10 ways you could technically play Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National Golf Club, best known for its role in hosting the Masters every April, is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the United States. It hosts the most famous golf tournament in the world, which means it is also very likely the most famous golf course in the world. That combination means it can be very difficult for you, a member of the general public, to get a tee time.

But not quite impossible.

How can you access Augusta? I’ve pulled together a semi-exhaustive list. It’s going to be tough, my friends. But how bad do you want it?

1. Befriend a member

The most common way to play golf at Augusta National is to get invited by one of the club’s members. While its membership roll is not public, Augusta has in the neighborhood of 300 members and most are allowed to bring guests to play on select days of the season. While members are required to be on property with their guests, they don’t actually have to accompany them throughout the round.

Time to dust off those networking skills, gang. Is there a green jacket you can add on LinkedIn?!

2. Befriend a Masters champ

You’ll often hear about pre-tournament scouting trips to Augusta National; think Rory McIlroy and Tom Brady’s father-son trips. Tiger Woods has come and played Augusta National with his righthand man Rob McNamara, his son Charlie and Justin Thomas. You get the idea: if you become best friends or family with a Masters champ then you, too, could make some casual trips like these.

Apparel

3. Become a member

Just don’t ask to become one; that allegedly dooms your chances. Though you’ve likely already doomed your chances by being a normal member of society rather than CEO of a corporation, Hall-of-Fame quarterback or head of state…

4. Volunteer at the Masters

Even without a connection to a member, there are still other ways to play the course. Volunteers who work a full week at the Masters are invited to an “Appreciation Day” each May, where they are allowed to play a round of golf. The only problem? There’s a waiting list to even become a volunteer!

5. Become a media member — and then get lucky

There are other perks to this gig, too, like access to unlimited chicken sandwiches in the palatial media center. But among the tensest moments of the week is when reporters and photographers rush to check the list of lottery winners on Friday afternoon. Roughly seven foursomes-worth of media (that’s 28 people) win each year. Only downside: once you win, you can’t enter again for seven years. In other words, this isn’t a recipe for regular play.

Tournaments

6. Join Augusta University’s golf team

Patrick Reed’s alma mater, the Augusta University Jaguars, play at nearby Forest Hills but get invited semi-regularly to the National for outings. Other Georgia golf teams reportedly also receive invites from time to time. The question is whether it’s worth it to get your game in shape and apply for school all for one round…

7. Get a job at the club

Near the end of each season, club employees get the chance to tee it up before Augusta shuts down for the summer. (Augusta National is closed between the months of May and October.) Another reason to refresh your resume…

8. Caddie at the club

After a season hauling sticks around the course, caddies get rewarded with a chance to put their learned knowledge to the test at the end of the season. Based on what I’ve heard about these caddies’ average handicap, I’m guessing they could beat most of the members…

9. Work for a big-time sponsor

In addition to media members, some select friends of Augusta National get to play the Monday after the Masters. We’re guessing that means a few folks from sponsors at AT&T, Delta, IBM, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex or UPS — but it’s tough to know for sure. The club doesn’t really like to talk about this sort of thing.

10. Qualify for the tournament

Making it into the Masters isn’t exactly a picnic. It requires winning a PGA Tour event, cracking the top 50 in the world rankings or taking down one of the world’s most prestigious amateur events. But once you do? Plenty of golf at Augusta awaits!

And if you’re a female amateur, the Augusta National Women’s Am is for you. Competitive golf is even more restrictive than the Masters itself — after two rounds at nearby Champions Retreat, just 30 players make it to the final round at Augusta — but every competitor at least gets to play the practice round on the Friday of the event.

There are other sneakier or more nefarious ways you could finagle a few swings at Augusta, but we can’t recommend those in good conscience; the security is too good around here.

Good luck!