Is there a Secret to Getting Invited to The Masters?

Guest Golf Blog Written by Mary Roberts. See below for bio.

I swear I can spot a Masters Green Caddy hat miles away, and every time I do, I immediately envy that person and want to run up to them and ask, “How did you go to the Masters and not me?!” 

Being invited to The Masters is something I cannot wait to cross off my bucket list!  Year after year, my husband and I have entered the lottery (through random selection process) to get tickets and, every year, we promise each other that we will be just as happy if we only get invited to the practice rounds… unfortunately, every year we come up empty handed and broken hearted.

Just a note - 2014 Masters Tickets are already sold out - according to Masters.com, "the ticket application process for the 2014 Masters Tournament has concluded. All tickets were sold in advance by random selection and no additional tickets are available." - Bah, humbug!

Playing golf is our Sunday ritual: it’s our time together to enjoy the weather, each other and a good round of golf.  One Sunday I finally got the nerve to run up to that lucky person I spotted on the golf course, this time sporting a Masters golf polo, and asked him just how did he do it...what was his secret to getting invited to the Masters?!

He chuckled and said, “I don’t know either, but if I find out I’ll let you know.”

As I stood confused, I looked around and noticed he also had a Masters golf bag, Masters putter cover and a Masters golf towel sitting beside him in the golf cart. He was totally decked out.

He noticed me checking out all of his Masters gear and said, “Oh! I guess I do know a secret that may help you!”  He told me about a website where you can buy Masters Merchandise, called MMO Golf, so I made a mental note and continued my game.

Once I got home, I ran to the computer and found the site. Sure enough they had everything I ever wanted and more from The Masters, from pin flags and memorabilia to golf clothing for both men and women.

I dug around the site for a while, loaded up my shopping cart with Masters ball markers, a Masters golf polo for me, a wind shirt for my husband and a couple of caddy hats for friends and family.  A couple of items that I really wanted, like the Ladies Pink Caddy hat and the Masters Golf bag were not available so I called the number listed on their site to find out a little about the company and how I could get these items.

The customer service lady on the phone explained to me how the website is a shopping service and goes to the tournament every year in Augusta, Georgia, selling the items online to people like me who cannot attend the tournament. They use their tickets to go in (watch the tournament, of course...who wouldn't?) and purchase Masters Merchandise straight from the Augusta National Pro Shop.

MMO Golf Inc. doesn't manufacture any merchandise and only buys directly from the Pro Shop and then makes items available to the public on their website. Pre-orders are taken in February; the site then acts as a personal shopper to get the Masters Merchandise requested.

I thanked her for providing this service for the “uninvited” golf enthusiast like myself and told her I would be calling back in February to surprise my husband with a Masters Golf Bag for his birthday.

You bet every year I will continue to enter the lottery for an invitation to The Masters, but at least in the meantime, I can wear my Masters Caddy hat proudly and have others envy me!


Mary Roberts is a busy mom of 4 boys.  When she isn’t driving her boys to sports practices, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, or doing the bookkeeping for her husband’s business, she enjoys photography, kayaking and playing golf with her husband.  Mary's passion is creative writing, but knows she will never have time to really sit and brainstorm until her boys go off to college. Roberts majored in Mass Communications at the University of South Florida. 

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Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Golf Tournaments and Myrtle Beach Entertainment are Par for the Course

A vacation in Myrtle Beach, for most sun-loving folks, in one way or another includes both beach and golf. This past week, I was fortunate enough to have at my disposal an ocean view to die for, terrific food, great entertainment and some of the best golf courses in the United States.

Being invited to a golf tournament is always exciting but there is something special when it takes place in Myrtle Beach. Although driving time is about eleven hours from New York, Myrtle Beach is definitely worth the effort. Of course, at just under two hours from the big city, you can always fly down to this golfer’s haven but, having a dog in the family mandated us to take the longer route…and so we did.

Mystical Golf’s 3rd Annual Golf Media Tournament also allowed me to bring a guest which, of course, was my husband Barry who always delights in a challenge. 

Off we went - Barry, Einstein (my loveable german shepherd puppy) and me – golf clubs in the trunk and ready for our adventure. Einstein wound up staying at K9 Cabana, a very caring dog "resort" he frequents when we’re here at the Beach and Barry and I were excited to have the Sea Mist beach front hotel as our "home-away-from-home". 

