Would You Rather Play Augusta Once Or Have Masters Sunday Badges For Life?

This question has been floating around social media the past couple of weeks.

Given that we are only 42 days from the start of the Masters, I figured it’s a good time to get the conversation going.

If given the opportunity to play Augusta National one time (assuming you get a caddie, the weather is accommodating and all other conditions are good) or the opportunity to obtain two Masters Sunday badges for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

I know where I’m going here: I want to play Augusta just once.

Let’s dig into the pros and cons of this totally hypothetical scenario.

Why you would choose playing at Augusta

My argument here is a simple one.

You can pay your way into the Masters as a patron—but no amount of money can buy you a tee time at Augusta National.

Sure, I would probably shoot 120 and four-putt several greens. There probably wouldn’t be a birdie all day.

Yes, the experience would last all of four hours or so. I would hopefully be given 45 minutes in the pro shop and go into crippling credit card debt (worth it). I would hopefully have a chance to see the clubhouse and locker room.

It’s a one-time deal never to be repeated.

But you get to say you’ve played Augusta National. The course is so memorable and special. Having the chance to play it is worth so much.

My main con for the Sunday badges is that the final round of the Masters is a better experience on TV.

With no cell phones, you don’t really have a sense of what is happening on the course. You can only see the golf in front of you and look at leaderboards to see how the drama is unfolding.

Attending the Masters is a better experience earlier in the week.

Why you would choose the Masters Sunday badges

Having access to two Sunday badges would be quite the power trip.

You could bring a different family member or friend each year. If you didn’t feel like going, you could offer them to someone else.

Any golf-crazed person in your life would suddenly become your best friend.

Of course, you wouldn’t want to sell them on the open market. If someone used your badge and got kicked out for whatever reason, that would be traced back to you. Bye, bye, Masters badges.

I guess you could sell them to people you trust but that feels a little slimy.

The biggest con against playing Augusta is that, as I mentioned, it’s a one-time experience that would last roughly the same amount of time as a Big 12 football game.

These Masters Sunday badges are for life. You could witness every historic moment for decades on end.

Every year you could look forward to going to Augusta. It would be a whole tradition.

That sounds pretty spectacular.

Which would you choose?

OK, cast your votes.

I’m getting my clubs ready, driving down Magnolia Lane and getting to hit all the fun shots we’ve watched on TV forever. I’m so excited for this (maybe in another lifetime, I suppose).

One round around Augusta National? Or Masters Sunday badges for life?

Let me know below in the comments.

Top Photo Caption: Masters Sunday badges or playing Augusta once? (GETTY IMAGES/Joel Marklund).