Augusta National Photo Tour

[Eric Smith]

Hard to beat a day at The Masters.

An egg salad and a beer provides enough gas to get you down around Amen Corner before needing to refuel around 14 / 16 tee. There you can switch to pimento cheese and two beers and sit in the grandstand to watch some birdie / eagle action at 15.

[Howard Riefs]

Great photos, Mac. Thanks for bringing GCA to Augusta -- albeit vicariously.

I can't help but notice that the warm winter has given us a blossomless tournament this year. Guess the dogwoods and azaleas peaked too early.

Missed it by a week...

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/doug-ferguson/augusta-greener-than-ever-as-azaleas-lose-their-bloom/

[Anthony_Nysse]

Range Pics from yesterday

[Dave McCollum]

Thanks, Mac.  I’m going to have your pics up on my laptop as I watch.

[Mac Plumart]

Adam...

On 9, all I can say is that I could see the top of the flag from where I was.  I don't know if that answers your question, but that is the best I got.

On 8, what you say is funny.  The GCA'er who was showing me around and I had almost that exact conversation about the containment mounding look.  We made a little joke about it all in fun.  We said they don't look 100% natural, but they don't look bad at all.  We actually talked about the Short Hole at Sleepy Hollow and how unnatural that greensite/bunker complex looks.  #8 at ANGC looks WAY more natural than that.  And the mounds seemed to fit the hole and they do fulfill a purpose there.  I had no issues with them.


Greg...

The hole that stood out to me was 10.  I am unsure what it was, but seeing that Mackenzie bunker really hit home with me.  So cool.


Alex...

My jaw hit the floor when I saw the first green.  It was exactly the same sensation I had when I saw the first green at The National Golf Links of America.  Freakin' amazing!


Mark...

We had a conversation on that exact line.    "Is it me or are the ANGC critics only people who've never been there?"  And we think it is not just you.  That course looked great...beyond great.  I suppose you could nit pick one or two areas, but I think it would be just that...nit picking.  There is no doubt the golf course is truly great.


Pat...

I'm with you 100%.


Eric...

Hard to beat a day at The Masters.  

You ain't lyin'!  



Tony...

Thanks for those photos.  The practice range just might make for a good golf course.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mac,

It's really incredibly special.

One really has to experience it first hand to truly understand it.

Did you notice the pitch on the upper tiers of the 13th and 16th greens.

Scary isn't it ?

The depth of the bunkers on # 5, the elevation differential on # 6, the narrowness of # 7 and 18 from the back tee, the frightening approach on # 11, the steep slope of the 13th fairway, how uphill # 9 & 18 are.

So many aspects are so unique.

Let's hope for good weather

[Matthew Sander]

Mr. Mucci,

Good list, I'll offer a few additions (not all architectural). The undulations present in the 14th green - I had no idea what caused the ball to do so many funny things on that green while watching on TV. However, when I set eyes on that green for the first time..."Oh, I see".

Also, the ski slope tenth is something to behold. The extreme downhill nature, coupled with the significant rise just before the green results in one of the more extreme holes you could ever lay eyes on.

A couple of other items that stuck with me from my visit to Augusta during the '04 weekend. The volume (as in loudness) of the second shots from the tenth fairway was stunning. Lastly, the solitude the players experience from the time they tee off on 12 until they emerge to chase after their tee shots on 13 seems unique in championship golf.

[Anthony_Nysse]

I, too, was taken back by how much contour was in the 14th green. reason enough that it doesnt need any bunkers.

A few pictures from behind the green

[Dan Herrmann]

I seldom hear it said, but the "Green Jackets" are very friendly and helpful.  You can tell they're proud of their club and they enjoy sharing it this week.

If you're going, I recommend parking up above the 13th green and using that swag shop and entrance.  I was in the first group down there, and having Amen Corner to yoursel and the green crew was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced in golf.

[Eric Smith]

Apologies if this has been posted already... Martin Kaymer's skip in hole in one at 16

...but wow, how cool is that?!

