Masters trip 2026

[jacob7071]

Apologies if this isn't the right place for this thread.  My dad is turning 70 next year, and I wanted to take him to the Masters (and bonus for me because I've never been).  How soon should I start looking for tickets and places to stay?  And does anybody have any tips they want to share (or PM if you don't want your secrets out on the line, instantaneously, for all to see)?  

[BlkNGld]

Well, the ticket lottery is currently open...

[MidwestHacker]

Good news is you still have a chance to enter the ticket lottery, so you may not have to pay secondary prices (unlikely, but maybe you get lucky). Masters Tickets 

Edit: Also, ANGC is apparently really cracking down on secondary market tickets, so that may not even be an option anymore...

 

The only time I've been I was living in Athens, GA which is about 2 hours away (not a terrible drive, not particularly close either) so I cant help with personal experience on places to stay, but Sea Island, Brunswick area, Columbia SC/Aiken SC, Lake Oconee area are all places I've heard of friends staying while attending the Masters. 

Edited June 5 by MidwestHacker

[rollen]

Went in 2022.  Stayed in Columbia, SC.  It’s about an hour drive. Traffic in that direction was surprisingly light.  Was in the parking lot minutes after getting off the highway.  
 

[jacob7071]

17 minutes ago, MidwestHacker said:

Also, ANGC is apparently really cracking down on secondary market tickets, so that may not even be an option anymore...

I assume the prices on the secondary market made it somewhat exclusive but still doable if you really wanted it.  But now ANGC is trying to take away what little access there once was?  That sounds about right. 

[dmbolp]

Have every friend, family, co-worker, neighbor put in for the Lottery for you.  Go to a Practice Round when hotels are cheaper, and then watch the tourney on TV after walking the course a day or 2 prior.

[MidwestHacker]

Just now, jacob7071 said:

I assume the prices on the secondary market made it somewhat exclusive but still doable if you really wanted it.  But now ANGC is trying to take away what little access there once was?  That sounds about right. 

Pretty much. A friend purchased tickets on the secondary market last year and was stopped and questioned about where he obtained his tickets. He lied and made up a story about a coworker/friend gifting them to him; people who told the truth about purchasing on the secondary market were apparently liable to be refused entry. 

[Warrior42111]

6 minutes ago, MidwestHacker said:

Pretty much. A friend purchased tickets on the secondary market last year and was stopped and questioned about where he obtained his tickets. He lied and made up a story about a coworker/friend gifting them to him; people who told the truth about purchasing on the secondary market were apparently liable to be refused entry. 

From my understanding it's more on tickets under continuous reuse.

 

For example my ticket I go in 8-10, sell it in lot to you. You go in 1030 to 1, you leave and sell it the Johnny, he goes in 130-330 and so on.

 

[Putter Addict]

As others have mentioned, Columbia is a good metro area to stay. Not much in Augusta and they raise the prices to insane rates. My hotel near Columbia was regular price when I booked but sold out well in advance so the sooner the better. 

[MidwestHacker]

2 minutes ago, Warrior42111 said:

From my understanding it's more on tickets under continuous reuse.

 

For example my ticket I go in 8-10, sell it in lot to you. You go in 1030 to 1, you leave and sell it the Johnny, he goes in 130-330 and so on.

 

This article Inside The Masters Ticketing Crackdown doesnt make it sound like that is purely the case. It matches what I heard anecdotally from someone in attendance, who purchased his ticket before the gates opened and was pulled aside as the first and only person to use the ticket.  

[Warrior42111]

4 minutes ago, MidwestHacker said:

This article Inside The Masters Ticketing Crackdown doesnt make it sound like that is purely the case. It matches what I heard anecdotally from someone in attendance, who purchased his ticket before the gates opened and was pulled aside as the first and only person to use the ticket.  

Sounds like the company is seeing lost profit for them.

 

I wonder in a year or two we see a you can only buy for them and sell back to them for them to resell. 

[MidwestHacker]

Just now, Warrior42111 said:

Sounds like the company is seeing lost profit for them.

Tickets regularly resell for thousands on the secondary market, yet ANGC sells the tickets to lottery winners for peanuts (relatively). Seems like they could charge several thousand per day pass, still sell out, and 2000x their profits instantly. 

[chachang25]

4 minutes ago, MidwestHacker said:

Tickets regularly resell for thousands on the secondary market, yet ANGC sells the tickets to lottery winners for peanuts (relatively). Seems like they could charge several thousand per day pass, still sell out, and 2000x their profits instantly. 

