ANGC New tee at 13

[Bob Simons]

Saw this picture earlier on Twitter, came here to see what you guys thought. I didn’t see a thread so here goes! My very novice thought is that the hole will play closer to intended, bringing longer irons back into play. I’m sure there will be different opinions on here, which is why I spend so much time on this board. I wonder how much they paid ACC for that land.


https://imgur.com/gallery/UDxnItX

[Scott Warren]

So I guess they've lost faith in the USGA and R&A doing anything about technology.


Fred Ridley at the 2019 Masters:


It should come as no surprise to any of you that we continue to study other enhancements to the golf course. That includes much‑talked‑about changes, potential changes, to the 13th hole. Admittedly, that hole does not play as it was intended to play by Jones and MacKenzie. The momentous decision that I've spoken about and that Bobby Jones often spoke about, of going for the green in two, is to a large extent, no longer relevant.Although we now have options to increase the length of this hole, we intend to wait to see how distance may be addressed by the governing bodies before we take any action. In doing so, we fully recognize that the issue of distance presents difficult questions with no easy answers. But please know this: The USGA and The R&A do have the best interests of the game at heart. They recognize the importance of their future actions. You can be assured that we will continue to advocate for industry‑wide collaboration in support of the governing bodies as they resolve this very important topic.

[Joel_Stewart]

Does anyone know how much yardage is being added? 

[Bob Simons]

Joel, I used the measuring tool on Google Earth and from the center of the current tee box, to the inside edge of the new service road is just about 100 yards.

[Matthew Rose]

Maybe they ought to do one of those RTJ landing strip deals.

[Thomas Dai]

Another example of why a certain invitational tournament should always commence on the 1st April.
atb

[Mark Pearce]

Another example of why a certain invitational tournament should always commence on the 1st April.
atb

Why?  It’s not ANGC’s fault the ball goes so far now.  And trying to restore the way an iconic hole is played doesn’t seem foolish to me.

[Jon Wiggett]

Another example of why a certain invitational tournament should always commence on the 1st April.
atb

Why?  It’s not ANGC’s fault the ball goes so far now.  And trying to restore the way an iconic hole is played doesn’t seem foolish to me.

On the one side I would agree Mark but on the other hand they are one of the few events that could introduce a reduced distance tournament ball that would be accepted and so solve the problem that way.

[Adam Clayman]

It's truly sad, because with the stroke of a pen 20 years ago, they could've stopped the insanity by instituting their own I&B regs. Mannies wouldn't have sued, and everyone would have followed suit.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

https://imgur.com/gallery/UDxnItX

That photo shows the construction of a road, not necessarily the construction of a new tee box. Granted, it's only January, and they could cut down the trees, but if they're going to do all that grading work now, you'd think they'd cut the trees down as they are now.

Besides, with everyone clamoring for "par doesn't matter" and the half-par holes being the most interesting, I still don't see much of an issue with #13.

On the one side I would agree Mark but on the other hand they are one of the few events that could introduce a reduced distance tournament ball that would be accepted and so solve the problem that way.

Love how everyone just assumes that to be true.

[MClutterbuck]

This photo must be 7-8 months old... there could be anything out there now. No trees and all green.

[Anthony_Nysse]

https://imgur.com/gallery/UDxnItX

That photo shows the construction of a road, not necessarily the construction of a new tee box. Granted, it's only January, and they could cut down the trees, but if they're going to do all that grading work now, you'd think they'd cut the trees down as they are now.

Besides, with everyone clamoring for "par doesn't matter" and the half-par holes being the most interesting, I still don't see much of an issue with #13.

On the one side I would agree Mark but on the other hand they are one of the few events that could introduce a reduced distance tournament ball that would be accepted and so solve the problem that way.

Love how everyone just assumes that to be true.

That's not a January pic. That's probably a September pic right before overseeding.

[MClutterbuck]

Different perspective on Twitter:

[Erik J. Barzeski]

That's not a January pic. That's probably a September pic right before overseeding.

Yeah, I understand, but they're still building the road there, and that was the image cited in the first post.

