at this unique event is to plan your route in advance: our experts on the ground will assist with this, but in general there is time between watching individual shots to view the course’s great historical landmarks. These include the clubhouse—thought to be the first cement house in the entire Deep South. It encompasses the Eisenhower Cabin, built in 1953 for the golf-mad US President, who visited the Augusta course 45 times.
Last year’s champion was Patrick Reed, before him Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson. England’s Jason Rose has been runner-up twice, in 2015 and 2017—he plans to be among those attempting to wear the Green Jacket in 2019. Rory McIlroy will be there, and Tommy Fleetwood, as too will Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Moreover, the Masters just continues to get better, and even more of a magnet—as well as more expensive!—every year. As McIlroy said recently, ‘The Masters has now become the biggest golf tournament in the world. I don’t care about the US Open or The Open. Everything is at Augusta. For me it’s the most special tournament that we play and it’s the one everyone desperately wants to win.’
So many of the names you will see at the Masters are star-studded. If you opt to book these sought-after tickets for the Final you will be in at the climax, there in your Masters Chair at the 18th Hole as the cream of today’s golfers battle it out for the most prized trophy in golf. And if you decide to join the Masters crowd on the Friday too, you will also see the ‘old and bold’ in action, players who might just not make the cut these days. Think of two British greats, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle, both expected in the line-up—they can’t stay away!
AUGUSTA FOR COUNTRYCLUBUK MEMBERS
VIP THREE-NIGHT MASTERS FINAL & AUGUSTA GOLF PROGRAMME
Our exclusive arrangement gives you the chance to be there on the most prestigious Final Day of the US Masters, the Sunday, during a three-night stay, right at the heart of the action. You will enjoy full hospitality all day at the Northwood Club, a smart venue with a country club atmosphere, located just a chip shot away from the Augusta National—it’s the closest hospitality venue to Augusta, serving delicious food and drink all day (7am to 8pm) in more than 8,000 sq ft of indoor and outdoor facilities created exclusively to entertain Masters’ guests. You will have personal service from our golf specialists throughout your stay—and, exclusively, you will have a Masters’ Chair which can be placed for you in prime position at the 18th Hole by a dedicated ‘Masters Chair runner’. To put this into perspective, the queue of spectators attempting to secure the best position is long—your Club runner will have been first in the queue, with your chair, from about 5am!
On the day before the Final, the Saturday, you will have an exclusive chance to play golf on the magnificent, and very private, Augusta Country Club course. This is the only course to march with Augusta National—you get to play your shots over Rae’s Creek, and up to Amen Corner—to the sound of the roars from the Masters Tournament if you get your timing right! Augusta Country Club is a truly fabulous place for the classic golfer, being as private as it gets and imbued with history. One of the very early golf clubs in America, and the first in Augusta, it had its beginnings in the 1890s. Augusta Country Club permits limited reciprocal privileges to other private clubs upon formal written introduction during Masters Week—and our Members will take advantage of our partner relationships in order to play there. This is an 18-hole par 72 Donald Ross re-designed golf course and their Bent grass greens are always perfect in the first week of April. The old school design features strategic, excellent bunkering and awesome greens, while the undulations will provide plenty of enjoyment. It’s not Augusta National of course—but you can still casually announce that you have ‘played golf at Augusta’. And with the thrill of the Masters going on as backdrop to your round, it’s an unforgettable experience.
Your three-day itinerary includes return flights from London or Manchester, direct to Atlanta, a hire car awaiting you at the airport, three nights in the Staybridge Suites—only a mile from the course and chock full of Augusta spectators—with breakfast each day. And speaking of food, as a CountryClubuk Member you have a table reserved for you at the Frog Hollow Tavern, known by the Augusta crowd as the place to eat genuinely delicious food. Frog Hollow combines fine dining at surprisingly affordable prices, using regionally sourced ingredients from nearby farms—think juicy American Angus Fillet of Ribeye, Wild Caught Shrimp and Grits, Crisp All Natural Mountain Springer Chicken and Manchester Fried Quail, all expertly cooked and served with a good bottle of wine from the 100-plus-bottle list. Frog Hollow is fully booked year on year—but for you, a table has already been reserved.
For all this, your CCUK Members’ price is £4,995 per person including VAT (instead of the £5,900 which others would pay—provided they could make the arrangements).
To this three-night itinerary you can add several upgrades—for example, a good add-on is the Masters’ Chair runner at £350. As to flights, you can upgrade to Premium Economy return flights at £825, or Business flights at £2,195, and if you prefer chauffeur-driven airport returns instead of the car hire this adds £200 per person (it’s about 2 hours 30 minutes each way).
Main event: VIP Three-Night US Masters Final (Sunday) and Augusta Golf Itinerary, including flights, accommodation, hospitality and all other benefits as above: Friday to Monday: CCUK £4,995 per person (based on two sharing a twin or double room).
Included in this three-night itinerary:
Return flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Atlanta, Georgia (depart Friday, return Monday);
Car hire with satnav;
Three nights at The Staybridge Suites, Augusta;
Breakfast each day;
Round of Golf at Augusta Country Club on the Saturday, adjacent to the US Masters Tournament course;
Dinner reservation on Saturday evening at Frog Hollow Tavern (dinner at own cost);
Transfers from Staybridge Suites Augusta to Augusta National on the Sunday;
Ticket to The Masters on Sunday, the Final Day;
VIP Hospitality in Northwood Club, 7am-8pm, on Sunday;
Souvenir Masters Chair.
To register your interest for the 2023 US Masters Tournament, call Member Services on 020 7399 2960.
PLEASE READ: CountryClubuk Club Rules and Terms and Conditions