While flying to and from Singapore this week (see this post as to why), I wanted to write some comments about the Masters Tournament and the course, Augusta National Golf Club. I wanted to make it fun and challenging, so I decided to try and describe the course hole by hole, but with only one sentence per hole. Having walked the course many times these are my single sentence takes on each hole below:
Hole #1 – Par-4 445 Yards
The first green is an upside down soup bowl which would give fits to any player with a weak short game.
Caddies in a low spot in front of the 10th green – Photo by Tony Korologos ©
Hole #2 – Par-5 575 Yards
The green looks like a sliver from the fairway.
Hole #3 – Par-4 350 Yards
Though this hole could be drivable from the tee, a full swing from 100+ yards could be easier than a long pitch or chip.
Hole #4 – Par-3 240 Yards
From the Masters tees this long downhill par-3 is frightening.
Hole #5 – Par-4 455 Yards
The 5th green reminds me of the 2nd green at the old course, which may have a Volkswagen Beetle buried under it.
Hole #6 – Par-3 180 Yards
Huge elevation drop results in massive air time on this par-3.
Hole #7 – Par-4 450 Yards
Craziest green complex on the whole course on a steep slope with lots of bunkers.
Hole #8 – Par-5 570 Yards
This reverse-S shaped hole is like two separate worlds between tee and approach.
Hole #9 – Par-4 460 Yards
If you like hitting shots onto a table which is tilted 45 degrees from back to front you will love #9.
Hole #10 – Par-4 495 Yards
TV can’t translate how big this hole is or how dramatic the elevation drop from tee to green is.
Hole #11 – Par-4 505 Yards
The tee shot and approach are the two most challenging consecutive shots at Augusta
National.
Hole #12 – Par-3 155 Yards
Simply the most beautiful par-3 in golf, both aesthetically and architecturally.
Hole #13 – Par-5 510 Yards
The most famous risk/reward hole on the course, until you get to the 15th.
Hole #14 – Par-4 440 Yards
If a hole at Augusta National could be called boring, this would be it.
Hole #15 – Par-5 530 Yards
Anything other than a perfect approach yardage and execution is penalized harshly.
Hole #16 – Par-3 170 Yards
The amphitheater surrounding the 16th (also 17 tee, 6th green, 15th green) is, to coin the phrase, like no other.
Hole #17 – Par-4 440 Yards
The green is very exposed and has many places a player should avoid hitting to, which will result in the ball rolling away.
Hole #18 – Par-4 465 Yards
Every aspect of one’s game, from driving to approach to short game, is fully tested on the finishing hole.
Today is the par-3 tournament day at the Masters Tournament. This tournament has been going since 1960. The par-3 is a fun tournament where players interact closely with fans. Some players who are not in the Masters Tournament are allowed to play the par-3 tournament. Prior to the par-3 tournament there used to be a driving contest.
Augusta National Golf Club – Par-3 Course – Click for more images
The par-3 tournament takes place at Augusta National’s par-3 course, possibly the most beautiful par-3 course in the world, though the folks at Three Tops located at Treetops Resort might argue that point. As you will likely hear, no player who has won the par-3 contest has gone on to win the Masters Tournament.
Tiny greens… Augusta National Par-3 Course
I walked every hole of Augusta National’s par-3 course a couple of years ago and shot a ton of photos. For one shot I even snuck onto a little boat I found in the lake. The skies were a little gray the day I shot them but they still look great. I put together a gallery of 77 images of the course, the largest and most complete online photo gallery of the course that I’m aware of. All for you HOG “patrons.” Click the photos or the link below to view the gallery.
Augusta National Par-3 Course Photo Gallery
This is part two in a series of what I hope to be very interesting photos of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. I’m hoping to show some less common angles, viewpoints, and interesting things in an effort to show a different perspective…because that’s how I roll.
Below is an information board. These are found in a few locations around the course. Patrons can see where their favorite players are to plan their viewing enjoyment.
Masters beer is fairly cheap, though it did go up $1.00 this year. Here’s a shot of one of the refreshment stands from behind, showing the spent beer kegs at the end of a practice round.
I presume these two gentlemen are checking the moisture level of one of the greens below.
There are a few parallel fairways at Augusta National. Honestly I can’t remember which these are, but you can see at least three below:
The new practice range at Augusta National is very nice, of course. It has quite a bit of seating.
Below is a massive open area as seen from the edge of the 18th green, looking toward the 7th green way off in the distance.
Below is a cool look at the par-5 2nd green as it is approached by the players. This photo is not far from where Louis Oosthuizen made the double eagle.
Below is a look at the front part of the par-4 10th green. The picture does not do the vertical aspects of this hole justice. The place where I’m standing is quite a bit higher than the putting surface, and the area short of the green is much lower, going back up a big hill to the tee.
Speaking of elevation changes, look at the drop from the fairway on the par-5 2nd below. It drops hard to the right, and down to the green.
Check out the HOG EYE VIEW OF AUGUSTA – PART UNO
Today is the par-3 tournament day at the Masters Tournament. This tournament has been going since 1960. The par-3 is a fun tournament where players interact closely with fans. Some players who are not in the Masters Tournament are allowed to play the par-3 tournament. Prior to the par-3 tournament there used to be a driving contest.
Augusta National Golf Club – Par-3 Course – Click for more images
The par-3 tournament takes place at Augusta National’s par-3 course, possibly the most beautiful par-3 course in the world, though the folks at Three Tops located at Treetops Resort might argue that point. As you will likely hear, no player who has won the par-3 contest has gone on to win the Masters Tournament.
Tiny greens… Augusta National Par-3 Course
I walked every hole of Augusta National’s par-3 course a couple of years ago and shot a ton of photos. For one shot I even snuck onto a little boat I found in the lake. The skies were a little gray the day I shot them but they still look great. I put together a gallery of 77 images of the course, the largest and most complete online photo gallery of the course that I’m aware of. All for you HOG “patrons.” Click the photos or the link below to view the gallery.
Augusta National Par-3 Course Photo Gallery
We’ve all seen the par-3 12th hole at Augusta National and the Masters a million times. Same with the par-5 13th’s green complex, 18th green, Magnolia Lane, the Clubhouse… The times I’ve been there I’ve had fun finding things the average person does NOT see on TV. Here are a few highlights.
Collecting Data
The guy above was sitting in the bushes right of the 10th hole. When I asked him what he was doing, he said “collecting data.” The machine he was using to collect that data is below:
Data collecting device…
Not sure what that device is below, but I presume these gentlemen are measuring the moisture level of the green (15th green if I recall).
Green testing?
Testing greens and setting pins below.
Mini stimpmeter to test green speed and set pins?
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