Clubhouse Eats: Augusta National’s pimento cheese sandwich remains the ultimate tradition unlike any other

Welcome to Clubhouse Eats and Drinks, where we’ll introduce you to our favorite food and drink at some of the best golf courses, golf resorts and golfy locations around. Cheers!

For Southerners, pimento cheese has long been a ubiquitous presence at backyard barbecues and cocktail parties. For the rest of us, it’s a somewhat alien form of sustenance. What exactly is a pimento cheese sandwich anyway? Like most things, opinions vary on best practices when it comes to its preparation, but just about every iteration includes the following: a mix of cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and pimentos (mild peppers with a sweet flavor, in case you were wondering) piled generously between two slices of white bread.

A quick scan at the ingredient list on the wrapper of Augusta National Golf Club’s celebrated version reveals the additional inclusion of Monterey Jack cheese, cream cheese, onions, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Home chefs might opt to mix it up further by adding Worcestershire sauce or chile paste.

While opinions on the quality of the sandwich’s taste tend to be polarizing (those who have tried it can usually be categorized into love it or hate it camps), there’s no doubting one thing: Pimento cheese is the signature sandwich of the Masters, and if you’re ever lucky enough to roam the hallowed grounds of Augusta National during tournament week, eating one is as much a part of the overall experience as taking in the view at Amen Corner. And at the bargain price of $1.50, it’s well worth a try.

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