There are certainly more spectacular courses, with amazing holes, unique layouts and dazzling views, but there is certainly no other that has the mystery, charm and, above all, the sporting history of Augusta National, a course of legend.
The Masters venue, nestled in Augusta, Georgia, in a valley near the South Carolina border, is a very special club. It opened in December 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, and was founded by millionaire Clifford Roberts and the legendary Bobby Jones.
Jones, after a successful career and at the early age of 28, retired from high competition only a month after winning the Grand Slam and being at the peak of his career. The truth is that Jones was not a player comparable to any other of his category, as he used to play only about 80 rounds a year, dedicating only about three months to travel and play competitions.
In 1948, when he was 46 years old, came the hardest blow for Jones: he was diagnosed with a rare disease of the central nervous system and could never play golf again. He suffered from severe back and neck pain and medical tests showed that he had bony growths in three cervical vertebrae. Jones was initially forced to walk with the aid of a cane, then used crutches and finally spent the last years of his life in a wheelchair. After 23 years of suffering pain of varying intensity, he died on December 18, 1971 at the age of 69.
For his part, Roberts was an investment banker who was able to recover from the scourge of the ’29 stock market crash. In 1931 Roberts discovered a property in Augusta for the project that his friend Jones intended to realize. It was an estate located on the outskirts of the city. Jones said, “It looks like this site has been here waiting for years for a golf course to be built on it.” The financier bought the land and thus began the Augusta National adventure. Roberts died in 1977 at the age of 83. Ill, he went to Augusta to spend his last days in the place he considered home. He committed suicide near the 10th hole.
Roberts was the first president of Augusta National and Jones was appointed ‘Perpetual President’ of the club in 1966, at the age of 64. Roberts was very fastidious and, for example, could not stand money being dirty, so the golf store at Augusta National still gives change with new currency today. He also couldn’t stand pictures hanging crooked on the wall, which is why those in the clubhouse still hang on two hooks to keep them in place.
Roberts also flirted with the world of politics and was an asset in General Eishenhower’s two presidential campaigns and a shadow advisor to the president. Eisenhower first visited Augusta National in 1948 and became a partner shortly thereafter. The president of the United States commissioned a portrait of Roberts for the club’s library. Eishenhower gives his name to a dam at Augusta National that he himself proposed be made, on the east side of the course.
A PERFECT PROPERTY
The site chosen to build Augusta National was a 148-hectare plot called Fruitlands Nurseries, a perfect space since the grove had remained intact over the years, while preserving a beautiful avenue of magnolias leading to the colonial building that today forms the central part of the complex that constitutes the clubhouse. The estate began as a magnolia plantation until 1857, when it was bought by the Belgian Baron Louis Mathieu Edouard Berckmans, a hobby horticulturist. Together with his son he formed a partnership a year later to import trees and plants from various countries.
A mutual friend of Jones and Roberts, Thomas Barret Jr. recommended this property for the construction of their big dream. Jones, upon seeing the land, decided it was perfect for building a golf course. They decided to make it a members’ course under the name Augusta National. The course began construction in 1931, opened in December 1932 to a small number of members and a month later was officially opened. The initial goal was to have 1,800 members, each of whom would pay $5,000 plus an annual membership fee of $60. When the first Masters was played in 1934, the club had only 76 members. At that time they could not afford to pay the first tournament winner his $1,500 check, so Horton Smith had to wait until 17 club members contributed extra money. The club only survived through the efforts of its founders, Roberts and Jones.
The Masters was born in 1934, albeit under a different name, when Jones and Roberts decided to create a major event to be held every year in Georgia. Jones then had the idea of inviting the world’s top players to compete on that course and thus began to forge the legend of the most famous golf tournament on the planet. In 1934 Roberts wanted to call the tournament “The Masters,” but Jones thought it was too pretentious, so it was called “The First Annual Augusta National Invitational Tournament.” Roberts was adamant about his choice and used the press to get the name changed. In 1938, the name the tournament has today was officially adopted.
THE MEDICAL DESIGNER
The designer of Augusta National was Alister Mackenzie, a Scotsman who gave up medicine to devote himself to his passion: golf. He managed to design a course with great resemblance to the Scottish courses, although he could not enjoy his work for long, as he died shortly after knowing that he had designed his best course.
Augusta National is an example of design and strategy, where the player is challenged to plan each shot perfectly. Each hole can be played in different ways, so each golfer will choose his path according to his ability. As for its landscape ornamentation, the profusion and great variety of pine trees, many of which are more than 150 years old, stand out. The colorful azaleas are also a constant along the route, with some thirty varieties. There are also a few palm trees. In the early years hole 4 was called the Palm Tree Hole (now called Flowering Crab Apple, a type of apple tree).
