New tee - Augusta National #5

[Dan Herrmann]

I was at ANGC for the ANWA, and took time to check out the new tees on #5.   


I'm happy to report that the new tee looks like it's been there forever.   They even planted azaleas along the right side for the first 100 or so yards.   


But, more importantly, I think the hole is changed considerably.   I think it now becomes a difficult 4, and we may even see averages hitting 4.3+, especially since the green still looks to have all its great contouring.    Trust me, it's a LONG way back there!


The ladies were teeing from where near where the old tee was - I think it's been moved about 15' to the right, but it's still back behind 4 green.   Some women were playing hybrids into the green from there - not unexpected given its length.


Also, the stands to the left of 4 green are now more in the back left of the green, which I think is a much better viewing angle for patrons.   We were sitting there for a few groups, and it was easy to follow the flight of the ball from the tee.   Fortunately, 4 green is still a great green.


PS - If you haven't been to AGNC for a while, Berkmans Road has been relocated to the west by quite a bit.   As usual, the landscaping in this area is first rate.

[jeffwarne]

The good news is ANGC closed the deal to buy South Carolina yesterday (Darla Moore was instrumental in the deal)
and the USGA just hired Fazio to (re)build an aesthetically pleasing bunker in Far Hills to bury a few heads deeper...

[Thomas Dai]

Time to quote an extract from my most favourite recent post herein -


“A game dependent on so much of the earth’s acreage on a shrinking planet with finite resources is inevitably going to be on the wrong side of history and a game where the balls and implements aren’t effectively controlled within certain parameters befitting the challenge is similarly going to become antiquated...”


Atb

[Carl Rogers]

True but, ANGC does not operate within the same universe as the rest of us.
Is it possible to accept this reality?

[Cliff Hamm]

I have read that Augusta National has a relatively low initiation of about 40K and only charges a few thousand a year for dues.   I do not know how much profit they make from the Masters, but I suspect it is substantial. I also suspect it is a highly guarded secret, but how much money does Augusta have and what do they do with it?

[Dan Herrmann]

@Cliff Hamm - no idea on the profit, but based on the (really nice) WalMart Black Friday crowd in the gift shop, they are printing their own money.   

[Chad Anderson (Tennessee)]

Friday & Saturday were my first time on the grounds at ANGC.  I walked to 5 tee and it looked like it had been there forever.  Without reading about the changes, I would have never known.

[Mike Hendren]

The new line off the tee could be interesting.  Formerly, right-handed players were aiming slightly away from the fairway bunkers.  Now, more directly at them. 

As for the dollars, I assume the television contract dwarfs merchandise sales but the latter must be off the charts.  Picking numbers out of thin air, let's assume the patronage (old Bogey ain't getting black-balled) turns over each of the three practice round days at 25,000 daily.  That's 75,000 folks who spend, say $150 each for merchandise (I read somewhere the average is $600) - or $11,250,000.  For the four tournament proper days let's assume 75% of the patrons are locals with plenty of stuff at home in the closet.  The other 25% of the 100,000 patrons over those four days also spend $150 each yielding another $3,750,000 for total seven days revenue of $15 million.  A 35% margin nets $5,250,000.  That's the same amount as another club with 350 members paying monthly dues of $1,250.   Hmmm, what to do with the TV revenues?

[Robert Emmons]

Hi Mike, I think your low on merchandise sales, probably closer to 50 million...RHE

[Daryl David]

There were a some articles a few years back that estimated ANGC takes in between $100 to $150 million on the event each year in gross revenue. Margins are estimated at around 25%. Net profits then of around $25 to $40 million each year. Safe to say, there is plenty in the bank.

[Kalen Braley]

And I didn't even see Ticket prices factored into Mike's post.....


Safe to say they making some nice bank.

[V. Kmetz]

The first time I went with a ticket in 2001, the merch pavilion check out aisles (of which there may have been 30-35) were arranged in staggered chevrons and so in the midst of them, it had the effect of like when you're walking through the rows of the progressive slots at a casino... the constantly changing amounts on each scoreboard above the machines ....


"$1,210.53...$865.22....$1004.28...$492.77....$879.20...$589.87....$1940.65.."


And because many of those fortunate enough to go, have like thousand dollars of requests from others who can't...the charge cards are smoking hot and the armfuls and plastic bags and largesse is in fact, staggering.

[Cliff Hamm]

An answer to the question - kind of:


https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-masters-finances-ron-sirak

[Edward Glidewell]

My understanding is that they make very little on the TV coverage (and so does CBS).

[Jeff Schley]

5 is kicking some butts and with wind will be more difficult. I like the change and the bunkers are definitely a factor now. The trees left of the bunkers down the left side force you to be right of the bunkers. I know they continually lengthen holes, but would like to see another shorter par 4 like hole 3 to even out the brutes.

[jeffwarne]

Time to quote an extract from my most favourite recent post herein -


“A game dependent on so much of the earth’s acreage on a shrinking planet with finite resources is inevitably going to be on the wrong side of history and a game where the balls and implements aren’t effectively controlled within certain parameters befitting the challenge is similarly going to become antiquated...”


Atb

Thomas,
I love that quote.


That said, Augusta is not the rules or regulations maker.
They reluctantly have to operate withing the standards (or lack of) set up by our spineless, inept govering bodies , who are more worried about a 62 year old's method of putiing than they are in preserving the game and the scale of its fields of play.


The change is fantastic on 5 and the hole plays as it did years ago.
Bernhard Langer is 62 and hit a hybrid to 18 feet yesterday.


It also has massively alleviated congestion left of 4 green/5 tee where there was a real bottleneck to the point most used to skip that area of the course..
Yo can now go behind 4 green as you could years ago and get beside , around and behind 5 tee-much more room and a very attractive addition and hole.

[Jon Cavalier]

[Scott Weersing]

Here is an article about the quiet spot behind no. 5


http://www.augusta.com/masters/story/news/2019-04-14/those-wander-no-5-tee-box-hidden-gem

[jeffwarne]

Here is an article about the quiet spot behind no. 5


http://www.augusta.com/masters/story/news/2019-04-14/those-wander-no-5-tee-box-hidden-gem

I spoke about that spot on the radio this morning.
If they cleared out the hedges behind the green on the right (which used to hide the fence on Berkmann's Road) it would be even better and open a view to 4 green. They cleaned out 1/2 of it and it's very attractive from the tee.


11 is always my go to spot to take short in stature spectators and they can see live action in person-5 joins that, but I think it will be rediscovered.
#5 was agood spot in the 70's/80's and allowed acess behind 4 green before lengthening congested the area.
Moving the road solved that probelm and created a beautiful spot