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Augusta is the Home of the Gnome
And he is a friend of mine!
I kid you not!
Once upon a time, people came to the Masters Tournament to experience golf history and snag a logo hat, shirt, or golf towel.
Nowadays, the Augusta Gnome, billed as a garden variety, has soared to the top of the chart as the most sought after tournament memento.
Since the gnome debuted in 2016, it has been clad in a different caddy outfit annually, which has only heightened its popularity as a collector’s item.
The long odds
Your first hurdle is landing a ticket to the tournament. That alone requires winning the ticket lottery, a feat in itself.
Then comes the long odds of getting your hands on a rare Augusta Gnome, akin to winning the lottery twice. Lines are long, and supplies are limited.
Part of the Augusta Gnome’s allure lies in the uniqueness of the white-bearded 18-inch figure. The standard model is $50, while its miniature 13-inch sidekick will set you back $30.
From there, the eBay effect kicks in.
A standard 2024 Augusta Gnome is fetching $350 or more online. Heck, I even saw an early model priced at $3,500. A better return on your money would be hard to come by.
