Augusta in Bloom

The Pimento Cheese and Egg Salad sandwiches still cost $1.50, they are still wrapped in their tournament-green bags, and parking on Washington Avenue still goes for 15 bucks. 

In this ever-changing world of “breaking news” it’s nice to know some things stay the same. Or at least the changes are introduced with such subtlety, one is not utterly overwhelmed by them. In fact, they are even difficult to notice regardless of how big they are. It can be challenging to find these enclaves of tradition, but rest assured that every April, one of them can be found at the Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters golf Tournament. 

I just returned from this year’s tournament and the club made significant changes on holes No. 11 and No. 15. On No. 11 the tee was moved back some 20+ yards; several trees were removed on the right side of the fairway, and the famous bail-out area on the right side of the green was noticeably lowered (the famous 1987 Larry Mize chip-in area is not even there any longer). Yet, I defy anyone to go there and tell me what the hole looked like before. They move greens and tees like someone might change their clothes yet, when you go back the next year, it will look like it has always been that way. In other words, one simply cannot tell where the old tee was, what trees are missing and what the old green complex used to look like or even where it was! 

On No. 15 the tee was moved back 25 yards. Just try to find that old tee. They also cambered the fairway to have more tilt from right to left, bringing the overhanging tree on the left side more into play on the tee shot. Where is that old fairway, what did it used to be? It’s like an optical illusion (or delusion) but when the players play those holes, they know the difference immediately. 

In addition, the golf course has always been a clinic in turf grass management. There is not a finer conditioned golf course in the world-at least that I know of. I always make it a point to walk the back nine early in the day before the play gets there. It’s not unlikely to see ten mowers mowing a fairway and five greens committee members cutting a hole on any given green. The fairway grass is mowed to three-eighths of an inch and the greens are cut to an EIGHTH of an inch! The committee also mows the fairways from green to tee most years, to slow down the amount of roll-out on the tee shots. When the weather allows, the holes are cut to within a foot of where they have always been cut on that hole any given day of the tournament in previous years. For example, everyone knows that the hole will be located on the back left at par-3 16th-EVERY YEAR. Again - weather and turf conditions permitting. They also use a “SubAir” system, which removes excessive water from the playing areas. After some 3+ inches of rain, many of the fairways were as dry as a sunny day.

And the hills, oh those damn hills…The Augusta National has some 155 feet of elevation change on the property, making it a young man’s walk, as this old pro knows too well. Viewers on TV have no idea of the severity of the hills on the golf course. A six-foot tall person could stand at fairway height and not be able to see the top of the putting surface on No. 14, for example. Once you descend the slope on number 10 (the clubhouse sits some 150 feet above the Rae’s Creek in front of the 12th green) you eventually walk back up that slope on number 18 (Cardiac Hill to be sure). Tiger Woods had more trouble walking down the hills than up them with his injured leg. 

Last, but certainly not least, the flora! Augusta National is built on the site of the former Fruitland Nursery (in fact, the Fruitland Manor, built in 1853, is still the clubhouse today). The flowers and shrubs are a sight to behold. Every hole on the golf course is named for the shrub that was cultivated on that section of the property. Yellow Jasmine, Carolina Cherry, Magnolia, White and Pink Dogwood and so on…all 18 of them follow that theme. When the weather cooperates and the shrubs are in full bloom, you don’t even have to be a golfer to appreciate the breathtaking beauty. One of the reasons the tournament is held the first full week of April is to maximize the sheer beauty of the acreage. In short, if the opportunity ever presents itself, don’t miss the opportunity to attend the Masters in April.

Dennis Clark is a PGA Master Professional and a seven-time PGA award winner, including Golf Professional of the Year and Teacher of the Year. Dennis now teaches at Bobby Clampett’s Impact Zone Golf Indoor Performance Center in Naples, Florida and Eagle Lakes Golf Club. Some articles have previously appeared in Dennis’ popular column on GolfWRX.com.