Augusta Country Club—Augusta, GA
Rankings as of December 6, 2009
-Ranked the 19th best course in Georgia (Golf Digest)
-Ranked the 95th best classic course in the U.S. (Golfweek)
For starters, there is just something special about playing golf in Augusta, Georgia. The city simply feels like golf to
me. I don’t know how to describe it; perhaps you simply need to experience it.
Pulling into the grounds of the Augusta Country Club is a pretty special feeling. The clubhouse is very elegant with
an “old school” feel to it. In the corridors are pictures of members/former members who went on to great things in
professional golf, like Larry Mize and Charles Howell III. Also there are pictures of some of the past champions of
golfing tournaments held at Augusta CC, like Bobby Jones and Jerry Travers to name a few. Additionally, there is a
picture of the world famous designer of this, and many other, golf course(s), Donald Ross along with the pictures of
his original blueprints/plans for the course. It all sets the tone and the tempo for a special round of golf, in a
special golfing city, on a special golf course.
Quite frankly, picking and choosing the best holes on the course is quite difficult as there is one solid hole after
another. Some holes are long and require power, some holes require accuracy, and some require both. But one
thing that is a constant on this course is the quality of the bunkering. The bunkers are beautiful and they are very
interesting in what they add to the quality of play. From hole to hole you will encounter some fairway bunkers,
greenside bunkers, and some cross bunkers. And on a few holes, you will see all of those bunkers on the same
hole. For an example take a peak at the bunkering on the par 5 15th hole. See what I mean?
Also, take a closer look at the cross bunker in the middle of the 15th fairway.
The bottom line is you’ve got to think before you hit the ball. Wasn’t it Max Behr who said something like, the
purpose of the golf course architect is to give the golfer a reason to think before he hits the golf ball? Well, Donald
Ross certainly gives the golfer a lot of things to think about and plan for before he strikes that ball at Augusta CC.
Another thing that seems to be present on every hole at this wonderful course is great greens. They roll true and
that is good, but the greatness of these greens is their undulations. I would make the argument that a golfer will be
hard pressed to find any flat putts during a round here.
Just as there is history dripping from the walls of the clubhouse, there is history seeping through the very ground
that you walk and play on at Augusta CC. Check out these images from the par 3 14th hole.
As I’ve mentioned Augusta Country Club was originally designed by Donald Ross and it was renovated by Brian
Silva. It measures 6,540 yards from the blue tees and is rated 71.4/128.
Rankings as of December 6, 2009
-Ranked the 19th best course in Georgia (Golf Digest)
-Ranked the 95th best classic course in the U.S. (Golfweek)
For starters, there is just something special about playing golf in Augusta, Georgia. The city simply feels like golf to
me. I don’t know how to describe it; perhaps you simply need to experience it.
Pulling into the grounds of the Augusta Country Club is a pretty special feeling. The clubhouse is very elegant with
an “old school” feel to it. In the corridors are pictures of members/former members who went on to great things in
professional golf, like Larry Mize and Charles Howell III. Also there are pictures of some of the past champions of
golfing tournaments held at Augusta CC, like Bobby Jones and Jerry Travers to name a few. Additionally, there is a
picture of the world famous designer of this, and many other, golf course(s), Donald Ross along with the pictures of
his original blueprints/plans for the course. It all sets the tone and the tempo for a special round of golf, in a
special golfing city, on a special golf course.
Quite frankly, picking and choosing the best holes on the course is quite difficult as there is one solid hole after
another. Some holes are long and require power, some holes require accuracy, and some require both. But one
thing that is a constant on this course is the quality of the bunkering. The bunkers are beautiful and they are very
interesting in what they add to the quality of play. From hole to hole you will encounter some fairway bunkers,
greenside bunkers, and some cross bunkers. And on a few holes, you will see all of those bunkers on the same
hole. For an example take a peak at the bunkering on the par 5 15th hole. See what I mean?
Also, take a closer look at the cross bunker in the middle of the 15th fairway.
The bottom line is you’ve got to think before you hit the ball. Wasn’t it Max Behr who said something like, the
purpose of the golf course architect is to give the golfer a reason to think before he hits the golf ball? Well, Donald
Ross certainly gives the golfer a lot of things to think about and plan for before he strikes that ball at Augusta CC.
Another thing that seems to be present on every hole at this wonderful course is great greens. They roll true and
that is good, but the greatness of these greens is their undulations. I would make the argument that a golfer will be
hard pressed to find any flat putts during a round here.
Just as there is history dripping from the walls of the clubhouse, there is history seeping through the very ground
that you walk and play on at Augusta CC. Check out these images from the par 3 14th hole.
As I’ve mentioned Augusta Country Club was originally designed by Donald Ross and it was renovated by Brian
Silva. It measures 6,540 yards from the blue tees and is rated 71.4/128.
