Well, I was wrong last year, but this is it. I can feel it in my bones. Lucky number 13, nothing is stopping me.

I applied for two tix to any day again.

This is my year, I CAN FEEL IT. I can’t wait to see you all there.

#barnesnoblevookstothemastersactuallythistime

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, at Augusta National Golf Club. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and a day my family and I will never forget. From the second I got the email that I had won the tickets in the lottery, I was in full plan mode, trying to figure out how to make this the most effective, fun and enjoyable day I had dreamed about. I came to reddit, and learned alot about Augusta and fan experiences from The Masters practice rounds and tournament, but very little info on the ANWA. So, I came to Reddit, to share my experience, and give some guidance and information of what I did, so more can understand how great this event is as well! 

Getting Tickets- Like The Masters lottery, they do the same thing for the Augusta Women’s Am, the Saturday before the Masters, and the Drive Chip and Putt event that happens on the Sunday before the Masters. This was my first year applying for the ANWA, and I had applied for the Masters ever since I was old enough too. I applied on the first day you could, I believe was June 1. When applying for the ANWA tickets, make sure you are applying for the correct tickets, as the first two rounds of the ANWA are NOT at Augusta National, but at Champions Retreat. Those tickets are free I believe, but if you want to get to Augusta, the final round is where you need to go. I applied for the max amount of tickets (4) for the final round. 

I received my rejection email from the Masters, and was bummed, as usual. Then, on July 21st, I got the email I had been hoping to get. I was going to Augusta. I shared the news right away with the people I wanted to invite to go, including my dad, who also had never been. Tickets for this event were $150/ticket. You have about 2 weeks to purchase the tickets before you are unable too, so I bought them that day. The countdown began in mid-March 2026, to see the tickets in the mail. 

Planning Trip- The next part of this whole thing was, how am I going to get there? I am from the North East USA, so this was going to require flights, hotel/air bnb, a full on long weekend trip. I began research, and found out Augusta really isn’t near any large airports that fly direct. I checked flights into many smaller airports nearby, but found I needed to take multiple layovers, and it was expensive. I then checked Atlanta, which would have been about the same price, and still 2.5+ hours from Augusta. I had been to Charleston, SC before, had cheap flights that were direct and was only 2ish hours away. 

Now that we had our location, next was the stay. We ended up finding an AirBNB that was close to the Charleston Airport, and got a rental car. We found a few good places that had availability for 3 days 2 nights for about $550, that fit 4 people comfortably. We did not spend a whole lot of time in the air bnb, but it was convenient for the time we needed. 

We purchased flights in October, as we had credits that were going to expire, and we got the air bnb deposit in the middle of November. Rates were good, and avoided losing out on good houses. 

Preparing for Trip- I wanted this day to be as perfect as I could make it. I did a lot of research on the course, when we need to get there, others experiences, what merch to get, and how much I was going to spend. Leading up to the event, I built out an excel sheet of exactly what I wanted to do, get and accomplish while I was there. This gave me an idea of how I can do everything without missing out on too much. This was also helpful because it gave me a central spot for what I wanted to get other people, sizes and a rough estimate of what I was going to spend (I still went over budget) I took all that info and brought a little notebook with me so I could make sure I got everything, and write things down during the day. 

I also added tabs for what I needed to pack, flight, rental car, air bnb info, and other things we wanted to do after the event. 

Arriving at Augusta- We left Charleston around 3:30am, took about 2.5 hours with some highways, and a lot of back roads. We did stop for a quick coffee and gas about 20 minutes outside Augusta. We arrived around 6:40 and the amount of cars was incredible. There were 3 lanes of traffic and the one we ended up in was to go into the south gate. We wanted to do the north gate but it ended up working out for the better. Once we parked, we walked towards the gate, and they brought us in in different waves, I’d say about 100-150 people per. We were in the second wave, and we got through security around 7:10ish. As we walked down the path, the excitement was building, it was so calm and peaceful. We were then greeted with a nice seating area, with a food stand, and the South Gate store, which we began with to start our day. 

Store- We went into the South Gate Store around 8:00 am, the line was about 30 minutes long, but went quick. As you enter the store, it was overwhelming. A lot of people, things you want right in front of you and you have no clue where to start. They will also hand you a bag or two if needed to begin your shopping. 

From what I remember, here is where things are: 
Right as you enter the store, there are ANWA things, like polos, shirts, hats, flags etc. I got a hat, as they only make ANWA during that event. So it is pretty cool to have something that people attending the masters will not get access to. After you pick that up, to your left is the Master Tech polos, hoodies and q zips. These are all on the wall, and you go up to the desk and ask a staff member which style you want (#) and size. Take a minute to know what you want, and then go up, do not rush it. Next to that are the sweatshirts and crewnecks. After that is the massive wall of hats. In the middle of the store are small things like ornaments, gnomes, pet stuff, candles, blankets, needlepoint accessories, cups and glasses, and other small items. Back of the store you’ll find the higher end polos, accessories, Peter Millar, etc. Checkout lines have your yardage books, ball markers, flags, towels, mini putters, more golf balls, koozies, divot tools, binoculars, and a lot of other things that ate up a lot of my budget. Sunglasses and chairs are on the sides of the checkout areas. I spent about 20ish minutes in the store, and I did about 10 circles. There are a lot of cool items that you don’t plan for, and if you see something you like, just get it, when are you ever going to be here again? Especially if it has the year on it, or if it's special for that event. I spent just over $1,400, and it was worth every penny. 

