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Gnomes, these quirky statues that folks put of their gardens, are flying off the cabinets at Augusta National.
AUGUSTA, Ga.: Gnomes, these quirky statues that folks put of their gardens, are flying off the cabinets at Augusta National.
The Masters golf-centric gnomes been promoting out inside a few hours every morning after the match present store opens. Patrons are greater than keen to attend in hour-long traces for the $49.50 ceramic figurine that has grow to be a extremely coveted collector’s merchandise.
Augusta National has been promoting the one-foot excessive gnomes — which come in several colourful designs every year — since 2016.
And they’re rising in recognition and worth as time passes.
One vendor has listed the gathering of eight Masters gnomes for $16,000 on eBay.
Others who visited the store this week have already put this 12 months’s gnome up on the market on eBay at almost 10 instances what they paid.
John McGovern and his spouse Erin made the trek to Augusta from Carlsbad, California and mentioned the gnome was a “targeted item” for them.
“They are so cute,” Erin McGovern mentioned.
John McGovern steered the couple would possibly give it to a household buddy after they get again to California after the Masters. His spouse has different plans.
“No, it’s going in the garden,” she insisted.
Others don’t have any plans to permit their gnomes to endure the indignity of residing outdoors in doubtlessly poor climate situations.
After all, it could probably diminish its worth.
“We’ll probably sell it,” mentioned Pam Threlkheld of Ninety Six, South Carolina, mentioned afrwe
“We’ve heard it’s worth like five times what we’re paying for it,” her husband Dwayne Threlkeld added. “Everyone was talking about it, so I figured let’s get one while we’re here.”
Patrons can solely buy one gnome per day and they’re bought on a first-come, first-serve foundation. There are additionally mini-gnomes obtainable on the present store.
Patrons usually will select to navigate the lengthy traces on the present store upon coming into the grounds at Augusta National somewhat than heading straight to the course.
The present store cabinets are restocked the following morning till the collectible figurines are gone once more.
The greater winner on this gnome craze is, in fact, the Masters. Forbes reported that the Masters made $69 million in merchandise gross sales in 2022.
This 12 months’s Masters gnome is the acquainted previous man with an extended white beard, sporting a blue cardigan with a white shirt and tie, a white Masters bucket hat and blue-and -green plaid pants.
“It’s become this iconic thing, so I got one,” mentioned Ben Milgram from Detroit. “Everyone is saying, ‘did you get the gnome?’”
Milgram has no thought what he’s going to do together with his gnome.
“There’s a running joke in my house that I once bought a dog leash — and I don’t even have a dog,” Milgram mentioned. “So I don’t know what I will do it. Maybe put the thing on a shelf, I guess.”
There is perhaps a couple of individuals keen to take it off his fingers.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
