Thursday, August 13, 2026

From Green Jackets to Black Cards: Masters VIP Arms Race Escalates

The Masters is an experience unlike any other for patrons on-site—especially for those who can afford luxury options around Augusta National.

Apr 9, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Patrons move about the course during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National Golf Club may have fewer trees this year, but off the course, the home of The Masters Tournament has gotten even bigger in several major luxury areas.

Map & Flag, what the club describes as “the official Masters hospitality experience,” has debuted a second floor at the 26,000-square-foot venue that opened across Washington Road last year

With high-end food and beverage, tournament access, and its own merchandise shop included, around 2,500 weekly badges were sold at roughly $17,000 each—that’s more than $42 million in ticket revenue. However, several insiders speculated Map & Flag could easily have space for 4,000 ticket holders moving forward.

“The popularity of this venue inspires us to consider what else may be possible in future years,” Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said Wednesday.

Map & Flag is a complement to Augusta National’s longtime ultra-exclusive on-course offering, Berckmans Place, which is a popular hangout spot for Green Jacket–wearing club members. Ticket prices for that VIP space, which is just off the fifth hole, are not public, but one source pegged it around $25,000 for this week.

The More, the Merrier

Speaking of add-ons, the addition of Bank of America as a fourth champion partner of The Masters meant makeovers for the hospitality buildings used by the other three top-tier tournament sponsors: AT&T, IBM, and Mercedes. 

Hidden behind the trees just off the 10th fairway sit four two-story luxury houses with top-shelf amenities reserved for those Masters sponsors and their guests. Last year, there were just three one-story buildings. It’s unclear how much those projects cost and whether the incumbent sponsor homes were simply renovated or torn down altogether and reconstructed.

Augusta National also completed construction of a private underground parking structure for its two-phase players’ services project, which will see a state-of-the-art facility for Masters invitees and their families open in 2026.

Watch Party

With more global media-rights partners than ever before, The Masters welcomed more than 50 different production trucks (running an estimated 270 miles of fiber cables) that operate behind Augusta National’s content center that sits on the edge of club property. 

Top broadcasters such as CBS, ESPN, Golf Channel, and Sky Sports don’t film from that compound—they record from TV towers, The Butler Cabin, and another house-turned-studio overlooking the practice area—but it is the hub for their TV production, as well as everything on the Masters app. Typically, the Augusta National digital team is roughly a dozen people, but around the Masters, that balloons to about 150, to pump out as much content as possible. 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mar 15, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; FS1 announcer Jason Benetti during the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington State Cougars at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Exclusive

Jason Benetti Will Call NBA Games for NBC This Season

Benetti will supplement NBC’s roster, not replace any of its NBA voices.
Varsity Brands

Varsity Brands CEO on PE Ownership and the Business of Cheer

Varsity includes a cheerleading business and an athletic apparel division.

ESPN Boosting Coverage of PGA Tour Playoffs

The move comes after a trial run in January.
ESPN personality Pat McAfee, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump during the Patriot Games held at Spire Academy, Aug. 11, 2026, in Geneva, Ohio.
Opinion

Critics Can No Longer Claim ESPN Is ‘Woke’

ESPN stars and executives had a significant presence at the Patriot Games.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Lakers’ Shocking $12.5B Sale, Cuban Drops Mavs Suit, Field of Dreams Tickets Soar

0:00

Featured Today

Trendy Golf Hat Divide Is More Than a Fashion Fight

As golf has gotten trendier, so has the sport’s style.
Joey Spallina of the Maryland Whipsnakes
August 6, 2026

How Eye Black Became ‘War Paint’ on the Field

“You’re going into battle, doing something you only do on game days.”
August 6, 2026

Tom Brady Explains His Aggressive Push Into Trading Cards

Brady talked to FOS about his eponymous card company.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action
August 5, 2026

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
WPBL
July 30, 2026

Who’s Playing Women’s Professional Baseball?

Sixty players from 11 countries are descending on Illinois for six weeks.
Aug 6, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Jessica Pegula (USA) reacts after winning the first set against Kamilla Rakhimova (UZB) during third round play at Sobeys Stadium.
First at FOS

Pegula Confirms WTA Genetic Sex Testing Has Begun

The WTA altered its gender eligibility policy last month.
Apr 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court during game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Exclusive
August 12, 2026

NBA Owner Class ‘Stunned’ by Lakers Sale

Sources say the sale came together in just days, with no auction.
May 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
August 12, 2026

NBA Cup Schedule Sets Up Clashes With World Series, NFL, CFB

The league will be part of a packed late fall sports calendar.
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses his Champions Fund launch and finding success after football.
August 12, 2026

MLB Field of Dreams Tickets Push Near $1,000

Fans clamor for seats as the local weather forecast remains uncertain.
Aug 5, 2026; Montreal, QC, Canada; Alexander Zverev (GER) looks on against Tallon Griekspoor (NED) in second round play at IGA Stadium.
August 11, 2026

Zverev, Fritz Lament Tennis Calendar

Zverev suggested reverting to one-week tournaments.
Aug 9, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Justin Rose eighteenth green during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship golf tournament.
August 11, 2026

Future of FedEx’s PGA Tour Deal in Question As Playoffs Begin

The PGA Tour is revamping its competitive model in 2028.
May 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots the ball against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
August 11, 2026

NBA Takes a Page From NFL With Schedule Unveiling

The NBA is beginning a three-day schedule reveal.