WRX Forum Buzzz
Forum Thread of the Day: “Augusta National clamping down on the resale of Masters tickets”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from rlconklin, who began the thread discussing The Masters ticket lottery. Since then, however, Chairman of Augusta National, Fred Ridley, has spoken about his desire to curb the resale of tickets for The Masters, and our members have been discussing whether or not they feel that this is a positive move from Ridley.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Canoe Paddler: “Can anyone explain to me why the Masters committee is so concerned about the resale of tickets? It seems to me that the guys and gals willing to shell out top dollar for tickets are the most loyal golf fans out there. The type of fans that the Masters would be most interested in hosting. Are they concerned that scalpers are profiting off of their product? Seems a little petty, but I suppose it’s their right to do so, but again, why punish the passionate golf fan who purchased the ticket?”
- fairways4life: “The Masters is known for being very affordable. Free parking, dirt cheap food, and tickets are actually quite cheap if you win the ticket lottery. But when tickets hit the secondary market for literally thousands of dollars, it sends the opposite message: That the Masters is a very high dollar event only to be attended by the very wealthy. And I don’t think the folks at Augusta National like the optics of that. They want their tournament to maintain a reputation as fan friendly and affordable to the masses. They just don’t like the idea that people are paying $500 for a Tuesday practice round. They don’t like seeing tickets advertised online for four figures. It’st not the message they want to be sending.”
- dropkicked: “I believe that if they adopted a zero tolerance policy for scalped tickets than it would deter those who simply join the lottery to try and make a payday. This would leave those of us who truly wanted to attend a better chance at landing tickets. I missed out last year and again for this year, but a few friends were lucky enough to obtain tickets for the practice rounds. Coming from Toronto is not an insignificant amount of money when you account for the exchange rate, but once you tack on the secondary markup, it’s just not worth it. Last year, on stub hub they wanted $1500 US pp, for the Saturday, not including travel or accommodations.. That literally comes out equal to a new bag of clubs.”
Entire Thread: “Augusta National clamping down on the resale of Masters tickets”
Equipment
I’m a 31 year-old male and I turned my apartment living room into a driving range stall – GolfWRXers react
In our forums, our members have been reacting to a post from ‘GolferTodd’ who has turned their apartment living room into a driving range stall. ‘GolferTodd’ produced the following photo in our forums with the caption:
“To the exclusion of furniture. Bachelor life.”
And our members have been reacting to the post in our forums.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- MtlJeff: “This is amazing……When i was 28 i lived in an apartment that had my winter tires in the kitchen, i only had one plate and 1 set of knives and forks, and i cooked pasta in a witches cauldron from 1835. And i still convinced a woman to marry me. So i am all for this. In fact this is way better than what i had to offer.”
- TiScape: “Love it Todd. Go Dodgers!!”
- imkirby34: “Based on the view out the window, it looks like you’re on the first floor, which is probably a good thing because I’d hate to live below you, even if you have an extremely shallow AoA. Haha.”
In our forums, our members have been discussing classic irons. WRXer ‘DonaldDunes’ has caught the vintage club bug, and wants to know other members’ favorite iron models that “have stood the test of time or were the top performers for their day.”
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Maine Golfer: “I love a lot of clubs but ’69 Wilson Staff’s are an all time favorite. Easy to hit in relative terms and they look amazing.”
- Wilsonian: “No surprise from me, but the Wilson K-28 irons, specifically blades with the glide thru sole. I grew up playing Ram clubs, but got away from them as I got older. My return to vintage was with the Wilsons, and my first set of hickories were the Wilson Plus Success irons. You’ll try a lot of sets, but I think it’s a matter of what feels best in your hands, specifically your 7 iron which is the best indicator imo.”
- Hawkeye777: “Hogan Redlines. Macgregor Nicklaus Muirfield 20th. Wilson Staff Tour Blade. Those are mine, don’t play any of them these days (no real reason to) and didn’t really “collect” them. The Wilsons I played with for years.”
In our forums, our members have been discussing how much wear is too much wear when purchasing used irons. WRXer ‘con_mon2’ is interested in a used set of iron and kicks off the thread, asking:
“Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this! How much wear are you comfortable with?
I found a set of irons on eBay that I am very interested in buying, but they have a bit more wear than I’m comfortable with. I have attached a few pictures showing especially the wear on the sweet spot on the PW and 9 iron. Maybe you can convince me that I’m being too picky and I should just buy them? Or maybe I should be concerned about the wear? I’m not really sure. They are Ping i230s which came out in 2022 so they aren’t that old. And the seller had this to say about the condition: ‘Good: Normal wear for their age. Excellent playing condition but they have cosmetic wear on faces and soles. Sweetspot wear is visible.’
