Golf fans are eagerly awaiting the Masters to begin on Thursday, and those in attendance at Augusta National will be treated to a remarkably cheap food menu at the iconic course
The Masters is only a few days away, and spectators are in for a treat when they make it to Augusta. The first major of the year is scheduled to run from April 10 to April 13 as the sport’s top stars battle to win the coveted Green Jacket.
Around 40,000 fans, referred to as patrons at Augusta, are expected to make their way around the course throughout the Masters. Reigning champion Scottie Scheffler and an in-form Rory McIlroy are considered to be favourites to win the iconic tournament.
Paying to watch the action up close doesn’t come cheap for those not fortunate enough to win the ticket lottery. However, patrons can take some comfort in knowing that buying food and drink will hardly break the bank.
Golf influencer Rick Sheils shared the food prices during last week’s Women’s Amateur tournament. On his Facebook page, Shiels posted a picture of the prices for sandwiches, snacks and miscellaneous items, as well as drinks.
The sandwiches start at £1.16 ($1.50) for egg salad or pimento cheese and rise to a maximum of £2.32 ($3) for a Masters club or ham and cheese on rye. Interestingly, sandwiches are wrapped in green paper, meaning any litter isn’t easily picked up on TV.
In terms of snacks, a muffin costs £1.55 ($2), slightly more expensive than the cookies at £1.16 ($1.50), while the most expensive item on that part of the menu is the Georgia peach ice cream sandwich for £2.32 ($3).
All drinks listed, including soft drinks, freshly brewed coffee, and bottled water cost £1.55 each. As is customary in the US, tax will be added to every item, but Shiels highlighted that the pre-tax total cost of the menu was just £33.34 ($43).
The food prices at Augusta left many fans in awe, particularly when compared to UK sporting events. One fan joked under Shiels’ post: “A far cry from UK prices where it’s 43 quid for a coffee and slice of carrot cake.”
Another agreed, writing: “Hats off Augusta National. This would never happen in the UK sadly.” A third person said: “Can’t get a drink and a snack that cheap at any of my local courses.”
“This is great to see somewhere so prestigious adopting such reasonable pricing. I wonder how this compares to other events,” a fourth fan asked. However, others were more cynical about courses potentially following Augusta’s pricing model, with a fifth arguing: “Every tournament should follow this model. But greed will not allow them to do so.”
Away from the food on offer, there will be plenty of focus on McIlroy this week as he seeks to win the Masters for the first time and end his 11-year wait for a fifth major victory. The 35-year-old has started the year strongly, winning the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players, but confessed to carrying a slight injury after his efforts at the recent Houston Open in March.
“My right elbow has been bothering me a little bit,” he told NBC Sports. “So maybe just get some treatment on that and make sure that’s ok going into Augusta.
“But I’ve got my coach Michael Bannon coming in tomorrow, we’ll do some work and just make sure that everything’s in good shape for a week’s time.”
He added: “I still feel like I’ve got some stuff to work on but overall, a solid week and nice to have another week to get ready and fine-tune my game going to Augusta.”