Think the way ANGC handles things like broadcast rights gives you a pretty good indication they're not about profit maximization

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/telecast-unlike-other-inside-masters-110000677.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAL4nzy_4PrFM13zuh8p3CVf2HJR4UGXjngabNBJPtr2k396EQGeGhZGWjJ3DwRFeatcM90oM_vdEzcnL15ha_t1i4wm6kLbgP_6xybbU3Chm8BMhjwe0CHrnKkGO4l28FKXm0ptf-a6TjaQWTpDTSWM_1m-IbbHUgBG_mk4y_Avz

Edited June 5 by chachang25

[MidwestHacker]

1 minute ago, chachang25 said:

Think the way ANGC handles things like broadcast rights gives you a pretty good indication they're not about profit maximization

They're making it harder to get in so the truly wealthy will have to pay $17k a pop to their hospitality company partner for the guarantee that they can get Master's tickets. Certainly makes it seem like a money grab. At least if they just increased the lottery ticket price us normal people could afford to go if we won the lottery, $17k/per ticket kinda makes it out of the realm of possibility for most people. 

[etodd]

21 minutes ago, Warrior42111 said:

From my understanding it's more on tickets under continuous reuse.

 

For example my ticket I go in 8-10, sell it in lot to you. You go in 1030 to 1, you leave and sell it the Johnny, he goes in 130-330 and so on.

 

They only allow two entries per day I believe. At least from when i've been.

[dmbolp]

58 minutes ago, etodd said:

They only allow two entries per day I believe. At least from when i've been.

 

That's the case for paper Daily tickets, and that's probably 95%+ of the secondary market.  The tourney day plastic Badges (or Series Badges) that can be "rented" by a secondary market broker for a period of time have unlimited INs/OUTs.

[etodd]

Just now, dmbolp said:

 

That's the case for paper Daily tickets, and that's probably 95%+ of the secondary market.  The tourney day plastic Badges (or Series Badges) that can be "rented" by a secondary market broker for a period of time have unlimited INs/OUTs.

Never been in that scenario haha. Paper tickets over here. Good to know!

[dmbolp]

57 minutes ago, etodd said:

Never been in that scenario haha. Paper tickets over here. Good to know!

 

Rented one for $250 from the Stubhub house at Noon Saturday 2014 the year Bubba won his 2nd.  Had to return it by 7pm that night to avoid a $5k fee 🤪

 

 

[retch10]

19 hours ago, dmbolp said:

  Go to a Practice Round when hotels are cheaper, and then watch the tourney on TV after walking the course a day or 2 prior.

I'm going to Oakmont Tuesday.  Can't wait

 

Masters lottery application is complete for the year. 

[jacob7071]

Dang!  Sounds like we should've gone for his 65th birthday.  Too bad 2021 was a dumpster fire of a year.  If I win the ticket lottery, Columbia is a good suggestion.  I just assumed Atlanta, but you can drive for an hour there and still be in Atlanta.  

[dmbolp]

Win the Lottery first, then worry about where to stay

[pseudoswede]

8 minutes ago, dmbolp said:

Win the Lottery first, then worry about where to stay

 

Most hotels this far in advance have generous cancelation policies. I can currently book a king room at the Residence Inn in northwest Columbia, SC (70 minutes to ANGC with no traffic) for $744 for a whole week (4/7-4/13), and I don't have to cancel until April 5. To hedge your bets even more, make seven single-day reservations and cancel the ones you don't need if/when you figure out the ticket situation.

[rollen]

If you wind up going and staying in Columbia, I recommend going to Villa Tronco for dinner. 

 https://villatronco.com

[Vespar]

On 6/5/2025 at 2:34 PM, Warrior42111 said:

From my understanding it's more on tickets under continuous reuse.

 

For example my ticket I go in 8-10, sell it in lot to you. You go in 1030 to 1, you leave and sell it the Johnny, he goes in 130-330 and so on.

 

Practice rounds allow you enter and exit and reenter only, that's it. Your plan above would not work.

[Ferguson]

If you can tolerate a long plane ride, Doha provides a better Masters experience.  

 

 

[jonsnow]

On 6/5/2025 at 2:46 PM, MidwestHacker said:

Tickets regularly resell for thousands on the secondary market, yet ANGC sells the tickets to lottery winners for peanuts (relatively). Seems like they could charge several thousand per day pass, still sell out, and 2000x their profits instantly. 

 

On 6/5/2025 at 5:00 PM, dmbolp said:

 

Rented one for $250 from the Stubhub house at Noon Saturday 2014 the year Bubba won his 2nd.  Had to return it by 7pm that night to avoid a $5k fee 🤪

 

 

Plainly says on the ticket "Not for resale" yet people insist on buying on the secondary market, then complain about the prices they end up paying? 

[dmbolp]

33 minutes ago, jonsnow said:

Plainly says on the ticket "Not for resale" yet people insist on buying on the secondary market, then complain about the prices they end up paying? 

 

No other way to get in, and I'm certainly not complaining about $250 for a Saturday 🙂