The Masters is about as exclusive as you could get, so imagine something even more private beyond the greens.
Augusta National created “the ultra-exclusive Green Jacket Experience” in 2021, as well as the “Green Jacket Vault.” It opened its doors recently to the Los Angeles Times.
They weren’t allowed video or photos, but the vault, located just beneath the Augusta National pro shop, is a time machine with some modern touches.
Those who are allowed to visit the room must present a key in the form of a fingerprint entry. There, they will see the oldest green jacket in its archives which, as the Times reports, dates back to the 1930s.
The Masters awards The Green Jacket to the winner after the tournament’s conclusion. As is tradition, much like a beauty pageant, the former winner hands off the garb to the next champion. The jacket is actually borrowed from an Augusta member. That member has roughly the same build before the winner is measured to get their own tailored version.
They leave the actual event with a replica of the jacket.
There are also many rules to jacket ownership that aren’t traditionally known about.
Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman told Awful Announcing in January that the year you win, it’s appreciated that you wear the jacket out in public at events such as talk shows, photo ops, etc. However, after that, it stays in the club.
… and don’t you dare think about selling it, or giving it away under any circumstances.
Obviously, the club takes care of dry cleaning as it remains in the locker of the champ.
For the 2022 champ Scottie Scheffler, he admits he’ll take his jacket out of the closet to tease his wife Meredith, out of doing chores.
The vault also shows off the construction of the jacket which ultimately is where a new member meets with club chairman Fred Ridley and a tailor.
If you’re one to enjoy a nice Scotch, you’ll be able to choose from two panels hidden behind liquor cabinets. The other panel is dedicated to bourbon lovers.
It’s a room dedicated to those who have won the iconic, and difficult tournament. An ode to the color green that is sported by the champions. And while it’s a piece of clothing created with patches of fabric, it’s assembled to create something set in the sport’s tradition.
