In the heart of Augusta, Georgia, a remarkable stand of defiance echoes the timeless story of David and Goliath. Amidst the sprawling expansions of the Augusta National Golf Club, home to the revered Masters Tournament, one family holds steadfast, refusing to yield their home to the encroaching giant. The club, having spent a staggering $200 million to acquire and bulldoze 270 acres for amenities like parking and additional golf courses, has transformed many locals into millionaires overnight. Yet, for the Thacker family, their roots run deeper than monetary gain.
Herman and Elizabeth Thacker, who built their modest 1,900-square-foot home at 1112 Stanley Road back in 1959, have become symbols of resilience and unwavering values. This house, just a stone’s throw from the tournament’s Gate 6-A, has witnessed the neighborhood’s transformation, yet it remains untouched by the allure of seven-figure offers.
“Money ain’t everything,” declared Herman Thacker in a poignant 2016 interview. His words resonate as a testament to the family’s commitment to their home and heritage. Herman, a golf enthusiast himself, passed away in 2019, but Elizabeth, now 92, continues to cherish the home where they raised their family. Despite regular visits from Augusta National representatives, she and her daughter, Robin Thacker Rinder, maintain a firm stance: the property is not for sale.
This unwavering decision stands out starkly against the backdrop of a tournament that pulls in millions each year and offers massive exposure to sponsors and sports manufacturers. While thousands of cars fill what was once their neighborhood, the Thacker home remains, perhaps unnoticed by many, but a fortress of principle and memory to those who know its story.
Even after the sale and swift demolition of another property they owned, the Thackers’ main residence—the setting of countless family memories with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—continues to symbolize a profound victory for the “little guy.” In a world where everything has a price, the Thackers remind us that some things are truly priceless. Their story is not just a tale of holding out but a powerful narrative about sticking to one’s values and not selling out, no matter the price.