The clubhouse is situated high up, and it was from this point that Jones and Roberts visualized the future course. At the bottom of the hill, at the end of the course, is the famous Amen Corner, consisting of holes 11, 12 and 13, where several Masters have been won and lost.
The name Amen Corner was coined in 1958 by Sports Illustrated journalist Herbert Warren Wind, who wrote that it was composed of the second half of the 11th hole, the 12th hole and the first half of the 13th hole. The journalist borrowed the name from an old jazz composition called “Shouting Amen Corner”.
The 11th hole is a par 4 of 416 meters, with a lake from the front left of the green. The 12th, a par 3 of 142 meters, is the most demanding of the holes because it requires great care not to go off the fairway. The 13th is a dogleg par 5 of 443 meters, also very demanding, where it is easy for the ball to fall into the creek that runs in front of the green if one tries to shorten the distance to the flag on the first shot.
CONTROVERSIAL CHANGES
The layout of Augusta National has been subject to small changes throughout its long history, those of recent times aimed at lengthening a course that with the technological advance of clubs and balls was becoming – in the opinion of some, including the president of the club – a little short for the best professionals in the world. The course has grown since 2000 by a total of 450 meters, which means eight more strokes (two per round) for the Masters players.
Two of golf’s living legends, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, whose contribution to the Masters is recognized with commemorative plaques at Augusta National itself, are not in favor of the changes made to the historic layout. “Augusta is part of my life and I love it: it’s the reason I hate these changes,” the Golden Bear has declared, without mincing words.
AUGUSTA HIGHLIGHTS
At the base of the flagpole in front of the colonial-style clubhouse, reached from the club’s entrance by crossing an avenue flanked by 61 large magnolia trees, Magnolia Lane, is the Founders’ Circle, with two plaques commemorating the makers of Augusta National. Bobby Jones is evoked as “a gentleman in every sense of the word whose legendary feats as a golfer will inspire those who play golf for years of years to come.” The plaque dedicated to Clifford Roberts reads that he was “a man whose vision was inspired by genius and determination and whose contribution to the game of golf will be remembered as long as golf continues to be played.”
There are other commemorative plaques on the course. One, made of bronze and placed in a fountain behind the tee of the 16th hole, is dedicated to Arnold Palmer for his contribution to the Masters. Palmer played 50 editions in a row since his first participation, in 1955, and won the tournament four times (1958, 60, 62 and 64).
Jack Nicklaus, six-time Masters winner (1963, 65, 66, 72, 75 and 86), also has his plaque at Augusta National, located in a fountain between the 16th and 17th holes. The Golden Bear won his first Masters at age 23 and became the youngest player to win it until then.
THE HISTORY OF THE GREEN JACKET
The garment that distinguishes the Masters champions has its origins in 1937, when Augusta National members began wearing the green jacket as the club’s identifying garment. Club management urged members to purchase and wear a jacket during the Masters so they could be easily identified. Initially, members were not enthusiastic about wearing the jacket because it was too hot. Years later, the garment was made of a cooler fabric. In 1949, the tradition was established of presenting a green jacket to the winner of the Masters, who that year turned out to be Sam Snead. The garment, whose color is called ‘Masters Green’, is adorned with the Augusta National Golf Club logo on the upper left pocket, which is also engraved on the brass buttons.
Traditionally, the winner of the Masters takes home his or her green jacket for a period of one year, returning it to the club when he or she returns to participate in the tournament again. The jacket is then kept at the club and is available for when its holder visits the course. When the Masters is nearing completion, several jackets are selected that might fit the prospective winner during the ceremony afterwards. The champion will then provide his or her measurements so that the garment can be custom tailored. Normally, a multiple Masters winner will have only one Green Jacket, unless his or her size has varied significantly over the years.
The ceremony in which the previous year’s champion helps the new winner put on the Green Jacket was altered for the first time in 1966, when Jack Nicklaus became the first player to win the Masters twice in a row. Bob Jones recommended that the Golden Bear put on the garment by himself, and so it happened amidst the jubilation of the crowd that witnessed the act. It was not until 1990 that another consecutive double victory would be recorded, this time by Nick Faldo. On that occasion, the president of the host club helped the English player put on the Green Jacket. In 2002, Tiger Woods won his second straight Masters victory and was also helped by the president of Augusta National.
