Augusta Membership/Michael Jordan

jonsnow · May 6, 2020

One of my dad's best friends was co-owner of the local printing company that did all the printing for Augusta National & still does most of it, including the daily pairings sheets that are free. His children had no interest in the printing business so he eventually sold out to his partner & that family continues to operate it. He used to bring some of the materials they printed for the members only since he knew I was a golf nut. I remember seeing a booklet that listed all the members & their homes, just town & state/country not complete addresses. I remember there was a concentration of members with hometown of Hobe Sound, FL. Not sure if that is still applicable, this had to be 35 years ago or more. This was pre-Bill Gates/Warren Buffet.

I'm not sure Billy Payne gets enough credit for dragging the club & the tournament into the current century. His initiatives did so much to improve the image of the club & start to use the vast resources it has to grow the game (I hate that phrase, but I can't think of a more appropriate one in this case).

Richard, I'm guessing those hats were not bought at the merchandise shops but in the clubhouse. Not sure if it's still true, but in the past the only way to get an item with logo only was in the clubhouse. Items bought at the merchandise shops always had Masters or Augusta National on them along with the logo; items bought in the clubhouse had the logo only. But I've only been to the tournament once since Tiger's first year so that may no longer be true; tickets became so much harder to get for locals after 1997 & I had been 20+ times so I didn't feel the need to beat the bushes to find tickets.

BNGL · May 6, 2020

I totally agree I’ve always been of the opinion it’s a private club, you don’t have to be a member if certain policies don’t suit you. You hit the nail on the head particularly with the R&A if they had never pushed it, Muirfield would probably still be men only. I was just curious there’s times I’m genuinely unable to comprehend the “vitriol” directed private club policies (granted it’s over text and lots is left to interpretation of the reader).

One of the funniest (not necessarily, ok definitely not PC or an endorsement of religious and racial discrimination) stories I ever heard was when I was playing Everglades Club with a now former pro from there. Everglades Club is a gorgeous golf course in Palm Beach terrific golf club, highly highly restrictive as to who may be a member (or even come on the property) there. Apparently Sammy Davis Jr (google him kids) was escorted from the grounds one night and the members said, “he was what we call totally f***ed, he’s black and Jewish.”

MUNIGRIT · May 6, 2020

As far as Master's memorabilia in hats, shirts, etc, I thought the unwritten rule was dont wear it unless you attended and bought it there. Are some saying only wear it if you played it?

Ironman_32 · May 7, 2020

That may be the unwritten rule (I guess? together?), I never attended the Masters but I hear the stories about people having shopping lists at the merchandise tent for friends back home.

For the logo, might make sense to have items not dated, easier to sell at a different point in time. Most of their stuff is essentially "timeless", so you can sell it multiple years or after the tourney.

Side note: Anyone ever know what happens to items after a tournament is done? I would love to get some gear from prior tournaments/Ryder Cups/Presidents Cups by where I live but can't find it anywhere.

3whacker · May 7, 2020

Poshmark and Ebay have the items you are looking for, also look at the Captain's sponsors...in the past whatever company apparel the captain used was customarily used for the gear of choice for the team, dont know if that is still the case but it used to be the norm