[Garland Bayley]

Apologies if this has been posted already... Martin Kaymer's skip in hole in one at 16

...but wow, how cool is that?!

He owes it all to Lee Buck

[Patrick_Mucci]

Anthony,

Both the 14th and 5th greens have enormous rolls/contours that effect play.

Unfortunately, the cameras rarely pick up the severity of the rolls.

And, the cameras are less adept at picking up other significant slopes/rolls, like the upper tiers on # 13 and # 16.

You really have to see it in person to appreciate how these slopes serve the play of each hole.

How would you like to have to hit a high cut from the middle or lower section of the 13th fairway with an 11 degree slope to contend with ?

[Bill Gayne]

Hard to believe that just a few years ago the range was basically a flat field used as a parking lot.

[Howard Riefs]

Nice photo gallery of ANGC from Golf Digest's Alan Pittman, who played the course on Monday via the media lottery.  It was his first time attending the tournament.  There's a 7-year waiting period before he can re-enter the lottery.

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/golf-masters/2012-04/photos-pittman-augusta#slide=1

[Bill McKinley]

Great thread Mac! If you don't mind I'd like to post a few photos that I was able to get on Wednesday when I was there for the 1st time in my life.

And I completely agree with you and Patrick about those who have negative things to say about the course.  I liken it to Lou Holtz's explanation of The University of Notre Dame... "For those who have been there, no explanation is necessary.  For those who haven't, none will suffice."

[Mac Plumart]

Bill...post away.  The more good photos the better.

[Tom Allen]

I've got some pics as well, but won't jack the thread.  My comments:
1. They have let the place run down since I was there in 06 and 07.  I say that because there is a single stray leaf in one of the pictures. 
2.  I agree totally with all of the comments so far.  You have to see it to believe it.  Cameras, TV, etc. simply do not capture the elevation changes and other items.
3.  My experience:  my buddies and I arrived, walked onto the grounds, and immediately started whispering, even though we were no where near anyone even practicing.  Let's just say it was like we were in church--hallowed ground to us all.
4.  Even the areas where you walk--before you ever get to the "second cut" or the fairways, were perfect.  E.g., Astroturf.  Not one blade of grass out of place, all perfect uniform color, all perfect uniform height, and not a weed or dead patch in sight.

Thanks for bringing those memories back.

[Ronald Montesano]

Bill, I'd love to see those photos, too.

[Bill McKinley]

Good call Ron. Sorry I haven't put them up yet but I will do so in short order!

[Mark Bourgeois]

Is it me or are the ANGC critics only people who've never been there?

Mark,

I think you've hit the nail on the head

+1

Pretty sure Ran Morrissett, Dan Wexler, and Geoff Shackelford have never been there.

[Bill McKinley]

#1 tee


#1 green. A really good green. Although that might become redundant when talking about AGNC




#2 tee


Approach. Way down hill!


#2 look back

[Ronald Montesano]

RIGHT THERE! Look at the apparent flatness of #2 green from on high, versus the clear slope from behind. We miss that on television, among the many other effects and traits mentioned by those that have walked the course.

[Bill McKinley]

#3 Tee


short right of the green, again, another wicked green


#3 green with #4 in the background


#4 tee


#4 from behind the green


#5 near the tee


#5 approach


#6 from the tee.  WAY down hill


#6 from behind the green.


#7 tee


#7 green from the right side. You can really see how narrow the green is from front to back.


#7 from behind the green.  Looks pretty tight for a 450 yard hole now!


#8 from around the tee


#9 tee


#9 approach, way uphill


#9 looking back.  Nice and wide!


#9 from behind the green


Back 9 coming soon...

[Bill McKinley]

#10 tee


#10 approach


#10 around the green and look back


#11 tee


#11 from the grandstands


#12 tee

[Ronald Montesano]

Looking at the image of #10 from behind the green, did they lower the portion of the fairway where the original green was, between the MacKenzie bunker and the right rough? It looks like there's a hollow/swale now.