The Augusta National Golf Club is famous the world over as the home of The Masters, one of golf's four major annual championships and the only one to be held at the same course every year. Its pristine greens and general beauty regular see it listed as one of the world's best golf courses.
Unfortunately for golfers the world over, playing a round of golf at Augusta
is reserved for the select few. During the first full week in April it is open to the ticket holding public for the duration of The Masters, but for the rest of the year it is a private members club.
So there's your first
opportunity. Qualify for The Masters. Even better, win The Masters because you are then entitled to play in The Masters every subsequent year until you die and you get an elusive Green Jacket to boot.
Green Jackets are worn on the course by members to distinguish them from guests. There are around 300 members at anyone time, but there is no membership application procedure and no waiting list. You have to be invited to join the club.
Current members include Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and a who's who is other captains of industry, politicians and other wealthy and influential individuals. If you can call one a friend, get him (and it will be a him - there are no womwen members, although women can play the course) to invite you to play as a guest.
There is another way to get a round of golf in at Augusta. Get a job there as a caddie because every year on the last day before the club closes for the Summer (it is closed from June to October) caddies are allowed to play as many rounds as they can.
Otherwise you are out of luck I'm afraid.
Remember though, when the Augusta course was originally designed it was modelled on The Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland, the oldest golf course in the world and with a history and pedigree to rival any golf course in the world.
So if Augusta won't let you play around, why not play at the course that inspired Augusta in the first place?
Contrary to popular belief, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews does not actually own The Old Course despite having a clubhouse close to the first tee.
The six Links courses at St Andrews are open to the public and everyone can follow in the footsteps of the legends of the game, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and the founder of The Augusta National Golf Club, Bobby Jones.
