Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National Golf Club, a private golf club in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the most famous and exclusive golf clubs in the world and is considered Bobby Jones's masterpiece. It is the site of the annual Masters Tournament.

Overview

Augusta is generally regarded as the most revered golf course on Tour by American fans. Since the Masters is held there each year, fans watching on TV have the unique opportunity to become familiar with the course, something the other majors do not afford.

The course is well-known for its beauty as well; because the Masters is held in early spring, the flowers are in full bloom during the tournament. Each hole on the course is named after an individual flower that it has become associated with:

Hole 1	Tea Olive	Par 4	455 yards	416 m	Hole 10	Camellia	Par 4	495 yards	453 m
Hole 2	Pink Dogwood	Par 5	575 yards	526 m	Hole 11	White Dogwood	Par 4	505 yards	462 m
Hole 3	Flowering Peach	Par 4	350 yards	320 m	Hole 12	Golden Bell	Par 3	155 yards	142 m
Hole 4	Flowering Crab Apple	Par 3	240 yards	219 m	Hole 13	Azalea	Par 5	510 yards	466 m
Hole 5	Magnolia	Par 4	455 yards	416 m	Hole 14	Chinese Fir	Par 4	440 yards	402 m
Hole 6	Juniper	Par 3	180 yards	165 m	Hole 15	Firethorn	Par 5	530 yards	485 m
Hole 7	Pampas	Par 4	450 yards	411 m	Hole 16	Redbud	Par 3	170 yards	155 m
Hole 8	Yellow Jasmine	Par 5	570 yards	521 m	Hole 17	Nandina	Par 4	440 yards	402 m
Hole 9	Carolina Cherry	Par 4	460 yards	421 m	Hole 18	Holly	Par 4	465 yards	425 m

Unlike almost every other private or public golf course in the United States, Augusta National has apparently never been rated. During the 1990 Masters Tournament, a team of USGA raters organized by Golf Digest evaluated the course and gave it an unofficial rating of 76.2 and a slope of 148.

Amen Corner

The 11th, 12th, and 13th holes at Augusta were termed "Amen Corner" by author Herbert Warren Wind in 1958, implying that most Masters are determined by this difficult stretch of holes on Sunday. Other sources say that the name originates from the fact that galleries (or, to use Augusta National's preferred term, "patrons") are not permitted back into these holes and contrasting to the rest of the course, it is eerily quiet except for roars from surrounding holes. "Amen" steps from the idea it is quiet enough to "say a prayer" on this part of the golf course. Contrary to widespread belief, the term was not coined to mean "Amen" in a sigh of relief

In 1958 Arnold Palmer outlasted Ken Venturi for the Green Jacket with heroic escapes at Amen Corner. Amen Corner also played host to prior Masters moments like Byron Nelson's birdie-eagle at 12 and 13 in 1937, and Sam Snead's water save at 12 in 1949 that sparked him to victory.

Natural features

"The Big Oak Tree"

Eisenhower Tree

This is a loblolly pine located on the 17th hole, approximately 210 yards from the Master's tee. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, an Augusta National member, hit the tree so many times that, at a 1956 club meeting, he proposed that it be cut down. Not wanting to offend the President, the club's chairman, Clifford Roberts, immediately adjourned the meeting rather than reject the request outright.

Ike's Pond

When President Eisenhower became a member he lobbyed for a dam to be constructed south of the clubhouse to separate a large pond which was later called "Ike's Pond" and is now used as part of the par 3 course on the Augusta National grounds.

Rae's Creek

Rae's Creek cuts across the southeastern corner of the Augusta National property. It flows behind the green on Hole 11 and in front of the green on Hole 12. A tributary of the creek runs near the tee at Hole 13.

Architectural features

Crow's Nest

Available for amateurs wishing to be housed there during the Masters Tournament, the Crow's Nest provides living space for up to five individuals. Rising from the approximately 30 by 40 foot room is the Clubhouse's 11 foot square cupola. The cupola features windows on all sides and can only be reached by ladder. The Crow's Nest consists of one room with partitions and dividers that create three cubicles with one bed each, and one cubicle with two beds. There is also a full bathroom with an additional sink. The sitting area has a game table, sofa and chairs, telephone and television. Placed throughout the Crow's Nest are books on golf, and lining the walls are photos and sketches depicting past Masters and other golfing scenes. To get to the Crow's Nest, golfers must climb a narrow set of steps. When coming down, they must be careful to not turn left and enter the Champions Locker Room.

This is a walk most amateur golfers dream of taking.

Eisenhower Cabin

One of ten cabins on the Augusta National property, it was built by the club's membership for member Dwight D. Eisenhower after his election as President of the United States. The cabin was built according to Secret Service security guidelines, and is adorned by an eagle located above the front porch.

Founders Circle

A memorial located in front of the course's clubhouse, at the end of Magnolia Lane. Plaques at Founders Circle honor Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. The gold medal awarded to the winner of The Masters depicts the landmark.

Hogan Bridge

A bridge over Rae's Creek that connects the fairway of Hole 12 to its green. It is constructed of stone and covered with artificial turf. The bridge was dedicated to Ben Hogan in 1958 to commemorate his 72-hole score of 274 strokes five years earlier, the course record at the time.

Magnolia Lane

The main driveway leading from Washington Road to the course's clubhouse. The lane is flanked on either side by sixty-one magnolia trees, each grown from seeds planted by the Berckman family in the 1850s. Magnolia Lane is 330 yards (301.75 m) long and was paved in 1947.

Nelson Bridge

A stonework bridge over Rae's Creek that connects the teeing ground of Hole 13 to its fairway. In 1958, it was dedicated to Byron Nelson to honor his performance in the 1937 Masters.

Par Three Fountain

Record Fountain

Sarazen Bridge

A bridge over the pond on Hole 15 that separates the fairway from the green. Made of stone, it was named for Gene Sarazen in 1935 for a memorable double eagle in his Masters performance twenty years prior.

Chairman

William Porter "Billy" Payne (2006 to present)
William "Hootie" Johnson (1998 to 2006)
Jack Stephens (1991 to 1998)
Hord Hardin (1980 to 1991)
William Lane (1976 to 1980)
Clifford Roberts (1934 to 1976)

Membership

Augusta National Golf Club has about 300 members at any given time. Fees are reported to range between $25,000 and $50,000 (a very low number considering both the unmatched quality of the golf course and the vast wealth of many of the club's members). Membership is strictly by invitation; there is no application process.

No woman has ever become a member, though women are able to play the course as guests of a member. The chairman of the Club, Hootie Johnson, has maintained the position that the club is private and holds the right to determine who the memebers are with no regard to sex, creed, or race of a prospective member of the club. Pressure placed upon corporate sponsors of The Masters over this controversy led the Club to voluntarily televise the 2003 and 2004 tournaments without commercials. However, as the controversy has largely died down, commercials resumed in 2005 with sponsorship by ExxonMobil, IBM and AT&T. The club decided to pick up sponsors again to help compete with other tournaments with a large winning purses, again making the tournament one of the most covetted in golf.

The Green Jacket

Every member of Augusta National receives a green sports coat with the club's logo on the left breast. The idea of the Green Jacket came from club co-founder Clifford Roberts, who wanted patrons visiting during the tournament to be able to readily identify members. The winner of each year's Masters Tournament becomes an honorary member, and thus receives a Green Jacket as well. The Jacket is presented by the winner of the tournament from the previous year.

The Green Jacket is only ever worn on club grounds. A tournament winner may wear his Jacket off-grounds for the year following his win, but after that it hangs at the club.