It was around 4pm on the eve of the 2014 Masters and finally the last preview piece had been filed and confirmed as received.

Those afforded invitations to tee-up in the next day’s first round of the opening Major of the year were away either competing in the Par-3 Contest or elsewhere doing what they had to do to prepare themselves for the tournament proper.

Golf’s ‘Cathedral in the Pines’ as Augusta National is fondly referred was now closed to any further practice rounds and aside for a few greenstaff there was not a single soul on the golf course.

Pre-owned golf shoes for $5 a pair at The First Tee at Augusta.

This was not about to deter the three who had gathered on the first tee – good friends and colleagues Euan McLean (Daily Record – UK), Neil McLeman (Mirror – UK) and myself.

After rain had washed-out Monday’s first official practice round and with it still overcast on Tuesday and also on Wednesday morning, it was a glorious Wednesday Spring afternoon and a game of golf beckoned.

We entered the Pro Shop and were advised ‘Yes’, the course was open and the green fee, including a set of rental clubs, was $10 and with tax added that made it $10.80 each.

I thought to myself how good is this …. We get to play at Augusta on the afternoon before the Masters for just $10.80. Yes, just $10.80!

The second hole at the First Tee course at Augusta. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

The attendant asked: “If you would like to hit practice balls it’s $5.00 a small bucket, $7.50 an average size bucket and $10 for large.  Also, if you need golf shoes there’s a rack over there (pointing to the rack) of second-hand golf shoes for $5 a pair.”

We thanked him and looked at each other in responding:  “No, thank you   We’ll just head to the first tee.”

So, here we were three members of the 2014 Masters accredited media and we’re going out to play Augusta on the eve of the one of most-watched golf events on the globe.  We were in golf’s heaven.

It’s less than five miles from the front gates of Augusta National on Washington Road to the 6-hole ‘First Tee of Augusta’ course on Damascus Road.

The fourth hole at the First Tee course at Augusta. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)The course is a mix of a lone par five, two par four’s and three par threes, and for $10.80, yes 10.80 you can play as many loops as you like.

If fact, we played two loops with not a soul on the course and here it was 4pm on the day before The Masters.

It’s a great golf course with a variety of tees so no matter your handicap there is reward for golfers at any level.  And just because it’s not the usual 18 holes there’s no reason to feel short-changed on fun.

I have to indulge in some chest-beating as the unthinkable nearly happened in playing the second hole, the second time around when my tee shot hit the base of the flagstick and then rolled left around the hole stopping an agonising inch from the cup on the right-side of the hole.

Evidence of the storm damage from the 5th green at the First Tee at Augusta.

Euan McLen (L) and Neil McLeman after playing the First Tee Augusta course

Alas, my first hole-in-one in the Northern Hemisphere was not to be.

“Great shot, Bernie but then you might as well have been 10-feet away,” I think I heard one of my very ‘dear’ friends say.

Surprisingly, there is parts of the course where you could be easily forgiven you were not out on Augusta National as a couple of holes mirror the Georgian golfing gem where four days later Bubba Watson would capture his second green jacket in three years.

In fact, Augusta National is one of two major sponsors of The First Tee of Augusta with a plaque on the wall in the clubhouse identifying the club had donated $1m to the club. (see photograph)

The $1m donations plaque within the pro shop at the First Tee at Augusta

There is a selection of photographs below but at $10.80 (2014 prices) ‘The First Tee at Augusta’ is still one of the best-kept golfing secret in Augusta, and especially on the eve of The Masters.