Masters Tournament experience a 'masterclass in hospitality' for Husker HRTM students

24 Apr 2024    

Earlier this month, students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's hospitality, restaurant and tourism management program traveled to Augusta National Golf Club to provide hospitality services at the 2024 Masters Tournament. The group of students traveled with Associate Professor and HRTM Program Director Ajai Ammachathram to the event April 4-16. It was the 10th time that Husker students have had the opportunity to help at the Masters. Three of those students - sophomore Abby Cantrell, junior Lydia Tobin and freshman Lyv Williams – share about their experiences in these blog posts.

Abby Cantrell – sophomore – Malcolm, Nebraska

The promise of unforgettable experiences is at the heart of the hospitality industry, and that is what the Masters Tournament provides: an unforgettable experience. It is a truly unforgettable experience for both the patrons and tournament employees. The exceptional level of service demanded fosters a unique learning environment for hospitality students nationwide. Since this was my second year working the Masters, I had the privilege of being the student lead from UNL. In this position, I had to coordinate with Augusta National’s representatives, our UNL faculty leader, Dr. Ajai Ammachathram, and the nine other UNL students who got to work the tournament.

We are sent to the tournament to work as servers or bartenders in the hospitality cabins and suites, and our focus is providing patrons with exemplary service that will enhance their Masters experience. However, our supervisors understand that this prestigious event provides us valuable learning opportunities and once in a lifetime experiences. Some highlights include acquiring new hospitality and communication skills from my experiences and supervisor’s expertise as a hospitality and event industry professional, building connections with my coworkers and patrons, walking the course during practice rounds, and seeing the iconic Amen Corner.

Skill development was a key takeaway from my experience. After working 10 days for 8-14 hours a day, I can say that I have enhanced my communication skills, flexibility, teamwork, and customer service skills. In addition, I now pay greater attention to detail because I saw firsthand how much the little details truly matter. A combination of my experiences in the cabin and around the beautiful course made for a memorable experience that will last me a lifetime. I am thankful for my time at Augusta National, and I hope to return next year!

Lydia Tobin – junior – Waukee, Iowa

My experience at the 2024 Masters Tournament was framed by azaleas, putting greens, and pimento cheese sandwiches. Augusta National Golf Club (AGNC), the backdrop for the tournament, is unlike anything I have ever seen. The exclusivity, privacy, and secrecy surrounding the club make it a mystery to the outside world. When I accepted my role as a server in one of AGNC’s hospitality suites, I had no clue what to expect. The more I researched and googled ahead of time, the more unclear my mental expectations became. All I had to go off of were stories from the servers that preceded me.

I recall the first morning on AGNC property, outfitted in my three-piece suit uniform (complete with a bowtie), and pulling up in front of a row of picture-perfect cottages. These cottages, which looked like they were straight off the cover of a Better Homes & Gardens magazine, were my place of employment for the next nine days. Little did I know on day one that the Flowering Peach Suite would be host to inside jokes with coworkers, sincere connections with patrons, and the truest sense of teamwork I’ve ever felt by day nine.

I’m walking away from this experience with essentially a masterclass in hospitality under my belt. Augusta National Golf Club’s high standard of service and impeccable reputation sets the Masters Tournament apart as such a highly regarded event, year after year. The melding of “Midwest nice” and “Southern hospitality” elevated my and my patron’s experiences. I feel lucky to have been selected to represent the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management program at this year’s Masters Tournament and I look forward to doing it all over again next April.

Lyv Williams – freshman – Columbus, Nebraska

The Masters Golf Tournament is an event that I never thought I would have the honor to experience. This opportunity felt like merely a dream until I was in the airport with the rest of the UNL hospitality students, eager to get to Augusta, Georgia. As a first-year hospitality student, I had no idea what to expect, apart from the exciting stories from returning students. From the moment we set foot on the grounds at Augusta National, we were not only met with beautiful sights, but also top tier hospitality. The first day was enough for me to know that I was going to have the best week with the most ambitious and hard-working group of people I have ever been a part of.

Reflecting now, my experience at the Masters exceeded my expectations. One of my favorite parts of the trip was growing close with likeminded individuals from schools across the country. With my amazing team I learned the importance of teamwork, attention to detail, and to always look out for one another. These skills, along with the technical skills that I developed while serving, are going to benefit me for the rest of my career. The best memories that I made were celebrating one another’s successes throughout the week no matter how small. On the eve of the very last day, my friends and I all went to dinner to celebrate our hard work. Making those unforgettable memories was so worth missing out on an extra hour of sleep!

Going into the week I was expecting the work to be difficult, but nothing was harder than saying goodbye to the wonderful people I made connections with at Augusta. Not only did I get to work alongside some of the most amazing individuals, but I also learned the most important part of hospitality: making meaningful connections with the guests. When asked about my favorite part of the Masters, it was without a doubt having the ability to put a smile on patrons’ faces. From an outside perspective my time spent at the Masters may have seemed like work, but to me it was so much more. The biggest takeaway I have is that hospitality is not just about service, it is about creating the best atmosphere and experience possible for the guests. That is precisely the reason I love this field of work so much, and why I cannot wait to pursue a career as a hospitality professional.