Okay, so, I’ve always been a massive golf fan, and Augusta National? That’s like the holy grail, right? But everyone always talks about it during the Masters in the spring. I got to thinking, what’s it like in the summer? So, I did some digging.
Turns out, Augusta National actually closes up shop during the summer. Yeah, you heard that right. They shut down each May to protect the course from the brutal Georgia heat. They say it reduces “wear and tear”.
I found out that they use this special kind of grass for the greens called bentgrass. Apparently, it’s a “cool-season grass” and needs a ton of care, especially when it’s super hot and humid out. And let me tell you, Georgia summers are no joke in terms of heat and humidity!
So, I started looking into when they reopen. It looks like the course starts welcoming members back in the fall. And guess what? The first big member tournament they have is right at the beginning of the member play season after summer closure.
Knowing it is closed in summer, I started calling up some friends who are members to find out when they usually go. Most of them said they aim for that first tournament. Makes sense, right? Everyone’s itching to get back on the course after the long summer break.
My Augusta National Summer Journey
- Realization: Augusta National closes in the summer!
- Research: Dug into why they close and when they reopen.
- Discovery: Found out about bentgrass and the need to protect it.
- Outreach: Called up some friends, who are members, to gather more information.
- Action: Aim to visit during the first member tournament after the summer closure.
So, while I didn’t actually play Augusta National in the summer (since it was closed), I did get a good look from the outside and I definitely learned a lot. And hey, I even got to do some planning for a potential future visit, once they reopen in the fall. A visit during a big tournament after reopening? I’m in!
One last thing, I tried to take some photos with my phone, and one of the staff gave me the heads-up. They said that taking photos or videos with phones wasn’t allowed. They did mention that Apple Watches were allowed, just not for taking photos, videos, or sending messages. Guess I’ll have to rely on my memory for the visuals!
And oh boy, it was a bummer not being able to play it in the summer, but this whole experience was pretty cool, nonetheless. I mean, I got to walk around the area, soak in the atmosphere, and learn all these little details about the course. It’s like getting a sneak peek behind the scenes, you know?
Anyway, that’s my story of trying to experience Augusta National in the summer. It didn’t go exactly as planned, but it was an adventure. Now I’m even more excited to hopefully experience it for real someday when it is open!
