I just returned from Augusta and it was really something. I had tickets for the Tuesday practice round. I arrived Monday evening after a 8 hour drive from my home. It was pouring rain when we arrived at the hotel, about a mile and a half south of Augusta National. The next morning it was still raining but the course was open, so equipped with my Zero Restriction rain suit, Titleist STAYDRY hat and Titleist umbrella, my wife and I headed to the course, aided by the free shuttle from the hotel. It's about a mile walk from the drop-off to the practice area via the North gate. And let me tell you, that walk is just as hilly as the golf course. we decided to get the shopping done first and it turned out to be a wise decision, 'cause as soon as we got out of the golf shop, they blew the horn to evacuate the entire facility due to approaching thunderstorms with lightning. So back to the drop-off area and the shuttle back to the hotel. We waited for updates and at noon they announced that the course would reopen at 12:45. So shuttle back to the course and wait for the gates to open along with thousands of others waiting to get back in. It was about 1:30 by the time we got back to the practice area. we decided to get some eats and plot out the rest of the day. The food is everything they say it is. We got a few different sandwiches and both tried them as they cut them in half for you along with some cookies and a peach ice cream sandwich. Along with drinks, I don't think I spent $20.00. With only a couple of hours left, we decided that a visit to Amen Corner wasn't in the cards so we spent about an hour around the practice area. Got front row seats at the range with a birds-eye view of Ricky, Bubba, DJ, Koepka, Rory, JT, and Freddie Couples. We then headed over to the 1st tee where we could get a look at 1 and 10 tees and 9 and 18 greens. Nothing is like it looks on TV. Every hole I just mentioned is a straight drop down the hill from the tee and a straight climb back up to the green. We saw Koepka tee off on 1 then saw Fleetwood and Leishman hit their approach to 18 and putt out. We then walked around to the front of the clubhouse and Magnolia Lane (The only flat piece of land on the entire property). By this time with about a good 2 mile walk back to the shuttle from where we were, we decided to start heading back as these 65 year old legs don't work as good as they once did. I've had the good fortune to have played many of the top courses in the NY Metro area but this place is head and shoulders above them all. Even though weather abbreviated my visit, this was a great experience that I'll never forget. Back to the ticket lottery again to try my luck for next year.