We choose not to stay in Augusta due to its limited accommodation and restaurant choices. Furthermore, traffic can be very heavy getting to the course from the north side where most people stay. In contrast, Aiken services a wealthy horse breeding area so the quality of restaurants and hotels are higher. It is only a 30 minute drive to the Augusta National course, avoiding the heavy traffic. 96% of attendees rated Aiken as an admirable alternative to stay in. Many tour operators in Australia also do not escort the tour personally, choosing to simply sell a tour on behalf of a local operator based in Augusta where guests are left to their own devices, often making the trip more demanding and risky. Other operators book you into hotels in Colombia which can be a 90 minute drive to Augusta with traffic.