Masters “Green Jacket”

by Elizabeth DeLuca Tickets and Hospitality

Every year, the winner of The Masters is rewarded with the renowned “Green Jacket”. It is one of the most coveted in the sport of golf. Someone wearing and walking around with a green jacket might be an eyesore, but it is a very beautiful and fine piece of clothing. Many golfers dream of winning The Masters Golf Tournament and slipping on the Green Jacket.

The first brass-buttoned and single-breasted Green Jacket came into being in 1937. It was a tradition started off by Augusta National Golf Club. They ordered the jackets in large numbers for the members belonging to the club so that they could be easily identified by fans of the tournament. They were first bought from the Brooks Uniform Company in New York City. Each individual jacket takes approximately a month to make. Hamilton Tailoring Co. have been the official makers of the jacket for about 4 decades now. Each jacket requires about 8 feet of cloth to stitch from scratch. There is a lot of work and love that goes into these handcrafted jackets. The standard color used is “Masters Green” and the jacket is decorated with the Augusta National Golf Club insignia on the left breast pocket. The brass buttons used also feature the same logo. The jacket is estimated to cost about $250. But in recent years, they have been auctioned for upwards of $60,000. Initially, the members of the club were skeptical and reluctant on wearing this green coat. But later, it became the mark of membership in the super-exclusive Augusta National Golf Club.

The first Masters Champion to don the Green Jacket was Sam Snead who the Masters in 1949. This was the year the tradition of conferring the Green Jacket to the winner was started. The Masters Tournament victor is allowed to retain the Green Jacket for a year and wear it during exclusive and social gatherings and golf events. The following year, when they come back for the tournament, they must submit the jacket to the club. Around four jackets are actually unaccounted for! Subsequently, whenever the champion visits the club, they are allowed to visit their jacket and wear it. Winners who win the tournament more than once wear and have the same jacket unless there is a significant change in their size. The jacket in recent years has transformed into a symbol to be treated with respect and adulation.

The 2015 Masters Tournament is right around the corner and what better place to lay your eyes upon the Green Jacket than the Masters itself? What are you waiting for? Buy 2015 Masters tickets today!