How to Host a Masters Watch Party

Whether you’re a golf fan or are in it for the snacks, hosting a Masters Party is a great excuse to invite your people into your home for a laid-back gathering that celebrates the storied golf tournament. You’ll learn how to host the party, what foods to serve, how to decorate and more here.

Real talk: I am not a golf fan. I rarely know what is going on in the golf world.

However, I am a fan of casual parties and inviting my people into my home. (We might say that I’m always looking for excuses to host my people.)

The Masters Invitational Golf Tournament is a springtime classic, surrounded with a lot of history and beautiful sights. Hosted at the storied Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, this event is one many golf enthusiasts travel to go see because the course itself is stunning, and the atmosphere is like none other.

In my opinion, a Masters Party is a brilliant gathering because it’s centered around this golf tournament, which also celebrates a lot of things I love about the South, including some very specific foods.

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If you don’t want to hike it to Augusta, a watch party is an excellent alternative. Watch parties for sporting events are a relatively new thing that we can all get behind, especially since traveling to this event is not cheap.

Whether you’re a golf die-hard or new to the sport, I’ve written a guide about how to host the ultimate Masters watch party.

Here’s what to do…

1. Choose WHEN you’ll host the party.

You’re hosting a Masters Viewing Party… great! So when will you host it?

This tournament runs Thursday through Sunday during the first full week of April.

Sunday is the final round of golf, so that might be ideal for a viewing party. (Because if you want the drama, this is when it’ll happen. It also might be best for golf novices.)

Here are a few things to keep in mind in the early planning stages:

1. The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday. Choose a day to host your viewing party based on key rounds… or drama. Since the winner is crowned on Sunday, will you want to host that day?
2. What time will you host? If you want to serve brunch, you and your crew can watch the early coverage during the weekend. You could host an afternoon viewing for the back nine.
3. Check the tee times beforehand, and keep in mind that Masters Sunday wraps up by early evening.

2. Send Invites to Guests

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Once you have the your party’s date and time, it’s time to invite your friends and family!

Include the date, time and a dress code, if applicable. (Think golf attire, pastels, polos and khakis, etc.) If guests are to bring a recipe for a potluck, let them know here.

You can go casual with a text or email, or class it up with themed party invitations that really lean into the vibe.

No matter what you decide, don’t overthink it. This is meant to be fun, after all.

Masters Viewing Party Invitation Ideas:

• Create a green-and-gold design in Canva. Consider adding golf balls, flags or the Augusta logo. (You could also purchase a design to customize, like this Let’s Par-tee card or this Masters branded invite.)
• Check out digital invitations from websites like Evite or Paperless Post. I love this argyle-themed invite, as well as this golf ball invitation.
• For printed invites, Amazon has a few fill-in-the-blank options, like this golf party invite. I love these festive plaid invites for the watch party, too.
• Look for digital downloads on Etsy to customize. I love this sharable invitation that features a golf green, as well as this design with the azaleas that could be texted or printed out.

3. Build your party menu

As a recipe developer and food blogger, y’all know I am all about the food. (Also, I’ve always been into the snacks at parties because that’s just who I am. Maybe that’s why you’re here, too?)

Before you get started, ask your guests about their dietary needs because it’s important to have something for everyone. (So if you have a guest with Celiac or gluten intolerance, you need to have dishes they can eat. The same goes for your vegetarian or vegan friends, and so on and so forth.)

Plan the amount of dishes you need to serve based on the number of guests attending. You could also turn this into a potluck and ask each guest to bring a dish or a drink.

Masters Party Food and Recipes

The Masters is famous for its food. You can even buy Masters food kits online if you prefer to have it delivered to your doorstep.

If you want to make some classic recipes at home, here’s a few ideas that would be fabulous for sharing:

4. Make a Cooking Timeline

You’ve heard me say it before: a cooking timeline is your best friend when hosting anything.

Use your party start time and menu to back into your cooking schedule.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Print out or earmark every recipe you’re making.
2. Write down each recipe’s prep, cook and rest times. This will help determine when you begin cooking.
3. Highlight what can be made in advance or prepped. (Dressings can be made early, and so can many desserts. You can chop veggies a day or two in advance to then assemble in a dish.)
4. Decide when the food will be served. Is it the same time as when guests arrive?
5. Build in 30-45 minutes of buffer time in case a certain dish takes longer than expected.
6. Add getting ready to your timeline so that it does not fall by the wayside! You deserve to look and feel nice at this gathering, too!
7. Write down your plan and set it in the kitchen so you can reference it easily.