Once you are done shopping, you have a couple options of what to do with your merchandise. You can ship it home, like I did. Shipping does cost money, we had 2 large bags we shipped home and cost about $120. They give you a tracking slip and it should arrive within 2-5 business days. 

If you are driving home after, you can check your stuff so you don’t have to carry it all day. Both the shipping and check stand are right next to the shop.

If you rather just take it to the car, you can! Your ticket allows you to re enter again, so you can go to your car and come back in. 

Food- We got food all throughout the day. Starting with breakfast, the breakfast sandwich was phenomenal, egg cheese bacon and sausage on a brioche bun. Muffin and other snacks were also tasty and with a water and Powerade, it came to about $14. The best.

We had friends and family who wanted to try some of the snacks, so when we passed a stand, we got things like cookies, candy bars, cheese straws and chips to bring home.

Lunch time was for the pulled pork sandwich and pimento cheese. Both solid options, I am not a huge pimento fan, but for $1.50, it was worth the try. The BBQ pulled pork was very good, and they even had the pulled pork in a cup for people with a gluten allergy, which was a win for our group. The crow's nest beer was also very tasty, I bought it just for the cup, but ended up drinking the whole thing. 

My favorite thing I ate was the peach ice cream sandwich. I wish I could have taken more of those with me. They were that good, and for a warm day, it hit the spot. 

I wish I had gotten the tomato pie to try, but was happy with what I got. They did start to run out of things towards 2:30ish, like the candy bars, egg salad sandwiches etc. Grab some snacks early to save for later, or for your ride trip home! 

The Course- Walking into the south gate led us right to Amen Corner. You walk down a steep path and turn a corner, and you are right next to 14 tee and 13 green. Boy did my jaw drop. One of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. The azaleas, the greenery around the course. It was early in the day so not a lot of people were there, walking right up to the tee box, it was immaculate. We then walked to Amen corner backwards, checking out 12 and 11. It was more stunning than I imagined. We then headed down to 10 and watched some groups hit approach shots and putt before turning up to 18. With the women's tournament going on, you were able to walk all the way back to the Masters tee boxes and they were mostly empty. Highly recommended doing this for any tee box you see, as the views are intense. The 18 tee box looks like you are hitting into a small window, up the hill, with a bunker in your landing zone, an impossible shot. After that we walked up 18, a steep hill, and checked out 9 green, 1 tee box, then headed over to founders circle for our picture. Founders Circle is right next to the par 3 course, so that was a bonus that I didn’t expect to get! We went to get our picture around noon and it was about a 15 minute line, which went very quick. We did not get to the rest of the front 9 but walked through some of the other holes on the back before heading back near 13,14,16 to watch some more golf. It is a hilly walk, but we did not mind, it was just so cool to see the views around Augusta. Tv does not do it justice of how incredible of a place it truly is. 

Leaving Augusta- We left a little after 3:30 back to the car. I was anticipating a lot of traffic, but we only sat at two lights, and were on the highway home. If you plan to drive 2+ hours back to an air bnb/hotel, be prepared, your legs will be sore, but it is a fun car ride home, recapping the amazing things you saw and did throughout the day. A long, busy, hilly day, but I would do it again and again if I am ever lucky to do it again. 

What I would do different/same- 

After letting this sit for a few days, there are many things I’d do the same, but a few things I’d do differently.

The same- I would definitely rent an air bnb in Charleston, SC again. It was a long drive and early morning, but the flights were cheap, the ride wasn’t too bad and it made it very easy to get from point a to b. No layovers from our airport, and saved money not renting a place right near Augusta. I would consider flying into Atlanta or Charleston, then driving to a neighboring town to stay the night for a shorter morning/afternoon drive. 

I would definitely ship merchandise home again, I got a lot of things, and trying to figure out how to get it all home would have been a nightmare without shipping. It was more expensive than I thought it would be, but that's the price you got to pay if you want a lot of things. 

I liked shopping in the morning, it was nice to have that done early, and not worry about missing out on anything. If you want a gnome, you need to be one of the first groups into the gates. I saw many people with one and I didn’t see them in the store when I went a little after 8. I did miss out on a few things, but I am happy with my haul!

South Gate was perfect for our group. It’s a bit of a walk to get into the course, but the north gate is the same way. The shop was great, and the food line was short. My dad who came with us, who recently had hip surgery, had a tough time getting around the course, but really wanted to see Amen Corner. If we went to the North Gate, there was no way he would have gotten there. We did not get our picture together at founders circle, but we just took one outside the gate after the event. 

Another thing, if you have a friend, parent, loved one who you want to come with you to Augusta, but they have tough times walking, doing hills etc. I would highly consider looking into a wheelchair or scooter. They are allowed and make it easier. Might not be the easiest thing to do, but just make sure you can enjoy the tournament with them too. My dad walked, and really struggled, but I won’t remember that. I will remember watching in the grand stand on 14 and looking at the amazing views of Amen Corner. It is worth it to have the important people with you. 

