Augusta National Golf Course Flyover Video

A flyover of Augusta National (Holes 1-18) with the classic Masters music.

The Course Design of Augusta National

Augusta National Golf Club was originally a 365-acre indigo plantation. By 1857 it had become a plant nursery. At the height of the Depression the property was purchased by Bobby Jones, the brilliant amateur, and a friend of his named Clifford Roberts. Together they hired a Scottish golf architect, Alister MacKenzie, to design a course. There were American architects they could have hired, but Bobby Jones didn't want an American course - he felt they were too prescriptive. He wanted MacKenzie to design a golf course where every hole presented a problem or a puzzle for players.

Bobby Jones also wanted a course like St. Andrews in Scotland, with wide fairways, undulating greens, and bunkers that came into play only if a shot was mishit. He wanted each hole to look wide-open from the tee, and playable for any high handicapper, a hole that was a hard par and a difficult birdie.

Jones also borrowed ideas from Sara Bay in Sarasota, Florida, a course built by the American golf architect, Donald Ross, with elevated greens that required pinpoint approach shots on the slopes and crowns.

Together, Jones and MacKenzie created what today is called the Doctrine of Deception. Rather than holes where it seems clear what a player needs to do, they built holes where golfers think they have two or three chances, and therefore try a shot that is above their ability. And that's why the Masters tournament is so thrilling. The winner is always the player who can pull off the impossible shot. And playing the impossible shot is the only way to win the green jacket at the Masters.

Excerpt from the book The Caddie who won the Masters by John Coyne:

Augusta National Hole by Hole Names

Each hole at Augusta National is named after a flower or tree.

Masters History and Traditions

Adam Scott of Australia with the Green Jacket after winning the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

The Masters began in 1934 at Augusta National, designed by Bobby Jones and Alistair Mackenzie. The tournament is scheduled for the beginning of April and is the only major played at the same course every year.

A green jacket is awarded to the winner, a tradition which began in 1949. The champions dinner, held each Tuesday of tournament week, was started by Ben Hogan and is only open to former champions and certain board members.

On each Wednesday, there is a par-3 tournament at a par-3 course at Augusta with many of the player's kids caddying for them.

Each tournament begins with an honorary tee shot, performed in the past by golf legends Nicklaus, Palmer, Snead, and Sarazen, among others.

The winner of the Masters receives a lifetime exemption into the tournament, plus a five year exemption on the PGA Tour, as well as a five year exemption into the U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship, and the Player's Championship.

Jack Nicklaus has won the most green jackets with six while Arnold Palmer and Tiger Wood have four wins each. Phil Mickelson most recently won in 2010 and has three. The defending champion is Adam Scott, who won in a playoff over Angel Cabrera and became the first Australian to win the Masters. 

Masters Quotes

"The course is perfection and it asks perfection."  Nick Faldo

"If the Masters offered no money at all, I would be here trying just as hard." Ben Hogan

"I can't think of another course in the world that the more you play, the more you learn."Jim Furyk 

 "You definitely use a lot more imagination on the greens here than the majority of courses we play because of the lack of rough around the greens. You can lob it up, bump it up. Do whatever you want, just get it up there somewhere."Darren Clarke on what it's like to miss a green

"I don't think about winning the Masters as part of the slam. You want to win the Masters because of what it means to the game." Jack Nicklaus

 "I don't know if I'll ever do it again or not, but frankly, I don't care!" Jack Nicklaus after his amazing sixth victory in 1986

"While we may not have expected it originally, we have created a tournament of such importance that we are bound to see that it continues." Augusta co-founder Clifford Roberts in 1939

The Design of Augusta National

Augusta National Golf Club was originally a 365-acre indigo plantation. By 1857 it had become a plant nursery. At the height of the Depression the property was purchased by Bobby Jones, the brilliant amateur, and a friend of his named Clifford Roberts. Together they hired a Scottish golf architect, Alister MacKenzie, to design a course. There were American architects they could have hired, but Bobby Jones didn't want an American course - he felt they were too prescriptive. He wanted MacKenzie to design a golf course where every hole presented a problem or a puzzle for players.

Bobby Jones also wanted a course like St. Andrews in Scotland, with wide fairways, undulating greens, and bunkers that came into play only if a shot was mishit. He wanted each hole to look wide-open from the tee, and playable for any high handicapper, a hole that was a hard par and a difficult birdie.

Jones also borrowed ideas from Sara Bay in Sarasota, Florida, a course built by the American golf architect, Donald Ross, with elevated greens that required pinpoint approach shots on the slopes and crowns.

Together, Jones and MacKenzie created what today is called the Doctrine of Deception. Rather than holes where it seems clear what a player needs to do, they built holes where golfers think they have two or three chances, and therefore try a shot that is above their ability. And that's why the Masters tournament is so thrilling. The winner is always the player who can pull off the impossible shot. And playing the impossible shot is the only way to win the green jacket at the Masters.

Excerpt from the book The Caddie who won the Masters by John Coyne:

Masters Final Round Pairings and Tee Times

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits a tee shot on the seventh hole during the third round of the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Sunday Pairings and Tee Times:

2:40 Rory McILroy, Angel Cabrera
2:30 KJ Choi, Charl Schwartzel
2:20 Jason Day, Adam Scott
2:10 Luke Donald, Bo Van Pelt
2:00 Bubba Watson, Ross Fisher
1:50 Fred Couples, Geoff Ogilvy
1:40 Tiger Woods, Martin Laird
1:30 Matt Kuchar, Ryan Palmer


Complete tee times

Masters History and Traditions

The Masters began in 1934 at Augusta National, designed by Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie. It is scheduled for the beginning of April and is the only major played at the same course year after year.

A green jacket is awarded to the winner, a tradition which began in 1949. The champions dinner, held each Tuesday of tournament week, was started by Ben Hogan and is only open to former champions and certain board members.

Time to finally play Augusta

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters, from EA Sports, will be available March 29th as reported by golf.com.

The game will feature the voices of David Feherty and Jim Nantz, and you will be able to compete against more than 20 PGA Tour and LPGA professionals, including Zach Johnson, the 2007 champion. Caddies will provide advice on green reading and strategy as players try to capture the green jacket.

EA Sports worked on site at Augusta National and used "state-of-the art laser scanning technology to replicate every hole featured in the game," according to the company. Every detail, from green undulations to azaleas, was captured, according to EA. The game will also let players try to match Tiger Woods's scores in all four of his Masters wins, will allow players in "career mode" to mirror a golfer's rise through the ranks, and will feature 16 courses, including Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Atlanta Athletic Club, TPC San Antonio, St. Andrews Links and Pebble Beach Golf Links.