How I Ate Gluten Free at The Masters Golf Tournament

The Masters is famous for lots of reasons: great golf, beautiful scenery and inexpensive concessions.  But….are there any gluten free options available?  Could I eat gluten free at The Masters? In all my research, I found no one talks or writes about that.   One thing was certain, my food allergy would not interfere with a once in a lifetime opportunity to step through the gates at Augusta National.  

It is tough to travel with a food allergy, because so much is out of my control.   I have to depend on other people, many who have limited information or have no idea how to help someone with an allergy.  I always want to know the ingredients of what I’m eating.  I read all the labels and ask lots of questions.  I plan ahead, which means I research restaurants and read menus before arriving.  I call managers and talk to chefs at most restaurants, and I even have specific conversations with the person serving my food.  However, many of the things I wanted to know before eating at The Masters were out of my control.  

Every element of The Masters experience is world class, and I was hopeful I could find something to eat at this prestigious golf tournament.  I set out on my own “food adventure” of sorts and I figured out how to eat gluten free at The Masters.  Here is the story on what I ate, and some helpful tips as you plan your own visit to Augusta National to experience The Masters!

Sarah Lanier at The Masters, 2022. Holding a gluten free treat and a sweet tea while exploring Augusta National.

#1….do a little research before attending events.  

Attending any new venue with an allergy (especially a full day event) can be daunting, but I asked a lot of friends and family who have attended in the past, and of course scoured the internet for photos or suggestions.  

In my research, I looked for menus or pictures of signs from the actual event.  When I spotted a snapshot of the concessions I was relieved.  “Fresh fruit” was listed on the menu.  I was confident I could eat enough fruit throughout the day to maintain my energy as we traversed the hilly topography at Augusta National.

#2….eat a good breakfast before you arrive.  

I chose a hearty breakfast high in protein to give me the energy I needed to start the day.  Also, I hydrated.  I knew I would be doing a lot of walking and wanted to prepare my body rather than try to play catch up later.  Augusta National provides many places to purchase beverages….and if you want a fun and cheap souvenir keep your cups. Anything with the iconic logo on it is a fun way to remember your visit to The Masters.  Along with the official souvenirs we purchased, we brought home a nice little sleeve of plastic cups to share with our kids.

#3…plan on refueling every 2-3 hours.  

Once we were on the grounds, we made our way to the food pavilion. I was able to determine what was truly gluten free.  I snapped my own photo of the The Masters Concession Menu (from April 2022). You may notice that I highlighted the items that are GLUTEN FREE. 

I tried EVERY gluten free menu item, and as you can see there are PLENTY of options to eat gluten free at The Masters, so I definitely did not go hungry.

The list of gluten free items available on the Masters Concessions Menu.

Around mid-morning we were ready for a snack. I grabbed a banana and a cup of coffee.  It was nice to stroll the grounds and sip a little bit of warmth on a chilly April morning.  

For lunch, even though I could not try one of the famous sandwiches there were plenty of gluten free options at The Masters. I definitely enjoyed what I choose:

• Fresh Fruit
• Trail Mix
• Potato Chips  
• Sweet Tea

Sweet Tea is a classic southern beverage option that is gluten free at The Masters

While in line, I was surprised to find a few other gluten free treats. They sounded so good I decided we would have to come back in the afternoon for another snack! 

• Georgia Pecan Caramel Popcorn
• Georgia Salty Pecan Caramel Clusters
• Georgia Pecan Caramel Chocolate Clusters
• Haagen Dazs Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond Ice Cream Bars

By mid-afternoon we had now seen every hole, spotted a few celebrities, walked about 20 miles and felt like we had earned a treat!  We picked up popcorn and Georgia Pecan Caramel Chocolate Clusters as our last bit of nourishment for the day.  (Since we own a pecan orchard, we always like to try Georgia Pecans!) We even had a little left over which was a nice final snack as we waited in the traffic after the tournament. 

#4…plan on eating dinner off site and tell stories from the day.  

Our dinner was a quick one at Chick-fil-A.  (Believe it or not you can actually easily eat gluten free there.) Definitely not the healthiest meal, but certainly one that hit the spot after we trekked over 30 miles during our day at The Masters.

Attending The Masters was a one of a kind experience. It was a wonderful spring day to be outside and explore the beauty of Augusta National.  These are the two stories from my first trip to The Masters that I’ll always remember.

We  bumped into Cody Jones from Dude Perfect, who was a caddie for Bryson Dechambeau during the Par 3 Contest, and he kindly allowed us to snap a photo.

Cody Jones and Hal Lanier (my husband) at The Masters, 2022.

We also saw an iconic golf moment when Fred Couples, Tiger Woods, & Justin Thomas lined up in a row to skip their golf balls across the water at the 16th hole.  All 3 of them hit their balls at the same time and Couples ball was the only one to reach the green!  

The famous crowd roaring at Augusta National did not disappoint and seeing all the azaleas lining Amen Corner was a highlight for sure.  Attending the most famous tournament in all of golf with my husband was a delight and eating Gluten Free as a spectator was definitely doable. I know you’ll enjoy living a gluten free life at The Masters.  I can’t wait to go back again! 

NOTES:

*For those of you dining in the other areas around at the tournament like Berkman’s Place, I recommend you discuss with the event coordinator the menu options featured in those special areas, most of them accommodate food allergies.

**If you are researching the concessions at The Masters, or traveling with someone who is NOT gluten free here’s another article you may find helpful.  The guy tried EVERYTHING on the menu.

***This information is for educational purposes only. Consult your healthcare team when considering this information for your own use.