Are you ready for the Masters? Better yet, are you *going* to the Masters? If you have questions, our experts have answers. Here, in Masters 101, we’ll tell you what to bring, what not to bring, how to dress, what to buy and more.
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The good news? It’s Masters season. The bad news? You didn’t win the ticket lottery. The okay news? Watching at home can be almost just as fun. You’ve got complete control of your surroundings. Want to watch on six screens? Go for it! But the real way to experience the Masters, if you can’t do so in person, is to host a watch party.
Just like a Super Bowl watch party, or perhaps the same affair for the Kentucky Derby, there are a handful of specific steps you should take to make your watch party the best one possible. Below, we’ve carved out nine ways to make that happen. First, it starts with the spread.
1. Taste of the Masters
Augusta National themselves has leaned in on watch parties, providing pre-packaged bundles of its famous on-site food. Want pimento cheese sandwiches? They’ll send you some as part of ANGC’s “Taste of the Masters” offering. Unfortunately for this year, all packages are sold out. So put a reminder in your phone for next February. Or, get to cooking. Luckily, we’ve got the necessary recipes for ya.
2. Caddie bibs
Watching the Masters is good and fine. But looking like you’re at the Masters feels like a necessary step, too. One way is to scoop a caddie bib (check them out below). They provide bibs to players’ families for the par-3 contest every year and are ready to send you a customized bib with your name on it, too. It’s a gift that keeps on giving every April (and also every Halloween).
Adult Custom Caddie Uniform With Name and Number
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3. Multiple screens
Now this is what separates a Masters watch party from some of the other main sporting events: as many screens as you can manage. Thanks to the Masters App, Masters.com and wall-to-wall TV coverage, there is basically no limit to how many screens you can have running on various tournament channels. There’s the classic CBS feed, marquee groups on ESPN+, coverage devoted to specific holes like the par-5 15th and par-3 16th, a feed for Amen Corner, etc. And if that isn’t enough, you can personalize Masters.com or tune back in on a loop for any specific shot on any hole by any player. We’re thinking, maybe six screens will do the trick?
4. The proper Azalea
Long-touted as the signature cocktail of the Masters, the tournament recently released the precise recipe for the Azalea, which you’ll need to make in bulk to provide for a big group. Four ingredients is all you’ll need to create the perfect, soft-pink concoction.
5. A clean menu
Yes, you’re providing the snacks, but not everyone knows what a pimento cheese sandwich includes. Or what’s in an Azalea. Or that the ice cream sandwiches are hopefully peach flavored. So spell it out on a clean, white menu with green font, just like the Champions Dinner menus are formatted. If you happen to make any of the items that Jon Rahm is providing this year, even better. Just tag Chef José Andrés on Instagram. He’s the man behind the big meal this year.
6. Putting mat
Look, golf is slow. There’s a lot more chatter between action at this watch party than others. So you’ll want some distractions (or wagering opportunities). A putting mat is the simplest form of that, making your guests size up 10-footers and prove they’ve got a calm stroke under the pressure of everyone watching. Hopefully you’ve got the space for a 15-foot mat near all those TV screens.
Perfect Putting Mat™ – XL Edition
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7. Lawn chairs? Why not
Again, a great Masters watch party should help place you at Augusta National in some way. And considering how many people you’ll be hosting, it would be good to keep a couple of lawn chairs around in the event of high seating demand. If they happen to be the forest green chairs that patrons buy and bring to the tournament in Georgia, even better.
8. As many flowers as you can afford
This could be the best silver-lining to hosting a proper Masters party: buying as many pink, yellow and white flowers you can. They’ll accentuate the spread fantastically, they’ll make your place smell great, and when the tournament is over, you can still use them to decorate your home.
9. Drinking games?
Last but certainly not least is some sort of game to get people invested in watching. It’s too easy to hang out in the kitchen and not watch the actual golf, chatting away about this or that. But you’ve gathered to watch the golf, so give people a reason to watch.
Make everyone in attendance select a golfer upon arrival. Pick golfers out of a hat if you’d like. If your golfer makes a par, take a sip. If they make a bogey, finish your drink. If they make a birdie, someone of your choosing finishes their drink. And if an eagle is made, hand out a shot. And in the event of an ace, everyone is taking shots. (Hopefully your watch party is on a Saturday.)
