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With the Masters underway this week, the entire golf world is focused on the players at Augusta National. But with the fans debating over which star will take home the Green Jacket this year, many have also wondered about the iconic course that has hosted the major championship for nearly a century. The course of course holds many wonders, from Amen Corner to the diverse flora and fauna. But the most surprising wonder of them all is its value!

Augusta National: The million-dollar club

The National first opened for play in 1932, two years before it began hosting the Masters. But the land that the club is built on, i.e., the 365-acre site, was bought a year earlier, in 1931, for the meager price of $70,000. Back then, of course, that was a whoppingly huge amount!

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The $70K today, after accounting for inflation over the years, would be worth $1.4 million today. Although the 200-fold increase in its cost is astonishing, it isn’t the most shocking thing when it comes to the value of the course, and that is all thanks to its present value! Undoubtedly, the value of land has risen since the early 1900s, but when it comes to the National, it’s unfathomable how much!

As per a recent Tweet by Joe Pompliano, an entrepreneur who focuses on the business side of sports, Augusta National currently has an assessed value of $200 million. That means that since 1931, it has seen a 14,000% increase in value. And although the club is home to arguably the biggest major championship in golf, it is still an absolutely ridiculous increase!

Other astonishing facts about the iconic course

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The National is synonymous with the word tradition, and to uphold that prestige, the course has several rules in place. These rules range from bizarre to quirky, and many have questioned their existence. The only thing certain is that they have to be followed, or one may just face a ban from the historic course!

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One of the strangest facts about Augusta is that running on the premises of the club is strictly prohibited. Another weird rule that the club has imposed on both the fans and the players is that they aren’t allowed to wear hats and caps backward. Hence, you will probably never see anyone on the grounds donning a cap in a non-traditional manner!

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What do you think about the course’s massive valuation increase? And do you know any other shocking facts about the course? Let us know in the comments below.