Throughout this series of passion blogs, I would like to discuss the top golf courses in the world: everything from their history to their design and style. From the rolling hills of the links courses in Scotland to the greenery of courses in the Northeastern United States, each course has its own identity and role within the golf world. Certain places favor the long-hitters, while others favor those who have a strong short-game. In this first passion blog, I want to discuss Augusta National Golf Club, possibly the most famous and prestigious golf course in the entire world. 

Augusta National Golf Club is perhaps the most exclusive private golf course in the United States. It was founded in 1932 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in Augusta, Georgia. Augusta National has gained its extensive reputation as it hosts the annual Master’s Tournament every year. Each year, the top golfers from around the world are invited to compete at golf’s most prestigious tournament. The Master’s is considered one of the four “major” championships of the year, and the champion often receives over $2 million in prize money. But winning this tournament is no easy fate. Only the top fifty players in the world are invited to play, and the course can be one of the most difficult in the world. Although competitive, and somewhat daunting for rookie players, the experience is unforgettable. The fairways are kept in impeccable condition, and some claim that the greens are some of the purest in the world. Every inch of the course is kept in immaculate condition, and the views of the course are breathtaking.

Augusta National Golf Club has no easy holes. It is very common for the best professional golfers to make double, sometimes even triple, bogeys on the most difficult holes. The average score at The Master’s was about 71, while the average score for any tour event was 66. This means that Augusta National is much harder than most courses on the PGA Tour. Each hole is named after a different flower, and that plant is showcased at some point on the hole. Even for the best players, the narrow fairways, tall pine trees, and challenging greens, can present a challenge. Perhaps most notably is Amen Corner: the 11th, 12th, and 13th hole at Augusta National. Some say that the victor of the Master’s is determined by the performance on these challenging holes. The 11th hole is a long Par 4 with water hazards and “out of bounds” markers in play. The 12th hole is a short Par 3 that can seem easy at first, but it has caused the downfall of many players. It features a narrow green surrounded by sand bunkers, and a creek that takes any ball short of the flag. The 13th hole is a long Par 5 that also features a creek short of the green. 

Even though the course is very rigorous and the tournament can be quite stressful for many, the experience of playing Augusta National Golf Club is once-in-a-lifetime. Hundreds of players consider Augusta National as their favorite course of all time. Overall, the design and prestige of the course has shaped it to be the most famous American course.

Image Links:

https://www.golfmonthly.com/tour/us-masters/masters-history-records/amen-corner-augusta-nationals-fearsome-trio-89468

https://www.gpb.org/news/2019/04/10/getting-women-on-the-green-at-augusta-national-golf-club