Patrons stock up on souvenirs

With two overflowing shopping baskets at her feet, Crystal Sisler sat in a corner of the Masters Tournament gift shop at Augusta National Golf Club to take a rest.

"It's probably the last time I'll get to come here since tickets are so hard to come by, so I wanted to stock up," said Sisler, 63.

In her baskets were shirts, hats, socks, insulated glasses and posters -- all plastered with the Masters logo to commemorate her first trip to the tournament.

Women gathered around the glass cases holding leather purses and travel bags, and others crowded the long counter selling baseball caps.

Dozens of designs and colors were on display above the counter as buyers called out the number of the hat they wanted and workers pulled the purchases from behind the counter.

"I don't know, should I get the plain yellow one or the one with the year on it?" Pattie Ramsaur, of Lumberton, N.C., asked her husband, David.

"Definitely the one with the year," he said. "So you remember the year you came."

Not all buyers were in it for themselves. Tami Pye, of Martinez, had a checklist of friends and family who were expecting souvenirs.

"We mostly came over here to shop," Pye said. "I've got people saying 'Bring me this, bring me that.' "

At the top of her list was the Masters teddy bear, which is dressed in a golf shirt and hat with the famous logo.

Pye had at least eight bears in her basket, one of which was for someone with a special tie to the tournament. A family friend worked at the ticket counter for years, but this week will watch the tournament on television in a nursing home.

"She gave me a list and said bring this bear for me," Pye said.

Other merchandise ranged from $115 limited-edition putters to $27 beach towels.

As she waited for her girlfriends to finish their shopping, Sisler said most people are willing to pay any price for souvenirs from the Masters gift shop.

"It's probably the most beautiful golf course in the world," she said. "You expect to spend money because it's the Masters. I'd say it's worth it."

Reach Tracey McManus at (706) 823-3424 ortracey.mcmanus@augustachronicle.com.