Inside Augusta National, golf's most exclusive club for the mega-rich, where cell phones are banned, and women were only recently invited to join

The Masters Tournament takes place at Augusta National Golf Club during the second weekend of April.
Arguably America's most prestigious golf course, Augusta National has hosted former presidents, executives, world leaders, dignitaries, royalty, and golf's elite.
Augusta National has a storied past deeply rooted in tradition — and it doesn't take a golf enthusiast to be awestruck by the 85-year-old club.

Smack dab in the middle of the Georgia Pines is where the world's most elite executives, magnates, and titans play golf and refuel with pimento cheese sandwiches that sell for $1.50 in the private club's concession stand.

Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia exudes prestige and pedigree. Some in the golf community speak about Augusta in hushed tones and whispers as a sign of deference.

But it doesn't take a golf enthusiast to be awestruck by the quaint cabins, impeccably manicured greens, blooming azaleas, brilliant magnolias, lush trees, flowing creeks, and mirrored ponds of the 85-year-old club.

Americas most prestigious golf course — and host of the annual Masters Tournament

Arguably America's most prestigious golf course, Augusta National has hosted former presidents, executives, world leaders, dignitaries, royalty, and golf's elite who, throughout the last century, have played in the Masters Tournament during the second weekend of April every year.

The links at Augusta have a storied past and are deeply rooted in tradition. Club management goes to great lengths to maintain its standard of decorum.

Before a golf spike can set foot on the hallowed grounds, club members — an overwhelming majority of which are male — must surrender all of the modern trappings of the 21st century and adhere to a strict code of conduct and dress.

Sounds great, right? Where do I sign up? Not so fast.

Membership at Augusta National Golf Club is shrouded in mystery.

Similar to the first rule of 'Fight Club,' you do not talk about Augusta. The club's enigmatic elitism extends to its members and membership process.

No official membership rosters exists and it's speculated that only 300 or so members wear the club's iconic green jacket. Bloomberg compiled list of reported members using leaked information and ANGC-published materials.

You don't seek membership at Augusta. If Augusta wants you, it will find you. There's no wait list. It's well-known among the golf community that if the Augusta powers that be so much as hear an expression of membership interest, that's enough to get your name permanently crossed off of the list.

More about the Masters and Augusta National:

Why The Masters is a tradition unlike other majors and is always held at the same golf course
The Masters has incredibly strict rules — here are the things they can throw you out for doing
Food and beer at the Masters is the biggest bargain in sports
34 things that make the Masters one of the quirkiest events in sports