The accommodations at Sea Mist were very comfortable with in-room kitchenette and the ocean at our doorstep, we were wined and dined and the food was yummy and plentiful…thank you to our hosts!

Fresh air, great lodgings, delicious food and three of the best golf courses in Myrtle Beach - The Witch, Wizard and Man O'War - what more could any golf aficionado ask for?

How about one of the most delightful shows I have seen in a long time…a patriotic, country-loving extravaganza at the Alabama Theatre - “One”. The talent was extraordinary; comedian Ricky Mokel was hilarious and host Greg Rowles ("Star Search" Male Vocalist of the Year) kept us entertained with music that you don’t get to hear too much of on New York City radio stations. A quick mention that, before the show, I had some of the best ribs I have eaten in a long time at Wild Wing Cafe; if you want wings and ribs, these are finger-lickin' good!!

The week and the golf tournament went by in a flash: the Witch cast her mighty spell on us, The Wizard was captivating and Man O'War had very sharp teeth and should be renamed, "Man O' Water!". Barry and I captured five skins, won low net and wound up with a few bucks to spend at either of the three well-stocked Clubhouses but, most importantly, bragging rights!

With spring-like temperatures in Myrtle Beach probably sticking around through Christmas and prices being very fair, I encourage golfers with families to visit the Grand Strand. You will all come away with memories to last you a lifetime!

A few accolades that Myrtle Beach earned in 2012 from US News & World Report:

  #6 Best Family Beach Vacations

  #4 Best Family Vacations in the U.S.A. 

  #7 Best Affordable U.S. Vacations

  #9 Best Beaches U.S.A.

Tell Golf for Beginners about your Myrtle Beach golf experience in our comments section below, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on Facebook .


Thank you to Mystical Golf group and to Claude Pardue for making the Golf Writers Tournament a magical event.
Learn about how to contribute to the Pardue Children in Need Fund.

Halloween a Mystical Time to Play Golf in Myrtle Beach

The Witch, Wizard and Man O'War Golf Courses, labyrinths rambling through dense forest and lakes, are collectively the backbone of Myrtle Beach. If you’re on a quest for exceptional courses in the number-one golf destination in the United States, this trio can take you on a mystical adventure.

Myrtle Beach, known for it's sixty miles of beautiful sandy stretch, comfortable temperatures and over one-hundred championship courses to choose from, hides these three secret gems (collectively known as MysticalGolf.com) on a stretch of road just off of Hwy 501 in the Carolina Forest, waiting to be discovered and tamed by players looking for a substantial challenge.

Playing these three Dan Maples golf courses in the order above is exactly the way in which they should be attacked: The Witch beckons you into her maze of macabre timber with patient alligators lining the path, The Wizard tempts the risk taker and, as for Man O' War – “do not let your guard down.”

The Witch is enchanting from the moment you lay eyes on this course. The wetlands are frighteningly dense with old wooden trees hanging like hands waiting to grasp and, while driving your golf cart over creaky bridges, you cannot help but think you have entered the forest where Hansel and Gretel nearly met their fateful end. Thanks to Bruce Vittner, one of our playing partners and writer for Southern New England Golfer, as his knowledge of this course gave us our best chances for survival (and a solid score).

The Witch Golf Club in Conway, S.C. was rated a 4.5-star course by Golf Digest for its excellent condition and seaside configuration.

Escape from The Witch and enter into the lair of The Wizard, the second of the three sisters, and you will find a links-style golf course with elevation changes (oddly enough) and island greens. Not every shot requires a driver but every shot does require thought in ball placement as the second cut of rough was deep. Bent grass greens make this course different from the Bermuda grass on Witch. The Wizard was decorated with four stars by Golf Digest as a "Best Places to Play in America".

The Man O'War, in my opinion, had the biggest bite of the three mystical golf courses - it's a dangerous design that tricks you into believing you can attack when it is much better to play safe. Know your club distances before you enter and practice your putting as there is probably not one flat spot on any of the eighteen greens (which are in superb condition). The back-to-back island greens nearing the end of your journey are both makeable but don't get too confident - play smart and you may just come out with a reasonable score.

Man O'War Golf Course

Have you played the MysticalGolf.com courses in Myrtle Beach? Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners LIKE Golf for Beginners on Facebook and comment on Golf for Beginners blog.

Thank you to Mystical Golf group and to Claude Pardue for making the Golf Writers Tournament a magical event.
Learn about how to contribute to the Pardue Children in Need Fund.