They’re some of the most prized possessions at each Masters Tournament. Not passes to Berckmans Place or Map & Flag (though those are very in demand), or even the garden gnomes that fly off the shelves of the official Masters merchandise shop.
No, maybe the most prized souvenirs at each Masters are the plastic cups made by Waddington North America, a brand of Novolex. They’re 16 ounces and most come in “frosted pearl.” Many can be purchased for as little as $2, beverage included.
It’s not uncommon to see a patron digging through a trash receptacle to retrieve extra plastic cups. Nor is it uncommon to see those same patrons walking the grounds with cups stacked 10 to 15 high. Many are listed for sale on eBay, with some dating back to the 1990s.
The cups have evolved over the years. Going back to the turn of the century and the 2000 tournament, patrons received a white cup with the Masters logo and year on one side, and the Augusta National clubhouse on the other.
It appears the club introduced the frosted pearl version at the 2002 tournament, while still offering the white version with year and logo on one side and clubhouse on the other.
The new design was a simple one, with the Masters tournament logo and year enclosed by a vertical oval. That design stayed largely the same until the 2019 tournament, when the vertical oval was removed and the year moved below the tournament logo.
In some years, cups featured the tournament logo/year on one side and an Augusta National hole on the other. The 2007 version featured the par-3 6th, Juniper, on one side. The next year had visuals of Amen Corner — celebrating the 50th anniversary of the name coined by famed writer Herbert Warren Wind for the 11th, 12th and 13th holes.
In recent years, Augusta National introduced green cups, which hold imported beers or the club’s Crow’s Nest brew. Clear cups mostly hold non-alcoholic drinks, domestic beer or cocktails that are served at the clubhouse.
It’s not known how many cups are distributed each year. Waddington North America did not respond to requests for comment. But it’s probably in line with what club officials tell constituents regarding ticket sales and other private club numbers.
“Just the right amount.”
