Golf

Membership has its privileges: These are some of the Augusta National members and how much they pay

Membership fees at the home of the Masters are lower than other country clubs and resorts in the US, but not just anyone can be a member at Augusta National

Membership fees at the home of the Masters are lower than other country clubs and resorts in the US, but not just anyone can be a member at Augusta National
RICHARD HEATHCOTE | AFP
Joseph McMahon
Born in Chicago, Joe played varsity football and baseball in Bowling Green, Ohio for BGHS and later played lacrosse at BGSU. A year abroad in Spain changed everything. As destiny would have it he ended up living in Zaragoza, running his own business, teaching Journalism at a private university then working as a SEO journalist for Diario AS.
Update:

Augusta National Golf Course is one of the world’s most prestigious and well-known golf clubs in the world. Located in Augusta, Georgia, this private club is home to the Masters Tournament, one of golf’s four major championships. Augusta National was founded in 1932 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts.

There’s no application procedure. Members can suggest someone to occupy one of the 300-member places when a vacancy comes about, but ultimately the club decides who to invite to become a member. Other perks for members include being able to stay on the property in “cabins” for an estimated $100/night. Membership has its rewards, such as exclusivity and affordable prices.

Augusta National membership cost

The Augusta National membership fees are relatively low for a club of its reputation. The initiation fee is estimated to be in the range of $40,000, but the official figure is unknown. And the yearly dues are assessed at “a few thousand” dollars annually, in the field of $7,000 to $10,000. Augusta National is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world and only accepts a limited number of members (300).

New members are said to include former NFL quarterback Eli Manning, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.

As a member, you would have access to the club’s world-renowned 18-hole golf course, which has hosts the Masters Tournament every year. You could also use the club’s other facilities, including a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a swimming pool.

How to play at Augusta National

For most mortals, it’s impossible, but for some lucky golfers, there are ways to play the 18-hole course. Like the pros who tee it up every April, you could qualify for the Masters. You could get a press pass and play with the lucky journalists who get to tee it up the day after the Masters.

There’s also a path through employment which is to say, if you work as a caddy at Augusta National, you get to play one round each year. The same goes for Augusta National employees, who get to play the course once a year. Competitors at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament play the course the week before the Masters and some college golfers from the area get to play the course once in a while in tournaments.

Famous Augusta National members

Regarding membership numbers, Augusta National Golf Club is notoriously tight-lipped, and the private club has never publicly released information about its membership. Given Augusta National’s exclusivity and reputation, it’s unsurprising that membership is difficult to come by. The club’s membership registrations are invitation-only, and it’s widely considered that Augusta National’s members are some of the world’s wealthiest and most influential people.

Related stories

There are only 300 members and most of them are wealthy business executives or former Masters champions. The membership includes Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (by the way, the club did not allow women’s membership until 2012), and billionaire Warren Buffett. CEOs abound from companies like IBM, Bank of America, MillerCoors, American Express, General Electric, and plenty more. Former Georgia senator Samuel Nunn is among the politicians who belong to this exclusive club.

Some of the famous Augusta National members:

  • Pete Coors, former politician and Chairman at Molson Coors
  • Jack Welch, former Chairman and CEO of General Electric
  • Former US Senator Sam Nunn
  • Former US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
  • Gene Howerrd Jr., Real Estate
  • Jimmy Dunne, Seminole Golf Club president, PGA Tour official, businessman
  • Johnny Harris, Real Estate
  • Nick Evans, Media
  • Dave Dorman, Telecommunications
  • Frank Edwards
  • Tom Nelson, CEO and president of National Gypsum
  • George Solich, President & CEO, launched FourPoint Energy 
  • Bobby Long, Chairman of the Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation
  • Jeff Knox, Money Management

Women members include:

  • Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State
  • Darla Moore, South Carolina financier
  • Diana Murphy, former USGA president
  • Virginia “Ginni” Rometty, former chair, president and CEO of IBM
  • Ana Botin, Executive chairman Santander Group
  • Heidi Ueberroth, Executive Co-Chair Pebble Beach Resorts
  • Annika Sorenstam, former LPGA player

As for others on the list, The Yates family, with close ties to golf history and Bobby Jones, include current members Charlie Yates Jr., Dan Yates, and his son, Dan Yates III.

Tagged in:

Comments
Rules

Complete your personal details to comment

Your opinion will be published with first and last names

We recommend these for you in Other sports