The Masters week is officially underway, which means approximately 90,000 patrons are set to descend upon Augusta National Golf Club over the next six days. Although the gift shop will be fully stocked with all kinds of polo shirts, bucket hats and gnomes, the real ones know to hit Goodwill.
There is an abundance of pre-owned merchandise that has accumulated over the years and it sells for pennies on the dollar compared to the new items coming straight off of the shelves inside the grounds.
Very few logos in sports the world are as iconic or prestigious as the 3D outline of the United States with a flagstick dropped right on top of Augusta, Georgia. It is the logo used by The Masters since the club’s inception in 1934.
Not everybody gets to wear the logo. Official Masters merchandise can only be purchased from one of the merchandise stands at Augusta and it can only be purchased during Masters week. You might not even see every item if you were to spend hours inside the gift shop. It has everything you could imagine.
The Masters generates an estimated $70 million in merchandise sales during the tournament week. That translates to approximately $10 million a day, $1 million an hour, or $16,000 a minute.
Thus, if you are fortunate enough to receive an invitation to the most famous tournament in golf, it is important that you load up on everything that might catch your eye. For you, for your friends, for your family. The average patron spends approximately $250 at the merch tent, but that might actually be low. Players themselves drop thousands of dollars. Some people spend five figures.
However, there is another way to approach the acquisition of merchandise at The Masters that has recently gone viral on social media. I am probably blowing up a lot of people’s spot by sharing this information, but I was not the first to do so and who am I to gatekeep?!
There is a Goodwill located less than three miles from the gates at Augusta National. There are four within about 10 miles. All four locations put out their Masters items during Masters week.
Savanna Perry recently stopped by one of the stores to check it out. Here is part one of her haul:
Here is part two:
Here is part three:
Pricing wise, it is a steal! A needlepoint belt cost $9.99. A quarter-zip cost $15. Kids clothing was $11-13.99. A windbreaker cost $34.99. Bags were $29.99 each.
Savanna was not the only one to hit up the nearby Goodwill locations. They are (were?) all stocked to the brim.
You can find anything you might be looking for.
Mind you, a lot of these videos were posted earlier in the week. Goodwill might already be picked over by the time you arrive but there is so much stuff that you are pretty much guaranteed to leave with something. It would be worth checking out if you are in the area! Could save you a few (hundred) bucks.