Would you spend $5,000 for a round at Augusta

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='Mob' timestamp='1424978781' post='11033975']
[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1424978620' post='11033951']
[quote name='Mob' timestamp='1424978119' post='11033899']
When I was 27 years old and just started playing golf, I was asked to serve as a medic for the Masters. They took 5 senior med students each year to do this (this was back in 1997, not sure if they still do this). The med students were allowed to play the course on Monday following the Masters tournament as a Thank You from the club. I had already planned a ski trip with my fiance and friends, so I declined. Probably one of the worst decisions I have made in my life. Almost 18 years later and I am still regretting it.
[/quote]

You made the better choice. I just hope that fiance is now your wife, and those friends are still in your life.
[/quote]

we are married and have 3 great kids. However, none of that would have changed if I had cancelled the ski trip and worked the Masters instead. To put it in perspective, I had just started playing golf and really couldn't have appreciated anything about playing there at that time in my life, which is why I probably declined.
[/quote]

Still, for all those reason's +1 ..

[WaltonW]

My vote - yes - would be a great experience that I would never forget

[deadsolid...shank]

[quote name='rsj1360' timestamp='1424983828' post='11034563']
[quote name='deadsolid...shank' timestamp='1424983780' post='11034557']
[quote name='rsj1360' timestamp='1424983677' post='11034551']
Augusta National represents everything that is wrong with the game of golf to me.

Enjoy watching the golf in The Masters but despise the "coverage" and the ridiculous rules around the tournament ("patrons" not "fans" - the silly jump suits on the caddies - "bunkers" not "traps", etc). I mean come on it is a freaking game.
[/quote]

RS, haven't seen you posting in a while. Been busy digging out from the snow?
[/quote]
Yup - all 8-9 feet of it - by hand - by myself.
[/quote]

Ugh!! Feel for you.

[emansun]

Very unlikely

[NYCgolfer17]

Yes: you can always make more money, you cant always play Augusta.

[alfie]

[quote name='Michael C.' timestamp='1424827159' post='11022253']
If I had money to burn and the opportunity. Once
[/quote]

Ditto...

[Phreddy]

The irony that would make it worth it to me, is that money in and of itself can not buy access to Augusta.

You can buy scalper tickets to the Masters, the Super Bowl or buy your way into just about any event, but you can't scalp your way into an invitation to play 18.

[B-wall]

[quote name='TheLarch' timestamp='1424827532' post='11022307']
Been there 4 times. Greatest course I've ever set foot on. I'd go $500 max for Augusta or St. Andrews Old Course. Just the principle of things. Seems almost vulgar spending several thousand for a round of golf, especially when my yearly membership at Ben Hawes GC is $450.
[/quote]

St. Andrews Old Course would only be about $125 a round right now. It generally peaks, depending on the exchange rate, around $260 US dollars.

[SuperPapaBear]

This is much closer than I expected.

[mattmcg81]

I would pay it

[BigMike300c]

Yea I'd pay it with a smile

[hgb]

If I could bring along a friend, maybe. Half the fun is the shared memories. But if I had 5K to spend and it was playing Augusta or taking a weeklong trip to Scotland or Ireland, then no contest.

[Noyes26]

I would, in a heart beat. If spending the 5k for a once in a lifetime experience was too much for me to handle expense wise I would figure out a way to make it work. Even if it meant me having to take a job on the weekend asking people if they want fries with that for a year.

[SilverBullets]

Converting money into memories... I absolutely would pay $5k to play it. I'd pay $10k of my dad could come.

[sjklug13]

Without hesitation. Bucket list.... CHECK!

[Nine Miler]

Yes. For sure. Absolutely.

[snowdayz]

Without a second thought....YES!!!!

[knock it close]

So I'm still all in at augusta but I think for 5 grand I'd rather play NGLA in the morning, have lunch and then hop over to shin for the afternoon.

[cradd10]

I've been fortunate enough to play 5 rounds at Augusta. Every time on someones else's dime. While it is extremely special i would not spend the 5K. I think anyone who did would be disappointed several weeks after the round.

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='cradd10' timestamp='1425486153' post='11075789']
I've been fortunate enough to play 5 rounds at Augusta. Every time on someones else's dime. While it is extremely special i would not spend the 5K. I think anyone who did would be disappointed several weeks after the round.
[/quote]

I agree. However, I am curious. Is your view be based on course condition and not being able to play the same tournament tee's?

[Holy Moses]

Compared to dues, I wonder how much each member at Augusta pays per round if you divided it up

[ProVman]

Of course it's a YES!! Been a dream for over 40 years!!

This is all hypothetical anyway so rational $$$ thoughts are not part of the cerebral process.

[hogans71]

[quote name='Bear Trader' timestamp='1424864942' post='11024563']
I wont even spend $500 overrated and there a lot better courses out there.
[/quote]

ANGC is overrated? A LOT better courses? OK...

Yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I've been pretty damn lucky to play the courses I've played- Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, far reaches of the U.S. Quite a few of those reside in the top 100 lists. I've also been to the Masters- and it is everything that people say it is. And then some...

To play there would be the pinnacle of my golfing life.i guarantee my brothers would jump at this chance as well.

I just hope they tell us we can stay the night in the Crows nest, have dinner, then drinks overlooking the grounds...

[highscoreinky]

Not a chance. I could play quite a few of my bucket list courses for $5,000.00 even if I had to pay $500.00 a round so that's where my money would go.

[cradd10]

[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1425488469' post='11076087']
[quote name='cradd10' timestamp='1425486153' post='11075789']
I've been fortunate enough to play 5 rounds at Augusta. Every time on someones else's dime. While it is extremely special i would not spend the 5K. I think anyone who did would be disappointed several weeks after the round.
[/quote]

I agree. However, I am curious. Is your view be based on course condition and not being able to play the same tournament tee's?
[/quote]

Course condition is always perfect. According to my host, the only thing that changes is the green speed. They go from 13 stimp (reg for members) to 14-15 (tournament). I was able to play tournament tees. I played them in 2012. When i played my 2 rounds this year, I choose to play from member tee because wind was 20-25 and temp was 40°

[bk52]

Two responses:

Fantasy - great weather, great companions, you are playing well - Yes

Reality - you get sent out with 3 crabby members who are in a hurry to get to the bar, after 3 holes it starts to rain and then an hour later it starts to lightning and you can't finish (rain check - surely you jest, sir!) and to rub salt in the wound, you are 12 over par after the 6 holes you did manage to play. - No

I agree with odshot68 that the memories of playing Augusta are worth $5,000 to me but the reality is that it might not be a magical experience and one might walk away kicking oneself for blowing $5,000

[userpick21]

I'd think about, but probably not. Hard to justify that cost.

[Sean2]

If I was a multi-millionaire I wouldn't pay $5,000 to play Augusta National. It's the principle of the thing.

[thug the bunny]

Nah. Let's get some perspective here. It's a round of golf. I could, and will soon, buy my son a car which he really needs to get around for that money. I guess I'm hanging with a bunch of upper crusts here. I feel priveledged just to be in your presence...

[xraydoc]

For sure. On the next plane