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Course changes over time
Posted: Saturday March 31, 2001 10:35 PM
Updated: Tuesday March 26, 2002 7:18 PM
The Augusta Chronicle
Augusta National Golf Club might be the world's most recognizable course, but that doesn't keep it from changing.
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| Augusta National course profile |
Course characteristics
Yardage : Championship: 6,985
Regular : 6,205
Terrain : Sand-based tees and clay fairways
Primary grasses : Greens: Bentgrass
Tees/fairways : Bermuda grass overseeded with rye grass
Average green size : 6,150 square feet
Average tee size : 600 square feet
Acres of fairway : 110, including Par-3 course
Acres of rough : 35, including Par-3 course
Sand bunkers : 44 main course; 11 bunkers in Par-3 course:and two practice bunkers
Water hazards : Six on main course
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Course maintenance
Overseeding policy : Greens: Bentgrass Tees/fairways: Ryegrass in mid-September
Drainage conditions : Good
Irrigation system : Toro, part hydraulic and part electric
Greens/tees/fairways : Automatic
Source of water : Raw water system
Fairway cut for member play : (Average year-round) 3/8 inch
Green cut for member play : (Average year-round) 1/8 inch
Rough cut for member play : (Average year-round) 1 3/8 inches
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Wildlife on course
Turtle, fish, raccoon, red-tail hawk, several
species of birds and snakes
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Superintendent information
Course Superintendant : Brad Owen
Education : Turf program,
Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, Pa., 1986
Years at this course : 14
Years as GCSAA member : 15;
Chapter : Georgia GCS
Previous position : Asst. Superintendent, Augusta National Golf Club
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Other key course personnel
Course Architect : Alister Mackenzie, Robert Tyre Jones Jr., 1933 Sr. Director of Golf Course
Operations and Development : William Marsh Benson
Chairman : Hootie Johnson
Green Committee Chairman : John L. Murray Jr.
Pros : Bob Kletcke and Dave Spencer
Horticulturist : Tommy Crenshaw
Asst. Superintendents : Jim Evans and Wes Elijah
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Source: Golf Course Association of America
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The Masters Tournament course has evolved from the original design of Alister Mackenzie. Over the years, every hole has had at least one significant change.
One of the most significant changes came in 1935, the second year of the tournament, when the nines were reversed. The original layout called for what is now the back nine to be the starting nine. But early-morning frost on that part of the course often delayed play, causing the change.
Most recently, a second cut of fairway was introduced in 1999 along with several hole changes.
No. 1
1951: Bunker added at left front of green. Underground piping of creek in front of tee.
1972: Tee relocated to right.
1980: Championship tee lengthened.
No. 2
1946: Second bunker added to front of green.
1953: Green extended to left.
1966: Right bunker at green reduced. Fairway bunker removed and replaced with bunker on right in landing area.
1977: Tee rebuilt and moved about 20-25 feet to right adding 15 yards to back of tee. Bunker enlarged 12-15 feet on left side.
1996: Spectator mound moved back from rear of No. 2 green.
1999: Championship tee moved back 20-25 yards. Fairway bunker shifted to right.
No. 3
1953: Tee shifted to right.
1982: New fairway bunker complex constructed.
No. 4
1964: Championship tee relocated to right and rear.
No. 5
1953: Tee extended forward 10 yards.
1956: Mound built at left of green.
1964: Fairway mounds added to right front of green.
1967: Mound at left of green enlarged.
1972: Apron of green extended.
No. 6
1959: Pond filled in at front of green.
1975: Tees rebuilt and widened.
No. 7
1938: Green relocated and bunkers added.
1951: Tee extended forward. Green elevated. Bunkers added.
No. 8
1956: Green redesigned.
1957: Fairway bunker relocated to the right.
1964: Championship tee relocated to right and rear.
1979: Green restored to its original design.
No. 9
1958: Mounding at right and rear of green built.
1972: Mound left of green enlarged.
1973: Tees split, relocating championship tee 26 yards to right and rear.
No. 10
1937: Green relocated from fairway bottom to current location.
1968: Bunker to right of green enlarged. Pothole bunker right of green removed.
1972: Tees split and shifted left 10 yards.
No. 11
1950: Championship tee relocated. Pond left of green built. Green reshaped.
1953: Two small bunkers added at rear of green.
1990: Green rebuilt due to flood damage.
1999: Green, pond and bunker complex adjusted.
No. 12
1951: Green extended to right by 18 feet.
1958: Ben Hogan Bridge dedicated.
1960: Green raised.
1965: Tees revised to split level, side by side.
1981: Heating and cooling system installed under green.
No. 13
1954: Contours of green changed and bunker rearranged.
1958: Byron Nelson Bridge dedicated.
1967: Championship tee extended forward five yards.
1974: Championship tee extended to rear five yards.
1975: Championship tee extended to rear seven yards. Green rebuilt and recontoured.
1988: Swales to left and rear of green moderated.
1994: First permanent air system installed at green.
1995: Creek in front of green modified.
No. 14
1952: Bunker at right of fairway in landing area removed.
1972: Championship tee relocated to left and reshaped. Apron on green extended.
1974: Tees split.
1987: Green modified to provide for back left pin placement.
No. 15
1955: Gene Sarazen Bridge dedicated.
1957: Bunker added to right front of green.
1961: Pond in front of green enlarged.
1963: Mound at rear of green removed and mound on right extended.
1964: Bunker at right of green enlarged.
1969: Tees split, moving championship tee to rear and right. Mounds added in fairway on right side.
1999: Fairway mounds reduced, and pine trees added to right and left.
No. 16
1946: New green constructed.
1947: Pond built. Green shifted to right. Tee moved left.
1961: Championship tee extended and relocated to left.
1966: Neck of pond and left rear of green filled in.
1973: Left section of pond filled in.
No. 17
1951: Ditch in front of tee removed and filled. Tee extended forward 10 yards.
1972: Tees separated, moving championship tee back 10 yards.
1999: Championship tee moved back about 25 yards.
No. 18
1958: Mounding at left of green built.
1967: Double bunker constructed on left in fairway landing area.
Source: Augusta National Golf Club
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