Masters "October Hosting Rumors?"... "Augusta Accommodation Prices Already Soaring"

With rumors circulating that the Masters will be held in October, room rates at the Augusta Hotel are already soaring.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] The rumor of the Masters being held in October resurfaced.

On the 18th (Korean time), the AP News reported, "A strange phenomenon is occurring where hotel room prices in the Augusta area of Georgia, USA, the venue of the Masters, are soaring." For popular hotels, the price for a one-night stay in October on booking sites has surged up to $883 (1.09 million KRW). Marina Alex, a player on the U.S. LPGA Tour, added her story, saying, "I booked a room in Augusta for October 5th, but I received a notice from the hotel that my reservation was canceled."

Augusta is neither a famous tourist destination nor an industrially developed area. This means that if it weren't for the Masters, there would be no influx of outsiders. Every year, the only busy period is the 'Masters week' in early April. Augusta, a small city with a population of only 200,000, attracts more than 200,000 tourists, causing room prices to skyrocket. Residents often rent out their homes during this period and travel far away.

The Masters, originally scheduled to open on the 9th of next month, has been postponed indefinitely due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States, which has dealt a heavy blow to the local economy. Augusta National has expressed its intention to hold the event in the second half of the year. However, this is not easy. The May PGA Championship has been postponed, and major tournaments such as the June US Open and July The Open Championship are scheduled every month. In August, there are three PGA Tour Playoff (PO) events, and in September, the Ryder Cup, a continental golf competition between the U.S. and Europe, will be held.

Above all, during the summer, the grass at Augusta National cannot withstand the intense heat of Georgia. The bentgrass used for the 'glass plate greens' is particularly vulnerable to heat. The Masters is known for its meticulous course management, closing for as much as six months a year to maintain 'carpet-like fairways' without a single divot. This adds credibility to the possibility of an October event. The PGA Tour starts its 2021 season in October, but if the Masters is held then, everything is likely to be adjusted accordingly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.