What to Know Before Attending The Masters

Tips from someone who has sent groups there for years

I just got back from Augusta. We had multiple groups at this year's Masters, and let me tell you, the tournament delivered in a way that is going to make 2027 planning very competitive.

Rory McIlroy won back-to-back green jackets, the final round was a rollercoaster that had patrons collectively losing their minds at Amen Corner, and if you were there for Sunday's back nine, you have earned bragging rights that will hold up for a long time.

Every group we send gets the same pre-trip debrief from us. Here is the version we wish everyone read before they walked through the gates.

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Get your merchandise game plan sorted before you arrive

The pro shop on opening morning looks like Black Friday at a Walmart in 1995. Skip it. Go in the afternoon on day one, get what you need, and get out. Before you go, write down sizes and color preferences for anyone you are shopping for. There is no time to text once you are inside.

The gnomes from Augusta National have developed a genuine cult following. They are the most coveted item in the shop and have resold for upward of $1,000. I had one until my dog bit its head clean off and I cried a little.

One rule to know: Masters merchandise is only sold on-site. There is no website, no restock, no online order. If you want it, you have to get it there.

Good news: you can ship purchases directly home, so you don’t have to bring an extra suitcase.

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Eat everything. Seriously, everything.

Yes, the pimento cheese sandwich is iconic and you should absolutely eat one. But do not stop there. The Georgia Peach ice cream sandwiches are genuinely outstanding and worth going out of your way for. Prices are famously reasonable for a world-class sporting event, which is part of what makes Augusta National such a singular place. Work your way through the concession menu. You will not regret it.

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Leave your phone at the hotel and plan like it is 1998

No phones inside Augusta National. Write down any numbers you might need before you go in. This also means no GPS on the grounds. Pick up a course map at the entrance and study it. Augusta is significantly bigger than it looks on television and the elevation changes will surprise you. Get oriented early.

Know where to stand before the gates open

Positioning matters when you do not have a phone and there are 40,000 patrons around you. A few spots worth knowing:

Amen Corner, specifically the par-3 12th, is where tournaments are made and lost. This year was no exception. Get there early and hold your spot. The 16th hole on a close Sunday has an energy that is genuinely unlike anything else in golf. If you want a quieter experience where you can actually follow players up close, the area around the 10th and 11th fairways tends to be less crowded and gives you a real sense of how good these players are in person.

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If 2027 is on your radar, start now

In 2027, Rory has the chance to do something no one in golf history has ever done. Three Masters in a row. Nobody has done that. Not Tiger. Not Nicklaus. Nobody.

We have helped groups navigate Masters logistics for years, and we genuinely love putting these trips together.

If you want help with 2027, reach out to us at info@alpenglowtravel.com

We will take it from there.