Gnomes are the latest hot item at Augusta National during the Masters golf tournament. These quirky statues have become highly coveted collector’s items, selling out within hours each morning in the tournament gift shop. Patrons are willing to wait in long lines for the $49.50 ceramic figurines, which have been sold since 2016 and come in different colorful designs each year. Some have even listed the collection of Masters gnomes for sale on eBay for as much as $16,000, creating a booming secondary market for these unique souvenirs.
One couple from California, John and Erin McGovern, made it a priority to get a Masters gnome during their visit to Augusta. They found the gnomes to be cute and charming, with Erin insisting on placing it in their garden despite John suggesting giving it as a gift. However, not everyone plans to keep their gnomes outside, as they believe it could diminish the figurine’s value. Some visitors, like Pam and Dwayne Threlkeld from South Carolina, are purchasing gnomes with the intention of selling them later as collectors’ items due to their perceived value.
Patrons at Augusta National can only buy one gnome per day on a first-come, first-serve basis, leading to long lines at the gift shop each morning. The shelves are restocked until the figurines are sold out again, creating a frenzy among golf fans and collectors alike. The Masters tournament stands to benefit greatly from the gnome craze, as merchandise sales reportedly reached $69 million in 2022. This year’s gnome features the classic old man design with a long white beard, a blue cardigan, a white Masters bucket hat, and blue-and-green plaid pants, quickly becoming an iconic symbol of the tournament.
For many visitors like Ben Milgram from Detroit, getting a Masters gnome has become a must-have item during their trip to Augusta. However, some are unsure of what to do with the gnome once they have it, leading to humorous dilemmas like not having a dog but buying a dog leash. Despite the uncertainty of what to do with their gnomes, people like Milgram have joined the trend of collecting these unique souvenirs. With the demand for Masters gnomes only increasing, it remains to be seen how this quirky phenomenon will evolve in future tournaments and whether the value of these figurines will continue to rise in the collectors’ market.
