bamakelly

I hear it's really hard to obtain tickets to the Master's Golf tournament, but I am wondering if anyone knows of a way to get them. If that is next to impossible, is there a more accesible way to purchase tickets for practice rounds? Anyone know of a reliable ticket broker who could offer such a thing? Has anyone done this before?

nytraveler

You can get tickets for literally anything if you're willing to pay enough.

Your options are:

E-bay - make sure the seller is not a scammer

Ticket brokers - there are tons on the web - just google

Your hotel (if you're staying in one) concierge

We do this whenever we go to see the Yankees - since you can't buy decent season tickets - even if we had the time to go to enough games.

Depending on the scarcity of the event you can plan on paying from double face value on up. (I have a friend who HAD to get tickets to one of those 3 Tenor concerts for a client - and ended up paying about $3500 per ticket.)

bamakelly

ttt

If you know anything about the Master's, you know this will be a little more difficult than the norm. Any help is appreciated!

aileen679

Go to Google and put in Master's golf tickets.

You will have a long list of ticket brokers, etc. It's going to cost, but it can be done (I think)

padams421

With enough cash, you can just show up in Augusta and get practice rounds pretty easily. We've done that before and always have been successful. The actual tournament is a bit tougher although not impossible if $$$ is not an issue. As the others have said, search online for a ticket broker.

bamakelly

I have googled ticket brokers - finding A ticket broker is not a problem -- finding a RELIABLE one is. When you are talking that kind of $$ you don't want to buy fraudulent tix. Also, several people have warned me about using "just anyone" for this reason. Anyone know of a reliable one that they have used in the past?

padams: Good to know about scalpers. Do you remember how much you paid? Practice rounds are fine with us and we are prepared to shell out the $$.

Any specific tips are much appreciated!

nytraveler

I think you're overintellectualizing this. Have just looked at e-bay and there are a bunch of passes for sale there - and you can check out the sellers' history based on reports from previous buyers.

There are also dozens of brokers with tickets for sale if you google.

Just make sure you pay with a CC or Paypal and then you are protected if they are scammers.

nytraveler

Do not reco using scalpers on the spot - that way you must pay cash and there is no recourse if the passes are fake - which is apparently quite common.

SugarPlum

Here is the offical Masters website with information about their ticketing practices. The deadline for applying for 2006 practice round tickets is July 15, and you have to write to them and have them send you an application to apply, but you might be able to make the deadline (applications must be postmarked by July 15). I have applied every year since they instituted the lottery for practice round tix (since 1996, I think), and have gotten tickets only three years. I still apply every year, hoping to get lucky. Website:

http://www.masters.org/en_US/about/ticket.html

I live in Augusta. There are plenty of people who sell practice round tickets on Washington Road (main road in front of the National) on the practice round days. Face value, the practice round tickets go for $31 on Monday and Tuesday, and $36 on Wednesday. Buying them from a street 'scalper' will run you between $100 - $200 per ticket, depending on weather, timing, etc.

One of my neighbors has used Golden Tickets (a broker) in the past, with good, albeit expensive, results.

Good luck. We went to the tournament every year from 1992 - 2000, both practice rounds and the tournament. It is really something to see - even if you aren't a golf fan. We rent out our house to a corporation now, and vacation during Masters week. I do miss going to the tournament, but enjoy the $$$'s we get for the rental also.

bamakelly

nytraveler...there are NO passes that I see on ebay....???? I see OLD passes listed from years prior (1996, etc) but they are for collectors who keep this kind of thing. I don't think the actual passes are even available yet for 2006. (?) If I am wrong and you found one for current passes, then I apologize, and I hope you'll send me a link!

I also don't want to use "just any" broker, only to find on the day of that the tickets are fake. Sure, I might be protected money-wise if I use paypal or a CC, but I won't have tickets to the event, which is the whole reason for going! This is an anniverary present for my husband and I really want to make sure it happens...he will be shocked if I even get the tickets, as hard as they are to come by.

SugarPlum: THANKS for the info! I knew they had a lottery for the practice rounds, but for some reason I'd heard it was only for club members. SO HELPFUL to know it is for the general public. We still have plenty of time to get the form in, and maybe we will get lucky! If not we will try the Golden Apple broker. I just don't want to get there and try to buy -- it would be so disappointing if we did not succeed! I'd rather pay the $$ upfront and have reliable tickets in hand, even if it's above the scalpers' prices.

One thing I know for sure: I don't think I am overintellectualizing...I cannot tell you how many people I know who have gone to Augusta and ended up watching the tourney on tv becasue they did not get tickets. From what I understand, the tournament tickets are only given to members, and they are passed down through generations in wills and testaments! Can you believe?! I am sure it is not impossiblae to obtain the tickets but I know it is much, much harder than just paying and showing up! My husband will be so thrilled if i can get this lined up.

nytraveler

Here is the link for e-bay:

http://search.ebay.com/masters-ticke...jsZ1QQfromZR40

I didn;t look at every option but a glance of a few seconds at the beginning of the list showed at least 3 sets of paases on offer for 2006 - but have to be bought within the next day or two - go further down the list to have mokre time.