Beyond the cosmetic, I’d really like to know this: At what point do you start to worry about the grooves being so worn that they have a substantial effect on the shots you’re hitting?”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- rsballer10: “The term you are looking for is “browning” and these irons have some of that going on. They are completely playable, but I’d say they’ve reached their half-life.”
- Nessism: “Those heads are stainless steel. The “browning” that some people reference, is really the yellow shade of the nickel layer under the chrome. When forged carbon steel heads wear through the chrome, the “brown” is RUST. These heads will never rust. People applaud the old Ping irons as being “indestructible”. Those heads had no chrome. These heads, even if the chrome is beginning to wear through, on one head, are miles more durable than the older unplated “indestructible” Ping’s. And even further ahead of any forged club.”
- phizzy30: “Hard pass for me. I would rather get a new set of DTC irons and would be glad to spend the extra couple to few hundred.”
Entire Thread: “When buying used irons: How much wear is too much? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Danny Houghton
Jan 2, 2019 at 6:48 pm
They are way off on costs. 2nd party packages run into the thousands, like $1500 a day and for me buying a package for one could cost 4K to 5K for practice round and 1 tournament day. Not including travel expenses.
9Timothy9
Jan 2, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Ticket scalpers are only a notch or two above drug dealers. They prey on people. Try to buy tickets for a hockey game, the theatre or the Masters and sooner or later you’re dealing with one of these parasites.
J. Cash (no, not Johnny)
Jan 2, 2019 at 2:39 pm
The Masters lottery makes PowerBall seem attractive. I am cancelling my membership application!!!
Under the roof
Jan 2, 2019 at 2:30 pm
I guess I don’t understand the reason to “crack down” on the re-sale of tickets as the practice provides the opportunity to attend this incredible event without winning the lottery.
Remember it’s really the seller who is “at risk” for the poor behavior of the buyers/ attendees because at any point the membership and/or security can remove a patron and cancel the badge/ tickets tied to the badge for the balance of the week.
I think the Masters tournament might adapt a similar practice of allocating tickets as the R&A does for tee times on the old course.
-Yes there’s a lottery for a certain number of tee times but the R&A sells quite a few time times to a central broker who then turns around and sells the times to the tour operators, so that their clients can plan their trips around a time on the Old Course.
Alan Playne
Jan 2, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Finally won two tickets to the 2019 Masters on Friday . I would not scalp them for the world . Took a long time in the draw but it did pay off . Hurry up April 12/19
ckay
Jan 1, 2019 at 11:33 pm
I’ll just continue to watch from the comfort of my home until I win the lottery.
Crusher
Jan 1, 2019 at 6:13 pm
Why start now? The Masters has always turned their nose up at the common golf fan by limiting access to their tournament via a “ticket lottery” and allowing tournament badges to be passed down into generations of family. If they are concerned about the average golf fan and the game of they should eliminate the way they currently distribute their tournament tickets annually and allow the everyday fan the opportunity to attend the tournament.
Ray
Jan 2, 2019 at 11:42 am
Agree 100%
Scott
Jan 2, 2019 at 4:20 pm
yep. you nailed it.
Norman
Jan 1, 2019 at 8:18 am
If there concerned about scalpers getting the tickets and profiting from it. Then make more tickets available threw the lottery at face value. They have massive crowds every year. Unless there making off of stub hub and others like them. Then don’t a lot them any and let us buy them directly from the Masters. Pretty simple fix. I paid $1000.00 for two tickets that had $65.00 face value just I could full fill a dream to take my to the Masters before I got old to walk the course.
APL
Dec 31, 2018 at 7:34 pm
I went this past Masters on Saturday through a personal invitation. One of the most memorable experiences in my life. First rate experience from entrance to departing. Amazing food and souvenirs and great prices. No need to even discuss the course, because there are no words adequate enough. But the way the members and staff treat you is beyond reproach (Got to listen to some great stories). However, I would never pay for scalped tickets (entered the lottery this year, no luck) because it would go against everything the Masters and Bobby Jones stand and stood for.
Ray
Jan 2, 2019 at 11:43 am
Pretty vague reply..
What is they stood for exactly?
David Stouffer
Dec 31, 2018 at 4:39 pm
I have been in the lottery for years and no luck . I understand secondary markets and can pay a fair price ,say $750 to $1000 for a tournament day but not double that which already is a large markup . If the Masters cuts down on the habitual scalpers by telling the buyers of certain number tickets that they will be banned for good , for instance ,the StubHub and vivid seats ,I’m for it ,Good luck and thanks for the concern
Ron
Dec 31, 2018 at 4:10 pm
I love golf and play it 3-4 times a week. I can afford the inflated aftermarket price for Masters tickets but I would not pay it. I am also living in a dream world as I have applied for Masters tickets for the last 20 years through its website and never been selected.