The first glimpse of Augusta National brings excitement to sports fans every spring. And thanks to the golf-obsessives over at nationalclubgolfer.com, you can impress your friends with your new-found knowledge...
All about Amen Corner
This is one of the most iconic phrases in golf and it refers to the stretch of holes from the 11th to 13th at Augusta. The 11th is a long par-four with water left of the sloping green. The 12th is a short par-three played over water. And the 13th is an exciting par-five with the famous Rae’s Creek separating the fairway from the green.
The term 'Amen Corner' was coined by American sports writer Herbert Warren Wind in 1958. He had heard the expression used in the jazz song "Shouting at Amen Corner".
How to become a member at Augusta
Obtaining a membership is extremely difficult - harder than gaining tickets for The Masters!
You must be invited by the club and then reportedly pay a five-figure subscription fee. Notably, Bill Gates is a member.
The curse of the par-three competition
A nine-hole competition takes place on the eve of the Masters every year. All players and past champions are traditionally invited. To this day, no player has won the par-three contest and The Masters in the same year.
There is a fountain placed next to the first tee of the par-three course. It has the name of every par-three contest winner engraved on it, starting with Sam Snead in 1960.
The Champions Dinner
The Champions Dinner is for members of Augusta National Golf Club and past champions of the tournament. It takes place on the Tuesday night of Masters week.
The reigning champion hosts the dinner and he picks the menu for the other guests. Treats in recent years have included Danny Willett’s traditional Sunday roast, Tiger Woods’ cheeseburgers and chips after his first win in 1997, Nick Faldo’s fish and chips and Sandy Lyle’s haggis.
Defending champion Patrick Reed plans to lay on rib-eye steak with mac and cheese.
How do you get to play at Augusta?
If you thought gaining a membership sounded tough then trying to play the course is just as difficult.
You must either be friends with a member, be part of the golf media ballot at The Masters, be a volunteer at the tournament or play at a nearby university to name just a few options.
The hole yardages are rounded off to the nearest five yards
The yardages of Augusta National are rounded to the nearest five or 10.
Course founder Bobby Jones said the forever changing tee and pin positions were part of the reason to leave the yardages rounded. The course currently measures at 7,435 yards.
What are those cabins you occasionally see in the trees?
There are 10 cabins located inside the grounds of Augusta National for the members and their guests.
One cabin is called the Eisenhower Cabin as it was purposely built by the club for President Eisenhower.
The Crow’s Nest
Ever wondered what is at the top of the Augusta National clubhouse?
Well, the Crow’s Nest is dormitory-style accommodation capable of housing five people at a time. This is where the amateur players traditionally stay during the week of the tournament.
Augusta's short playing season
Despite the peak golfing season in Georgia being the summer months, Augusta National is only open for member play until May and then it closes until October.
No running please
Augusta enforces strictly policed rules. Commentators, broadcasters and anyone else referring to the crowds at Augusta must call them patrons. Patrons are not allowed to run on the property.
No electronic equipment is allowed on the course apart from on practice days. The latter applies to players as well.
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