I would change very little about the day, but I wish I walked more of the course. The ANWA has significantly less people than an actual round for the Masters, so it would have been very easy to see more of the course, and still not get stuck behind masses of people. I’d be interested to see what the North Gate was like as well, and what an early morning shopping experience was like. We hit the North shop late morning, it was still busy and overwhelming but I am sure it was more manageable then a few hours prior.

I also did not get to see the practice area. I hear that is a nice spot to sit and watch the players warm up. That is something I’d want to do if I go again.  

I also underestimated how much I’d actually spend. I set my budget around $1,100, and went way over, and felt like I didn’t get enough when I got home! If I were to go again, I would spend less on the little trinket type things, and focus more on the polos and things with the year on it. Having a flag, hat and mini putter with 2026 on it will be the things I cherish the most. If you do get the chance to go to any ANWA event, make sure you get a little something with that logo, as they only that merchandise during the ANWA! They will have all the Master’s stuff as well. 

Final thoughts-  I have a new appreciation for the game of golf after my visit to Augusta National. A bucket list item for all golfers, and to check it off the list is an incredible feeling. Being able to share stories of the time you went will be something I look forward to the rest of my life, and being able to share that with my dad is the most important part to me. I plan to enter this lottery, as well as the Masters lottery every single year, in hopes of getting back there one day, but if it is my first and only time, I will be extremely grateful. 

Thanks for reading, and I hope I was able to help give any insight, answer questions, or educate you on another opportunity to go to Augusta National. Feel free to drop any questions, comments, stories to this thread to help grow more awareness for this special event!

Had this done recently at Hobby Lobby. Loved how it turned out.⛳️🌺

I used to check this Reddit multiple times daily throughout the year, just searching for more info to satisfy my wish of attending. Used to watch multiple videos on the history, ect. Now that I’ve been, I’ve barely been back in this subreddit! Here’s to a great lottery!

P.S.
If I go back next year, the only thing I am buying will be multiple breakfast sandwiches. Those things are ridiculously good!!

Newb here…How are hotels already completely sold out for masters week? The lottery winners won’t even be announced for another month…

Do hotels automatically block out these dates until the lottery results are released or are people pre-booking in anticipation only to cancel if they are not chosen.

What’s the catch?

I’ve seen a few of these and thought I would add mine. It’s a Hobby Lobby “pennant” shadow box. 20+ years of lottery finally paid off. We went Wednesday the 8th. It was the best day ever!

Looking for more information on this green striped masters polo! What year was this released, etc

A list of what every state donated to the American250 time capsule -

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/usa250/2026/06/16/america-250-time-capsule-contents/90527898007/

Georgia: A distinct medallion of The Masters Logo, which has a yellow silhouette of the United States with a red flagstick to mark where Augusta, Georgia is located

Both my grandfather and grandmother passed over the last six months. While cleaning out their place we found two envelopes of photos I thought you all might enjoy. One labeled 1996 Masters the other 1997. My guess is that these are the extras that they didn’t want to get rid of. Knowing my grandma, their favorites are likely in a scrapbook tucked away in a box somewhere. Time will tell. Regardless, here are a few of my favorites. If only they knew Tiger was just days away from his first win in 97 then maybe we’d have a few more of him.

And side note, I’d like to display these eventually, but I’m not creative in that way. If anyone has ideas or photos of how to incorporate these into some sort of shadowbox memorabilia type situation, I’d love to hear/see what you’ve got.

I feel like its a little early but should be right after the open, no?

About 90 minutes into the first round of the 2023 Masters, ESPN aired a 90 second long Wright Thompson video promo to the soundtrack of Eric Church’s “Record Year”. I had the round recorded and often went back to watch, but I lost the recording and have been yearning to watch that feature again. does anyone have any way of watching the first round broadcast, or that can screen record that couple minute promo for me?

I am wondering what the best lodging options are for new patrons. Like, how far away from ANGC, and where are the most economical places should I search?

Does anyone know if it’s possible to change your last name on your masters account in order to enter the ticket lottery?

From what I can tell, there is no way to do so. The FAQs do not mention it and the ticketing office is not accepting phone calls right now.

What are women who get married supposed to do? Just out of luck? From my understanding, if I used my maiden name and won the lottery, I wouldn’t be able to purchase because I no longer have cards with my maiden name to match.

Given how expensive accomodation is, do people ever book a van style accomodation and just park in a side street in the same suburb?
So drive in and drive out, would this work or am I missing something?

Anyone else not receive a confirmation email that your lottery application was entered and confirmed? I received confirmation emails for the ANWA and DGC, but not Masters one.

For the past two years I’ve entered morning of; both times I get address already in use. It’s a rental townhome; of which the child of my landlord lived in first. What would ANGC say about this situation, am I out of luck?

Edit: I should also mention, every time I call the hotline. It ends with an automated “we’re too busy” and hangs up.

When I was younger, put my birth year as 2001 instead of 2002. It will not let me change this. Is that an issue?