A 92-year-old homeowner residing under a mile away from the acclaimed Augusta National Golf Club remains steadfast in her decision not to sell her property, despite numerous offers from the club seeking to expand. Elizabeth Thacker has inhabited her three-bedroom single-story house, situated on a 0.67-acre lot built in 1956, for over 60 years, raising her family there. Her daughter, Robin Thacker Rinder, described her mother as “strong-willed.”
Thacker’s residence, located at 1112 Stanley Road in Augusta, Georgia, has become notable for its proximity to the Augusta National Golf Club, the prestigious hosting site of the Masters Tournament. Elizabeth and her late husband, Herman Thacker, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 86, shared the home and raised their children there. Additionally, their grandson, professional golfer Scott Brown, spent part of his childhood at the property.
In past communications with NJ.com in 2017, Thacker expressed her and her husband’s desire to remain in their home, even as Augusta National presented them with offers. Property records from 2024 valued the home at $338,026, a figure surpassing Augusta’s median listing price of $215,000, according to Redfin. Augusta National has made several offers far exceeding this value, according to Fox Business reports.
The late Herman Thacker asserted in 2017 that they chose to remain in their residence because, in his view, “money ain’t everything.”
Augusta National Golf Club, celebrated for hosting the Masters and crowning champions like Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus, has attempted for years to expand its influence by purchasing nearby properties for considerably more than their market value. Some transactions were conducted through limited liability companies such as BC Acquisition Co. and WSQ, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. By 2019, the club had invested $20 million over two decades to increase its area by approximately 75%, according to reports.
Despite the club’s attempts to acquire properties like the Thackers’, many neighboring homes have been sold to Augusta National. In 2018, a neighbor sold a three-bedroom ranch home, just an 11-minute walk from Thacker’s residence, to the club for $1.1 million. The Thackers themselves sold another property they owned to the club for $1.2 million.
Most of the acquired properties are demolished, and near Thacker’s home, a makeshift parking lot accommodates visitors approaching the club’s north gate. Attendees of the Masters this week will likely pass by Thacker’s residence as they head to the clubhouse and tournament practice area.
Despite these developments, Thacker reportedly intends to hold onto her home, as stated by her daughter Robin Thacker Rinder to Fox Business. “Yes, we still own it, and yes, Mom still lives there,” Rinder affirmed, noting her mother’s determination.
This account was initially published on Fortune.com.