Experience the Masters Through the Morehouse Golf Team

Attending the Masters is a privilege extended to a limited number of patrons each year lucky enough to win the lottery (literally or metaphorically) to score a ticket. Arguably the most exclusive event in sports, tickets don’t come easy—but the experience is one you’ll never forget.

The excitement was written all over the faces and nervously-excited fidgets of the Morehouse Golf team as they awaited their ride from the Mercedes 1886 clubhouse to Augusta National. These five young men were about to not only attend the tournament, but arrive on site via Magnolia Lane—an experience reserved for an extremely small number of attendees each year.

Parked outside was the team’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van wrapped in Morehouse’s maroon and white colors with a nod to the team’s benefactor, Eastside Golf, across the front. Unlike many brands that use corporate partnerships at the Masters to court investors or network and whatnot, Eastside Golf co-founders Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper rallied their relationship with Mercedes to host the golf team of their alma mater, Atlanta's Morehouse College.

The team swapped out their team car for another Mercedes Sprinter before heading to the course Wednesday and Thursday of the Masters. Arriving in style, the Mercedes hospitality cabin included access to a putting green maintained at Augusta National speeds, as many pimento and peach ice cream sandwiches as one could eat and quick access to the course, right off of the 10th fairway.

The Morehouse Golf Team with Coach Edgar Evans Jr. outside of the Mercedes 1886 Clubhouse during Masters week | Credit: Mercedes

I was fortunate enough to attend my first Masters also courtesy of Mercedes. Surrounded by Mercedes VIP Customers and guests, I too felt like a jittery college kid getting the opportunity of a lifetime tagging along with Mercedes.

Chatting with some of the players, it was evident that the no-phone rule was an odd feeling, but one that ultimately achieved its goal in making everyone more present. Admittedly, I found myself much more willing to strike up a conversation than I usually would at a golf tournament. My face is usually buried in a phone or computer, elbows deep in editing stories for the website or scheduling out coverage from Skratch’s talented team of writers.

“I have never seen my team go so long without technology and I couldn’t be happier,” Morehouse coach Edgar Evans Jr. said. “This generation isn’t present often, so being at the Masters was a special time. I wish all sporting events were like this.”

An Augusta local, Evans has been to the Masters so many times he lost count at the tenth. In high school he’d work on the driving range at the tournament but never thought he’d be able to bring the same joy of being at Augusta National to young golfers like this someday.

“In all honesty, I never thought I would be a golf coach let alone bring my team to the Masters,” Evans said. “The most meaningful part of sharing the Masters moments with my team is to see the joy and excitement on their faces during our time in Augusta. I know that these will be moments that will last them a lifetime.”

Through Eastside Golf and Mercedes, Evans was able to bring his team to the tournament last year—returning this year with some new faces on the roster. First-timer and freshman Joel (JD) Cunningham gave Evans his favorite memory of the week when he leaned over to his coach to exclaim: “Coach, this is the best day of my life.”

With his team by his side, Cunningham made sure to walk the full 18 holes during his time at Augusta National. With each step he imagined the shots he would take, given the opportunity to tee it up there one day.

“Twenty years from now we will still be talking about our first time at Augusta,” 19-year-old Cunningham said. “This trip has made me a better golfer [and has] made me want to work harder than ever to reach my goals. I want to play in the Masters one day and I know it’s a lot of hard work to be able to do so.”

Coach Evans saw a noticeable difference in his team’s motivation levels both on and off the course after last year’s trip and is confident that he’ll see similar results this year.

“Last year’s team was impacted by coming to the Masters in so many ways. I think the biggest way that they were impacted was by having a sense of urgency to apply for summer internships,” Evans said. “They have a strong passion to be successful in the business world after the trip, even more so than before.”

This year with a mix of majors ranging from communications to economics and biology, every player had something to learn, experience to gain and relationships to build in Augusta.

“This year I hope the experience of the Masters really teaches our young men what is possible through relationships,” Evans said. “It is so important for them to build and cultivate relationships with everyone that they meet. That is the reason we are here, and it is what will carry them forward in their lives.”