Don’t forget to plan space in your fridge / oven / stovetop / slow cooker, too! It’s not just about time, it’s about kitchen real estate.

5. Design the Table

This sounds fancier than it actually is. What this means is you need to put some thought into what is being served and where… and where your guests will sit or stand while they enjoy the food.

This doesn’t have to be fancy — but it can still feel thoughtful.

Consider…

• Seating: Will your guests sit or stand to eat? If you want to provide more seating spaces, bring in folding chairs or use outdoor seating if the weather is nice.
• Service setup: Map out food and drink stations. Think about how people flow through the space. Add labels or place cards so guests know what each item is.
• Decor: Incorporate golf-themed accents throughout your tables and space, like tees, mini flags, vintage scorecards, etc. You can make some of these if you’re feeling crafty.

Serving Setup:

• Use green, white, and yellow as your color scheme — Masters colors!
• Chill wine or champagne in a cooler filled with ice and sliced lemons or limes

6. Grocery Shop

You can do this up to a week ahead of time… though please note that some of your fresh ingredients might not last a full week in your fridge.

Don’t forget…

• All the food on your list to make Masters-inspired snacks
• Ice
• Paper goods, like themed plates, cups, napkins, etc.
• Extra trash bags
• Beer, wine and mixers… and cocktail ingredients, if you’re making one
• To-go containers, if you’ll send guests home with leftovers

You can absolutely use delivery or pickup to avoid store crowds. And if you are purchasing a lot of food and/or drinks, consider buying in bulk at a place like Costco, Sam’s Club or Total Wine.

7. Make what you can in advance.

Prepwork and planning, to me, are a gift to your future self. Knocking this stuff out early will help you keep your cool on the party day.

Anything that can be chopped, baked or chilled in advance is on my list of stuff to do beforehand.

Here are some things you could prep ahead of time for a Masters viewing party:

• Make both pimento cheese and egg salad 1-2 days before the party. Keep ’em cool in the fridge. The egg salad might be a little liquidy when you’re ready to serve it. Just pour off the liquid and proceed. It’s fine.
• Bake any cookies or bars 1-2 days early, too.
• Chop any veggies and store in the fridge.
• Batch make any cocktails, like an Azalea. Just leave out the bubbles, as those will go flat, or the ice, as it will dilute the drink.
• Slice lemons and limes for drinks. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
• If anything need marinating, do that the night before, unless the recipe specifies otherwise.
• If time is short, consider using frozen or store-bought appetizers. You can also ask guests to bring something to help with this!

8. Decorate (but only if you want to)

Want to lean in to the theme?

Here are some ideas to add that Southern flair to your gathering:

• Since this is a golf tournament, use green tablecloths or runners on your table or flat surface(s).
• Floral centerpieces involving azaleas or yellow roses and greenery would mimic Augusta’s flowers and the springy feel of this tournament.
• Invest in Masters-themed paper products like napkins or cups.
• Use golf-themed props, like golf balls or tees, as decor in jars or vases.
• Similarly, use mini golf flags (on toothpicks) in cupcakes or as drink stirrers.
• Make or purchase scorecard printables for the people who want to follow the tournament!
• Light unscented candles around the house. You could also do this with fairy lights or tea lights for cozy vibes. (I actually prefer the fairy lights and/or battery-powered tea lights.)
• Create a drink station or bar cart. Print out your signature cocktail recipe so guests can mix their own.

9. Add a Game or Two

Adding a game to the party certainly isn’t required, but it can be a fun if you’re watching with a competitive crew.

Here are some thoughts:

• Masters Bingo — create bingo cards with common golf words and phrases, like birdie, green, commercial break, etc.
• Pick Your Golfer — print out the top 10 leaderboard and ask guests to choose which golfer will win. (You could also have guests draw their golfer at random.) If your golfer takes home the green jacket, you win a prize!
• Putting Green Challenge — set up a putting green in your backyard or hallway and let guests see who is the best at putting.

You can offer a prize as simple as a gift card to a coffee shop or a bottle of your favorite beverage. The prize could also be bragging rights, which is what my family does sometimes.

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Hosting a Masters Viewing Party is truly the best of both worlds. It combines low-key spring vibes (because, after all, a watch party at your house is inherently more relaxed than attending the actual tournament) with some tradition and Southern charm to feel special.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel or go full Augusta. Just invite your people and bring them together for some great food and enjoy the game and the company.

I hope these Masters Party ideas tips and tricks assist you in hosting the best viewing party!