Augusta National “has gifted scores of highly coveted and valuable tickets to high-ranking city employees and elected officials” for years, however government ethics experts say that the practice “puts Augusta’s government at high risk for corruption and creates the appearance of a conflict of interest,” according to Radnofsky & Beaton of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Some of the gifted tickets -- the “especially rare Masters Series Badges that grant access to all four rounds of the tournament” -- sell “for more than” $20,000 on the secondary market. Those who have received tickets include “top officials in key departments” and some of their staff as well as Augusta’s commissioners. The mayor’s office also gets an allotment of tickets for himself and additional ones to distribute. In the past, even some local judges received tickets. The club’s practice of gifting has been going on for decades and is “considered so commonplace that it doesn’t merit a second thought by city officials.” However, the practice “raised concern” with government ethics experts. The city’s ethics code prohibits employees and public officials of Augusta, Ga. from accepting “a gift from a lobbyist, vendor, or any other person seeking to influence official action.” A gift is defined as “anything of value, exceeding the value of $100,” with tickets “valued at the face value.” However, there is an exception allowing elected officials to receive “courtesy tickets” for their own use (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/9).
Augusta National’s ticket gifting sparks ethics concerns
