If you’re attending the Masters this year and you’re looking for an exceptional place to tee up, I’ve got a terrific suggestion. In many respects, it’s possibly the next best thing to playing Augusta National.
At the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, I spoke with Cameron Wiebe, general manager of Champions Retreat, a phenomenal 27-hole private club located 15 miles northwest of Augusta.
Wiebe said the club, which is exclusively private the rest of the year, accepts tee times from non-members during Masters Week (Monday April 3 to Sunday April 9 this year).
Perhaps you may have heard of the designers of the three separate 9 hole layouts? The gentlemen architects who fashioned the layouts are icons Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, aka The Big 3. Champions Retreat is the only place in the world with nines designed by the former Masters Champions.
Reportedly, Player presented the idea to Arnie and the Golden Bear at the Champions Dinner at Augusta National in 1999. They each selected a parcel of land for their nine and, voila, Champions Retreat was born.
The beautifully conditioned courses, with superb bentgrass greens, are set on rolling landscape dotted with tall pines, old hardwoods and wetlands alongside the Savannah River.
“Champions Retreat is a pure golf experience,” Wiebe said. “It’s conveniently just minutes away from Augusta National and you play on wonderfully designed courses in a quiet, scenic setting away from the crowds.”
Tee times are for 4 players. Each Masters Week tee time will be accompanied by one (1) forecaddie. The tee time price includes practice facility access, greens fees, forecaddie base fee (required), cart fee, tax, and all you can eat and drink for breakfast and lunch. Selections will include breakfast items, lunch items, snack items, soft drinks, sports drinks, domestic beer and well-liquor drinks. Tee times do not include the forecaddie gratuity.
Tee Time Rates for Champions Retreat Masters Week 2017:
Monday and Tuesday: $2,200
Wednesday–Saturday: $2,500
Sunday: $2,200
Monday, April 10th: Available for private outings.
In addition, there will also be live entertainment and other activities during the week.
For more information, contact Lauri DeNicolo by email: lauri@championsretreat.net or call 706-854-6966
