Historic Augusta National Golf Club
The Augusta National golf club is famous the world over, it is the home of the annual Masters Tournament. Many great players have played this course and every year fans eagerly await the chance to watch the Masters Tournament here. Founders Bobby Jones and Mackenzie modeled the original course after the famous St. Andrews course in Scotland.
The course is steeped in history and tradition and has maintained an air of exclusivity from its founding till today. There is a slight controversy over the fact that women are still not allowed to have membership at the Augusta National golf club. The club has also courted controversy by practicing discriminatory admission practices. It wasn't until 1990 that an African-American became a member of the club.
Exclusive Membership
The Augusta National golf club is strictly a ‘boy's club' in that no women have ever been members of the club and currently women are not allowed to be members of this club. Women are however allowed to play on the course as the guest of a member.
Membership to the Augusta National golf club remains exclusive. There is no way to apply to be a member as membership is strictly by invitation only. The exact amount of membership fees is unknown but is thought to be somewhere in the region of $25,000 and $50,000.
Presidential Presence
One of the more famous members of the Augusta National golf club was President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The President has left his mark on the course with a tree named the Eisenhower tree, due to the President constantly hitting it in the course of play. There is also an Eisenhower cabin that was built to Secret Service specifications.
Tradition
One of the interesting facts about the Masters Tournament held every year at Augusta is that anyone who wins the Masters Tournament is then eligible to play in every Masters Tournament until his death.
The winner is also presented with a green sports jacket. This jacket is not supposed to be worn outside of the club except by that years Masters Tournament winner. The winner may wear the jacket for a year before returning it to the club.
Playing at the Augusta National golf club is a privilege that not many people will ever experience. Whether because of the expense or lack of connections. It remains for most of us a dream and the closest we can get to it is by watching the Masters every year.
