Your Golf Travel - Extraordinary Golf Experiences - Flipbook - Page 38
Asked what tips he would offer to the first-time
Masters’ visitor, Rory Anderson, with three trips
to Augusta under his belt and commonly known
as YGTRory on Youtube, draws a deep breath.
“Wow, there are so many things,” he says. “It’s
very easy to wander around Augusta with your
eyes on stalks, marvelling at the sheer beauty of
the place, but it’s essential to formulate a proper
plan of action and narrow down what you want
to see, who you want to see, and where you
want to see them doing it.”
“If you’re attending on tournament days it will be
easy enough to check the start sheet to work
out what times your favourite players will be
arriving at certain holes, but practice days are
more awkward, as your guy might choose to
walk off after nine, or jump on the back nine, so
if you stumble across your favourite player, it’s
probably wise to stick with them.”
He adds: “It’s worth remembering that cameras
aren’t allowed on tournament days, so there is
no chance of getting a selfie with Tiger from
Thursday to Sunday, although there is an official
photographer that will take a snap of you in front
of the clubhouse. That alone is good reason to
book yourself in for one of the practice days, as
you’ll not only get to see the players in a more
relaxed mood, but you’ll also be able to get the
odd snap of them doing it, as well as bag some
social media bragging rights with your friends
and colleagues back home.”
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Rory also has another nugget that will serve you
well. “A Masters chair is essential. It costs $35,
and can be bought on the door, but I guarantee
that it’ll be the best $35 you’ve ever spent. We
were sceptical, having been told you can plop
your chair down at your favourite spot and
leave it unattended for as long as you like, but
having bitten the bullet and put this to the test
I’m happy to report it’s true. Just be sure to get
to the course early to secure one of the best
locations and its job done for the day. We now
offer a chair as part of our Masters packages,
so that’s a valuable addition that we can provide
our customers.”
YGT co-founder and chief executive, Andrew
Harding, who hosted that first intrepid group
of clients back in 2006, and a veteran of 12
Masters trips, has his own words of advice
when it comes to course strategy.
“The first time I went to The Masters I, like
so many, headed straight to Amen Corner to
experience those iconic holes around the turn,
and then followed play into the 18th. Looking
back, I remember feeling a little annoyed that I
hadn’t seen anything between the first tee and
the 9th green. So, my advice would be to try
and experience the whole course, not just the
holes we all know and love from watching on TV,
as there are some great holes, like the 3rd and
4th, which look so different in real life and are
amazing design examples in their own right.”
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