August National Golf Club does things a certain elitist way for the world’s most prestigious golf tournament each year: The Masters. Normal and ordinary are not part of Augusta’s vocabulary. Tradition however is. Starting in 1961 the major tournament did away with issuing the standard tickets that attendees were accustomed to getting. Instead these much fancier badges were presented to patrons for entry. It became to steal Jim Nantz’ thunder a new “tradition like any other” and the market for these collectibles has grown stronger ever since. Today Masters badges are among the most coveted pieces of golf memorabilia in the hobby especially early examples when legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus captivated audiences with their precision grace and near perfection on the links.

Featured here is an amazing opportunity to obtain every single Masters badge produced through 2011. 51 badges in all make up this elite group. All that's missing is the last five (2012-2016) which are much more readily available online. The exceptionally rare consecutive run begins with the 1961 Masters won by Gary Player the other member of the “Big Three.” It includes all six of Jack’s Masters titles from his 2nd career major championship in 1963 until his final green jacket in 1986 at the age of 46. Two of Arnie’s four green jackets (1962 & ’64) are represented as are all four Tiger Woods triumphs which now seem like a distant memory.

All 51 badges come with their original safety pins. Several earlier ones have the official Robert Tyre Jones Jr. (aka Bobby Jones) Augusta National Club President message on the back which adds some value as well. The average condition of these incredibly well-preserved badges is around NM-MT in our humble opinion. All but six (1992-95 1998 & 2003) are PSA certified these having been late additions to fill the consecutive run. Beginning in 2001 PSA stopped encapsulating Masters badges in case holders due to their size with the safety pins. Thus all badges from 2001 and later are in plastic card-holders. This collection can take several years to assemble but it all can had in one fell swoop from the highest bidder. For reference a 1961-2014 Masters badge consecutive run (none PSA certified) sold for $8878 in 2015.