Traveling To Augusta National

Traveling To Augusta National

I’m checking off one of my bucket list items this week with a trip to watch Wednesday’s practice round at Augusta National. I would, of course, like to see the actual tournament, but it’s really out of my realistic price range.

I broke the thirteen hour drive into two days; the first leg was Michigan through Ohio to Kentucky. After an overnight in Kentucky, the next leg was from southern Kentucky through Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and then into Georgia.

My route took me through the Daniel Boone National Forest, where I stopped to see a natural bridge at an off-the-beaten-track scenic overlook.

I also drove through the Cherokee National Forest (top of page), past the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and through the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forest.

Augusta is bigger and busier than I expected, with lots of highways, exits and overpasses. After I checked into my hotel, I decided to drive past Augusta National to scout out where my parking is on Wednesday.

Washington Road is very busy, with lots of people out with signs either trying to buy tickets or selling them.

I would be very wary of tickets purchased at any of these stands. The three page agreement that came with mine seem pretty strict about selling and buying tickets: “Tickets may not be offered for sale, bartered, sold or rented through/to third party resellers … et.al.”

John Daly had set up an office at Hooters on Washington Road, a short walk from the gates.

I had this notion of getting a photo of the front gate, but there was way too much traffic. It is, however, even more unassuming than I had expected. Even knowing what I was looking for, I nearly missed it. The gate is really not much more than a passage through the impressive hedge.

I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to write after my day at Augusta National. Unfortunately, per the agreement, it seems that although I can take photos on Wednesday, I can’t publish them.

That’s okay, though. There are plenty of official photos out there. Mine will be just for me to look at on cold, dark, Michigan winter nights.