The hottest item in the Masters shop is the annual Augusta garden gnome
Once again, the hottest ticket item in the Masters merchandise shop is the annual Augusta garden gnome.Pic credit: The Masters.
Once again, the hottest ticket item in the Masters merchandise shop is the annual Augusta garden gnome.
Every morning from the Saturday of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur until Sunday of the Masters final round, a limited number of the exclusive gnomes are put out near the exit lanes of the two main merchandise shops.
They last on the shelves for about 45 minutes each day and then they’re gone. It creates a sort civilized of “running of the gnomes” version of Pamplona, with patrons hustling as fast as Augusta will allow to get in the front of the line to be able to spend $50 on the latest garden statue.
“I have never been able to acquire one,” Alex Lowe from near Atlanta told The Augusta Chronicle after a friend got to the course early enough to buy one for him after years of striking out himself.
"When I got here, they already shut down the lines and by the time I got in, they were all gone.”
Since 2016, the Masters started producing different 18-inch gnomes every year. They look the spitting image of Shane Lowry’s former bearded caddie, Bo Martin – who in fact purchased a smaller scale version of the popular caddie bib clad gnome to put by his kid’s bed so daddy would always be there even when he’s on the road.
This year’s gnome is a nattily clad patron donning a white Masters bucket hat, blue cardigan sweater, necktie and blue-and-green plaid trousers with a stack of plastic cups. During the ANWA on Saturday, there was a dead ringer for the new gnome dressed in the exact same outfit wandering the course.
The Masters introduced this year’s edition via social media – escorted in some photos by all of his predecessors – and the purchasing frenzy begin in earnest, with gnomes showing up almost immediately on eBay for $300 or more. The OG (original gnome) from 2016 might cost you anywhere from $4,000 to $7,000 and a full set of all eight can be had for $16,000.
The gnome phenomenon has spread to other items in the gift shop, including his likeness on T-shirts, golf balls and miniature Christmas tree ornaments.
The gnomes do have a little competition this year for trendy items. The Masters gave out eclipse viewing glasses on Monday, but the colorful themed sunglasses only sold in the satellite gift shops on the course have been flying off the shelves at only $39 each.
White-framed glasses called “The Caddie” and yellow glasses called “The Pin Flag” are being sold at Stand 8 — next to No. 8 tee box. At Stand 12 — located in the heart of Amen Corner — very chic designs called “The Hogan Bridge,” “Azalea” and “Florals” are on offer.
The satellite shop near No. 14 tee is selling designs called “Augusta Pines,” “Badges” and “Peach Ice Cream.” And Stand 7 near No. 7 tee sells orange rims called “Pimento Cheese” and blue glasses coined “Skip It.”
Good luck finding any of them before they’re gone.
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