Considering its vaunted reputation, you might imagine that modern day Green Jackets are Armani-made and fitted with diamond studded, gold buttons. Sadly you would be wrong. Supplied by the Hamilton Tailoring Company of Cincinnati since 1967 each single-breasted, centre-vented blazer costs Augusta National the remarkably modest sum of just U$250 (just under HK$2,000).
Cut and stitched in Dublin, Georgia by Victor Forstmann Inc, each one is still made from a school uniform mix of wool and polyester. Lined with sheer Bemberg rayon, the buttons – three for each cuff and three larger ones the actual jacket – are made of polished brass by Waterbury Companies Inc of Connecticut. Bearing the celebrated Augusta National logo, they match the one stitched onto the left hand breast pocket before each jacket is finally delivered. As for the distinctive green colour it is somewhat unromantically listed as: ‘Pantone 342.’
Somewhat remarkably every new jacket in living memory has been taken from a single 500-yard roll of wool purchased back in 1990 by Ed Heimann, chairman of Hamilton Tailoring. Estimated to make around 200 jackets, a re-order may be on the cards with the admission of two new female members in 2012 in the shape of former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore.
The first women to join the men-only ranks of Augusta National Golf Club in 80 years, the question whether or not they received a more feminine cut was met with a polite but firm, “No comment!” from Hamilton Tailoring. (Coincidentally, the same answer was given by a club spokesman when asked to confirm all the previous manufacturing details.)
Perhaps the best known "guideline infringement” involved three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo, who wore his during a number of high-profile TV Chat show interviews after his first win in 1989. At least he promised to bring it back – unlike Seve Ballesteros, who flatly refused to return his in 2002 when asked by Chairman Hootie Johnson.
Not that either man was the first to "accidentally" spirit the jacket away from the club. In 1961, the first non-American winner of the Masters, Gary Player, was telephoned in South Africa by Chairman Roberts who admonished him for leaving the property with it in tow. Unaware of the heinous crime he had committed the Black Knight mischievously replied: “Fine Mr Roberts, if you want it come and fetch it!"
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