Augusta Country Club
Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to play Augusta Country with a fellow GCAer. We had “Chamber of Commerce” weather; one of those fall days that make you love the south. The course had recently been overseeded with Rye, and they were putting a ton of water down, so the fairways were a bit on the soggy side, but the greens were perfect.
ACC is a beautiful club, founded in 1899. Originally consisting of two courses, today only one, The Hill Course, remains. The Hill Course was designed by Donald Ross and today plays to a par of 72 and measures 6947 from the back tees. In addition to the wonderful golf course, ACC also boasts a fine short game area.
The course is hilly, but not nearly as much so as its famous neighbor, and makes for a great walk. The greens are large and undulating, but I would not describe most as the “inverted saucers” for which Ross is so famous. However, many of the greens feature false fronts, some quite subtle, that repelled several my approach shots.
Here’s a quick tour of the course. All yardages from the back tees:
No. 1, Par 4, 427 yards
Fairly typical of Ross openers, No. 1 plays slightly down hill off the tee.
Tee shot
Green
No 2, Par 4, 386
Playing uphill, there’s much more room to the right than one can see from the tee.
Tee shot
Approach
Green
No 3, Par 4, 439 yards
The tee shot plays substantially uphill, making this long hole feel even longer. This is the #1 handicap hole
Tee shot
Approach
Green
No. 4, Par 3, 146 yards
The first par 3, which plays at least one full club longer than the yardage due to the uphill shot.
Tee
Green
No. 5, Par 5, 510 yards
This par 5 is reachable in two for longer hitters.
Tee
Approach – Note the bunkers fronting the green. From the fairway they appear to be much closer to the green than they actually are.
Green
No 6, Par 3, 199 yards
Tee
Green
No. 7, Par 4, 345 yards
A strong par 4 that plays much longer than the yardage with a drive up a large hill to a level fairway.
Tee
Approach
Green – note the “halfway house” just back left of the green. The locale affords spectacular vistas across the course.
No. 8, Par 5, 599 yards
A long par 5 that plays downhill the entire way. The green sits just across Rae’s Creek, which makes this a 3 shotter for all but the very longest of hitters. The original green was on the other side of the creek, taking some of the risk out the equation for those who may go for the green in two.
Tee
Approach
Green and Rae’s Creek
No 9, Par 4, 388 yards
Playing up hill from the lowest point on the property, the tee shot carries the crest of the hill to a canted fairway.
Tee
Approach
From the fairway, there appears to be another golf course right next door. From the 9th fairway this course looked to be in spectacular condition, though oddly, appeared to be deserted.
Green
No 10, Par 4, 383 yards
Tee
Approach
Green
No 11, Par 5, 533 yards
Tee
Approach
Green
No 12, Par 3, 251 yards
Tee
Green
No 13, Par 4, 460 yards
Tee
Approach
Green
No. 14, Par 3, 146 yards
A nice bit of history!
Tee
Green
No 15, Par 5, 526
A great par 5 that really forces the player to think, particularly on the second shot.
Tee
Approach
Green
No. 16, Par 4, 376 yards
Another uphill hole that plays much longer than the card. The second shot is severely uphill to a wonderful punchbowl green.
Tee
Approach
Green
No. 17, Par 4, 411 yards
Tee
Approach
Green
No. 18, Par 4, 422 yards
This downhill finisher plays a bit shorter than the card.
Tee
Approach
Green
