Home that Augusta National Golf Club wants to raze still stands
An unassuming home in Georgia has become the talk of the town, as the only property standing in the middle of where the Masters Tournament takes place each year. Despite the Augusta National Golf Club spending over $200 million in the past 20 years to buy more than 100 properties spanning a colossal 270 acres to build the upscale golf course, one property has remained firmly in the Thacker family’s grasp. Located at 1112 Stanley Road, the one-story, 1,900-square-foot house has been home to Herman and Elizabeth Thacker and their family since 1959.
Despite the club offering up to $1 million for the property, the family has turned down all advances, choosing instead to keep their family legacy alive. Herman, an avid golf fan, passed away in the home where he lived for over 65 years at the age of 86 in 2019. His wife of 64 years, Elizabeth, remains in the house to this day.
The Thacker home sits in the middle of the Augusta National Golf Club’s expansive parking lot, which cost over $40 million to bulldoze.
Whenever a representative from Augusta National stopped by to make an offer, they always invited them inside. The proximity of the property to the club has made it an attractive purchase for the tournament’s organizers. However, the Thackers chose to remain in their home, with Herman stating: “money ain’t everything.”
The Thacker family has since expanded to include five great-grandchildren, with their grandchildren gathering in the home during the holidays. One of their grandchildren is now a professional golfer, Scott Brown, who is a PGA Tour member, though he has yet to qualify for the Masters.
The Thacker family has refused to sell the property, which is estimated to be worth $360,000 today, despite the persistent offers from the Augusta National Golf Club.
FAQs:
Q: Has the Augusta National Golf Club tried to buy the Thacker home?
A: Yes, the club has made multiple offers to the Thacker family, offering up to $1 million, but the Thacker family has refused to sell the property.
Q: How long has the Thacker family owned the property?
A: The Thacker family has owned the property since 1959 when they built the one-story, 1,900-square-foot house.
Q: Are the Thacker family members still living in the house?
A: Yes, Elizabeth Thacker, the widow of Herman Thacker, continues to live in the house to this day.
Q: How much did the Augusta National Golf Club spend on buying properties in the area?
A: The club spent over $200 million in the past 20 years to buy more than 100 properties, spanning a colossal 270 acres, to build the upscale golf course.
Q: Who is Scott Brown?
A: Scott Brown is one of the Thacker family’s grandchildren, who is now a professional golfer and a PGA Tour member, but has yet to qualify for the Masters.
Q: What happened to the Thacker family’s other property across the street?
A: The Thacker family eventually sold their smaller property across the street for $1.2 million. The house and everything in it were gone within a week after the sale closed.
The Residence Augusta National Golf Club Seeks to Demolish Remains Intact
Amidst the massive and opulent properties purchased by Augusta National Golf Club in the past two decades, one small house stands out for its refusal to sell. The house at 1112 Stanley Road is situated in the center of where the annual Masters Tournament takes place, and has been owned by the Thacker family for over six decades. Despite repeated offers, including an offer of up to $1 million, the family has not been tempted to sell. Herman and Elizabeth Thacker built the 1,900-square-foot home in 1959, and raised their children and grandchildren inside. Their daughter, Robin(Robby) Rinder, told The Post that her mother, Elizabeth, who is 91 years old, remains in the home, and that the Thacker family plans to stay in the house. Herman, an avid golfer himself, passed away in the home in 2019 at the age of 86. The house, estimated to be worth $360,000 today, is the last holdout in an area where a neighborhood once stood across from the golf club but was bulldozed and replaced with a free parking lot costing over $40 million. The Thacker family’s decision to stay put has earned them respect and admiration, and Herman summed it up best when he said, “Money ain’t everything.”