Augusta National - The Great Comparison

It's early April and many golf courses around the country are just coming out of winter.  Some are not even open yet.  But at Augusta National GC, it is Masters Week.  All golfing eyes are on the perfect golfing conditions at The National.  It is the place most golfers  envy, wish to play just one time or even visit just once.  John Morris,our Assistant Superintendent here at NCC was an Assistant Superintendent at Augusta  National for four years and played a key role in being in charge of the back nine for his four Masters.  I have  been to  7-8  Masters and there is nothing like it.   I will share a few interesting things about Augusta National that differ from virtually every private club.

John  Morris - Northmoor Assistant Golf Course Superintendent   -  4  Time Masters Team Member

My most interesting event at The Masters - I was offered $10,000 for my weekly clubhouse pass.

The Augusta National course is closed shortly after the Masters and doesn't reopen until October.
Below is a photo of a summer view of Augusta National.

Augusta National is known for their lightening fast and concrete hard greens.  Withholding water results in the wilting brown  spots you see  in the photo below.  Actually the greens are significantly more off-color and browner than you see on TV due to the television filters.  The course closes for the summer so if there is some discolored or damaged green's surface it is of no concern.  The greens may be  mowed  and rolled 6-8 times a day to get the desired conditions.  Unless it rains during the tournament, the greens are on life support by Sunday afternoon.

 Unable for the TV viewer to  see, some holes have 60-80 foot elevation changes.   This view of the  18th hole exhibits a steep uphill slope.  There is a 170 foot in elevation change from#1 tee to #13 at  Rays Creek.

  13 fairway mowers!!!!!  Most 18 hole courses have 2 to  4 of these.   The operating and capital budgets for Augusta National are not made public.  I can tell  you their budget is multi-millions of dollars beyond even the highest budgeted private club courses.  

Even with the best construction and highest quality sand in the industry, fried egg lies still happen.  Sergio Garcia's ball on the 12th hole on Friday's round this year.  

 The size of the bunkers are massive and some of the bunkers are 8-10 feet deep. Ricky Fowler #2

 

Each green is mowed and rolled a different number of times so it will play as it was designed based on its size, slope, contours and cupping location for the day

During the closed months of summer,  the greens often have green house type shade clothes placed on elevated poles above the greens to help shade the greens 

A number of the greens are rebuilt each year are built back to exact dimensions via use of GPS

The difficulty of the Augusta greens is staggering.  Imagine the best players in the world 3 putting from inside 4-5 feet 

Many approach shots cannot remain on the green unless the player is able to place their approach shot within a 10-12 foot circle on the green 

Lloyds of London actually does the security work for The Masters event.  If  any current ticket holder is caught selling their tickets, then that person loses their entry privileges for life.                          Tuna,  ham and pimento cheese sandwiches still cost only $1 at the concession stands