The price seems to be about $1000 per pass per day. There were single passes and multi -day passes available.

(Yes there are old souvenirs available as well - but if you take a few miutes you will find the 2006 without any trouble.)

bamakelly

Ahhhh...I see..I was putting in "tickets" instead of passes. Hmmm...I just glanced at this (will look with more time later) and most of those offers are for one pass only and we need two. Also lots of $$ when I am pretty sure the tickets are not available yet...maybe they have a "for sure" way of knowing they will get them. I guess we could try it...if the lottery (mentioned above) and brokers fall through.

Crazy that a sporting event could have had a closed WAITING list for the past 20+ years and be so popular! ha! The things we'll do for fun!

SugarPlum

Let me clarify a few things for you. Masters Tournament Badges (good for admission for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) are sold to a list of Patrons, who have been on the list for years and years. The Augusta National doesn't release how many Patron's Badges they release, but local estimates are 15,000 - 20,000. Once you are on the Patron's List, you have the right to purchase the badges (you have the right to two badges) every year until your death. So, people who are Patrons know from year to year that they will have badges unless they fail to remit their payment on time. The Patron's List has been closed for 20+ years, and the waiting list is also closed.

The Practice Round tix are sold by the lottery process to the general public -- you apply, and are informed in September that you're getting the tix, and you receive the actual tix in March.

So, ticket brokers who are purchasing Patron Badges, as well as the Patrons themselves, know already that they have them and therefore can sell them this far in advance.

I hope this helps you feel better about purchasing tix now for an event that is eight months away. If you use a reputable source or broker, you should be guaranteed tickets and/or badges -- if you're willing to pay.

nytraveler

If all the passes available on e-bay are for single - and you need two - then you just have to buy two separate ones.

And yes the passes are expensive. Any passes for an event like this are going to be very expensive. It sounds like the problem is the money - and not the passes. If that is the case- just please say so - so people don;t spend a lot of time trying to help you find something you don;t really want to pay for.

bamakelly

Yes, that is the general idea that I had. I was figuring that the ticket brokers must be selling those (knowing the had a FOR SURE pass) -- but I sure hope it's reputable! I think I'll go in order of the lottery (already put my letter in the mail for app), then a recommended broker, then the Ebay route. My husband works -- literally -- 365 days a year and, other than attending a conference in April, has not left the city limits (even to see family) in over 16 months. I am hoping we can plan on this trip next April as his first big trip away. That's why I absolutely must be sure the tickets are valid. He'd be crushed if we got there and they were not "for real"! LOL! THANKS for all the info. I'll let you know if we get lucky!

bamakelly

nytravelr...the problem is NOT the money, I assure you. It's paying the money for possibly fake tickets, bottom line. I can't afford (from a ruined trip perspective) to have this surprise fail. See my above post for clarification. My OP made it clear that I am looking for advice from someone who has done this before, not advice on how to get tickets in general for any general event...believe me, I do have half a brain and can google and ebay with the rest of em.

I am trying to plan a reliable trip for my husband who has not had a vacation in god only knows how long. I am willing to pay top dollar for RELIABLE tickets. Your tone is insulting. What gives?! Get off my back.

SugarPlum

A few more thoughts. Be prepared for some sticker shock when you look for accommodations in the Augusta area for Masters week also. All of the hotels really inflate their rates, and most have a multi-night minimum. For example, the Hampton Inn sells their normally $69.00 rooms for $400/night, with a three night minimum.

Also, Augusta is not a major airport. You pretty much have to fly into Atlanta, then shuttle to Augusta, which adds $$$ to the ticket. But, you may be in Alabama (screen name?), so you may be driving anyway.

Let me know if you need more info!

nytraveler

I'm not triyng to be insulting. But when other people - including myself - try to give advice on where to get tickets - and you then inform them there are no tickets available there (about which you were wrong - apparently you didn;t bother to look) - or that the sources they are mentioning are inappropriate (I'm not sure why) it does appear that you're not being completely open about your agenda.

I'm so sorry that you found my answers were inapproriate - next time I won;t spend my time trying to find the info for you.

NYJets

1) I attend the Masters (in-laws have been patrons for decades).

2) Augusta National frowns on scalping...with no wait list for tickets someone who scalps their ticket is risking a lot to lose their badges.

3) Notwithstanding #2, I've seen lots of scalpers and it appears Augusta National doesn't enforce the no-scalping policy.

4) Even if you "scalp" successfully, if you're caught with a camera, cell phone or engage in any behavior that would cause you to get kicked out, the purchaser of the badge loses their rights to purchase in future years. So anyone scalping their tickets is risking losing their badge...for that reason alone I'd never scalp our tickets, even if I wanted to.

5) If you're concerned about badge fraud (and you should, since they scan them now), what you can do is insist that the purchaser walk through the line at one gate, enter the tournament, then meet you at another gate. That is not a fool-proof plan, the guy can always do a switch of badges on you and leave you with a fake.

NYJets

I meant seller rather than purchaser in my previous message.