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Augusta National Golf Club

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Augusta National Golf Club

The 12th green at Augusta National Golf Club.

Photo by Richard Brian Temple, used with permission
Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most famous golf courses in the world, home of The Masters. Its only rival for noteriety is The Old Course at St. Andrews (and perhaps Pebble Beach Golf Links).

Augusta National Golf Club is located in Augusta, Ga., and includes an 18-hole course and a 9-hole par-3 course. Augusta National is a private club whose membership is small (around 300). You cannot apply to join Augusta National; you can only be invited to join.

Augusta National Golf Club was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. The club has run The Masters tournament, one of golf's four major championships, since 1934. Augusta National Golf Club is one of the organizations that make up the World Golf Foundation.
  • Address: 2604 Washington Road, Augusta, Georgia 30904-5902
  • Phone: (706) 667-6000
  • Web site: Course information is available on the official Web site of The Masters.

Augusta Photo Galleries:

Here are several photo galleries to browse if you're interested in great golf course scenery:

Augusta National's Grand Opening:

Construction on the golf course at Augusta National began in 1931, after the land - formerly a nursery - was acquired. Play began in 1932, with an official grand opening in January 1933. The first Masters was played in 1934.

Augusta National Golf Club Course Architect:

Dr. Alister Mackenzie was personally selected by Bobby Jones to design the golf course for Augusta National Golf Club. See "Who designed Augusta National Golf Club?"

Hole Names/Yardages/Ratings:

For The Masters, Augusta National Golf Club plays to 7,435 yards and a par of 72. Augusta National has never been rated by the USGA, so does not have a course rating or slope rating. However, surreptitious efforts to estimate Augusta's ratings have been done; see "What are the ratings for Augusta National?"

Each hole at Augusta National is named after a flowering shrub or tree. For holes names and hole yardages, see:

See also: Augusta National Par-3 Course

Augusta National Hazards, Turfgrasses, Green Size:

According to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Augusta National Golf Club has 100 acres of fairway and 40 acres of rough. There are 44 bunkers. Six water hazards come into play on Nos. 2, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16. Perennial ryegrass is used on the tees, fairways and rough; bentgrass is used on the greens.

The best-known water feature at Augusta National Golf Club is Rae's Creek, which impacts the three holes of Amen Corner.

The greens are an average of 6,435 square feet in size.

Augusta National Golf Club Landmarks:

There are three named bridges at Augusta National: The Hogan Bridge, the Nelson Bridge and the Sarazen Bridge. There are 10 cabins sited on the course property, the best-known being the Eisenhower Cabin and the Butler Cabin.

For information on these, see our Augusta National Landmarks gallery. Other landmarks included in the gallery are Magnolia Lane, Founders Circle, the Crow's Nest, Rae's Creek, Arnold Palmer Plaque, Jack Nicklaus Plaque, Record Fountain and Ike's Pond.

See also: Augusta National clubhouse (and more on the clubhouse) and Eisenhower Tree.

Significant Tournaments Hosted:

Hmmm, let's see ... well, there's The Masters. Augusta National Golf Club also hosted the first two Senior PGA Championships, in 1937-38. The Senior PGA winners were Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod; see Masters champions for that list.

See also: How to get Masters tickets

More Facts about Augusta National Golf Club:

  • You cannot apply to join the club, and if you're invited you'll pay less than you might expect. See Augusta National membership

  • Membership typically numbers around 300. Prior to Aug. 20, 2012, the membership was (and always had been) all men. The club admitted its first female members on the date mentioned. (FAQ: Who were the first women members at Augusta?)

  • The golf course is open only about seven months out of the year. It shuts down in late May, about six weeks after The Masters, and doesn't reopen until mid-October.

  • Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, along with former U.S. Amateur champion and Champions Tour member John Harris, are the only professional golfers known to be members at Augusta.

  • The course record during The Masters is 63, posted by Nick Price and Greg Norman.

  • Holes 11, 12 and 13 make up "Amen Corner."
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