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
Despite protests against its discriminatory policy, the veto on women’s membership in the world’s most prestigious club remained in place until the summer of 2012. On August 20, the club admitted, for the first time in its history, the inclusion of women as members. And doubly so. Condoleeza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State, and businesswoman Darla Moore were invited to join Augusta National.
The controversy had reached Barack Obama months earlier. “The president’s personal view is that women should be admitted to Augusta National,” the White House spokesman said then.
The most vocal protest against female discrimination was undoubtedly the one staged in 2002 during the Masters at the gates of Augusta National by Martha Burk, president of the National Council of Women’s Organizations. Then the Ku Klux Klan entered the scene supporting the club so that it could continue to choose its members “according to race, sex, creed or religion”.
Later Hootie Johnson, president of Augusta National, added fuel to the fire by stating at a press conference that “the 300 members of the club have unanimously decided not to admit women as members”. Despite what it may seem, Johnson is considered one of the most progressive people in golf and in fact his support was key to the admission of the first black member in 1991.
J.J. Harper, imperial wizard of the KKK group, asked the Richmond County sheriff for permission to demonstrate during the tournament. “We will be demonstrating for the rights of Augusta National to elect only who they want as a member of the club,” he said. The news generated almost immediate reaction from Martha Burk: “I’m sure Augusta National welcomes the support of the Ku Klux Klan, because they seem to be in favor of discrimination against women at any cost.” “The Augusta National should not be shocked at this kind of support…. They behaved in a way that attracts this kind of support,” he added wryly about the racist group.
The club tried to rein in the controversy. “Anyone who knows anything about Augusta National Golf Club or its members knows this is not something the club welcomes or supports,” a club spokesman said.
Harper explained that his group became interested in demonstrating on behalf of Augusta National when it learned that the Rev. Jesse Jackson, of the Democratic Party, decided to come to Augusta to join the demonstration to reject discrimination against women. “We don’t want Jesse Jackson in our state,” she said.
COMMENTATORS PUNISHED
A well-known television commentator used the words “depilatory wax” and “body bags” when describing the greens at Augusta National during a CBS telecast in 1993. The television network was asked to remove him from the team. The commentator never broadcast the Masters again. The same happened to another reputable sports journalist, who described the spectators as a mob, which cost him five years in exile.
THE DISCRETION OF THE PARTNERS
The partners control everything, who comes and who doesn’t, although nobody knows exactly who they are yet. They seem to number about 300, and they include the managers of the most important companies in America, as well as former members of the government. Sam Snead, a veteran with six decades of Masters behind him, was very explicit about it: “I couldn’t tell you the names of five Augusta partners. They don’t come to the champion’s dinner and they don’t come to the clubhouse when the tournament is going on.”
LOAN AT 50,000 YEARS!
Bob Jones had a privileged mind and graduated first in Mechanical Engineering, then in English Literature from Harvard and finally pursued a career in law. He had no intention of becoming a golf pro although he made money filming golf instructional films in Hollywood. When he needed a house, the East Lake partners raised enough money to buy him one, but the United States Golfers Association warned him that if he accepted the gift he would lose his amateur status. So his grandfather loaned him the $50,000 he needed. The loan repayment terms stated that he would pay $1 a year for 50,000 years!
THE TICKET BUSINESS
In 1946 the prize money doubled to $10,000, so the club decided to charge $3 for weekly passes and $5 for weekend passes. It didn’t work out well at first. In 1947, 5,000 spectators were counted in a day.
CBS first broadcast the tournament in 1956. The network had to cancel the television signal in a 200-mile radius around Augusta National to help get people to the course. Augusta residents were told it was their civic duty to buy tickets because the Masters was the only event that brought national attention to their town. A lot of tickets were sold that week. Then came Arnold Palmer and tickets were not so readily available. In 1978, Augusta National gave up using the waiting list for people who wanted to buy tickets: the average wait time exceeded the life expectancy of the petitioners. Tickets for the Masters pass from generation to generation and are one of the best deals in sporting events: $200 for one day (Sunday). Resellers can get up to $10,000 for tickets, but members go so far as to hire private detectives to arrest and prosecute these people.
A $101,000 FIELD
“Nobody learns how to design a golf course just by playing golf, no matter how well they do it,” said Bobby Jones, who chose Scotsman Allister Mackenzie to design Augusta National after seeing the Cypress Point course in California. In the end, the course cost $101,000 to build. The design with which it premiered had 22 bunkers, slightly more than half as many as today’s 40. The original clubhouse was built in 1854.
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