Expert: Skip Ward - 1/26/2005

Question
HEY SKIP,

FOUR OF US WANT TO ATTEND THE MASTER'S PRACTICE ROUND THIS YEAR.  WE ARE SEEING THAT TICKETS ARE FOR SALE ON EBAY FOR ALOT!!!  ANY OTHER WAY TO LOCATE THEM LEGITIMATLEY AND FOR NOT SUCH A HUGE COST?  THANKS ALOT FOR YOUR HELP.

BARB WHITE

Answer
Dear Barb, Thanks for the question and sorry for the brief delay in answering...I spent the week dodging airport delays along the East Coast.  In any event, as for the elusive Masters tickets...the only truly legitmate way to obtain them is by their lottery system. Check out this link.  (http://www.masters.org/en_US/about/ticket.html)  The deadline for this upcoming Masters, unfortunately, was July 15...and further, you have to already be on the mailing list, just to recieve an application.  Its no picnic.  The good news is that if you do indeed get picked in the lottery, tickets are only around $35-40.  The next obstacle is of course getting everyone in your group picked.  So, what's the verdict?  Having been down there before, I can say that without much effort, you could likely find people selling practice rounds in the area.  Obviously there is a risk of not finding one after you've traveled there, but the chances are pretty good.  A hotel, on the other hand, is a different story.  Keep doing searches online, things in that arena change every day, you might find a broker at a reasonable price, especially down the stretch. I've found that the Masters is one that people have to either really plan ahead for...way ahead, or go at a moments notice and wing it. Good luck and remember...

Love the game,
skipper