How to become a member of Augusta National

Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most-coveted tee times in the game – but it’s also one of the hardest clubs to join.

The Masters venue is famously exclusive, having only around 300 members at any one time.

But how can you become one of the lucky few?

First of all, you’ll need to know an existing Green Jacket, as membership is strictly by invitation only.

Prospective members are extensively vetted to ensure they meet a set of criteria.

There is no application process, and not only that – if you ask, you reportedly drop down the pecking order.

If you do become a member, however, you get to play the course from October to May (with a break for the Masters).

You’ll also get a green jacket of your own, although it must remain on club premises at all times.

Augusta is secretive about how much membership costs, but it is said to be comparatively cheap for a club of its stature, with an annual fee of a “few thousand” dollars – plus a joining fee in the region of $40,000.

The club’s membership policy has attracted criticism in the past, and it took until 1990 for the members to admit television executive Ron Townsend, the first African American to join.

In 2012, the first female members were inducted: former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore.

Current members include six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus, Microsoft guru Bill Gates, former NFL star Peyton Manning and Coors beer CEO Pete Coors.