I see no evidence of a new tee in that photo.

[Michael Wolf]

There has been at least one PGA Tour pro who's played Augusta recently who did not notice any change to the 13th tee box.


But of course it wouldn't take long to add a new tee.

[Kalen Braley]

If you go to Google Earth, that is the current view, trucks and all in the exact spot. So the guy just did a screen grab and put it on his twitter account.  That sat pic could be a couple of years old for all we know as the land was bought back in 2017.

[Anthony_Nysse]

That's not a January pic. That's probably a September pic right before overseeding.

Yeah, I understand, but they're still building the road there, and that was the image cited in the first post.

I see no evidence of a new tee in that photo.

Correct. Im just stating that that pic wasn't taken in January. They would be open and overseeded. It was probably a pic from Septish when the bermudagrass is prepared for overseed.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

If you go to Google Earth, that is the current view, trucks and all in the exact spot. So the guy just did a screen grab and put it on his twitter account.  That sat pic could be a couple of years old for all we know as the land was bought back in 2017.

The road wasn't there last year during the Masters, and I believe the image is from either November or January. Google Maps is useless, and Earth acts a bit goofy but implies January 2020.

[Kalen Braley]

If you go to Google Earth, that is the current view, trucks and all in the exact spot. So the guy just did a screen grab and put it on his twitter account.  That sat pic could be a couple of years old for all we know as the land was bought back in 2017.

The road wasn't there last year during the Masters, and I believe the image is from either November or January. Google Maps is useless, and Earth acts a bit goofy but implies January 2020.

Google Earth and Google Maps currently use the same image for ANGC.  Looks like it was last fall as Anthony has suggested as the entire course is crispy brown...

[Ken Moum]

Golf Channel says:


"An Augusta National spokesperson said Monday that the image is from last fall and shows that the service road the club previously discussed has been built."

[Tim_Cronin]

There's a lot going on off the course as well. Looks like a new entrance for Berckman's Place and the back end of the course, isolating what's left of an apartment complex behind Berckman's – the buildings farther from Berckman's Road have been bought and largely demolished. And the tunnel under Washington Road has been dug, all to allow for more stuff across the street, likely including the TV complex.


Oh, and as Golf Magazine pointed out online, a new member hangout off the sixth green.



Your Golf Shop dollars at work!

[Scott Warren]

Besides, with everyone clamoring for "par doesn't matter" and the half-par holes being the most interesting, I still don't see much of an issue with #13.

It has nothing to do with par, Erik. It has everything to do with the type of shot required to reach and hold the green in two shots.

That used to be a long iron or fairway wood. It’s now a mid-iron for most and a short iron or wedge for quite a few.

It’s also about the balance of the decision to take on that risky long shot over water from an uneven lie or lay up to a safer but still awkward wedge, with the preferred spot for that pitch changing with the pin position. That decision is now essentially non-existent.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

It has nothing to do with par, Erik. It has everything to do with the type of shot required to reach and hold the green in two shots.

Glad we can get back to disagreeing on most things, Scott. 

That used to be a long iron or fairway wood. It’s now a mid-iron for most and a short iron or wedge for quite a few.

But… so? In the last ten Masters, the scoring average at the 13th has been right around 4.5, and it's an exciting hole, IMO. Lengthening it could result in less drama, less excitement. Fewer eagles. More layups.

It’s also about the balance of the decision to take on that risky long shot over water from an uneven lie or lay up to a safer but still awkward wedge, with the preferred spot for that pitch changing with the pin position. That decision is now essentially non-existent.

I think more people than you must believe laid up or played well away from the water or else the scoring average would have been closer to 4.

I get it. The hole is 510. Tiger had 161 in and Brooks had 175. Even I can hit a high lofted club from there. But… so? I think the hole is fine, and the average viewer who only ever watches The Masters probably enjoys seeing more "eagles" and "birdies" and the leaderboard fluctuating as much as it does.

[Sven Nilsen]

Love this old footage -


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lwm7Hi59Tg&t=38s

[Joe Melchiors]

If, and probably when, they move the tee back, does anyone think their is a chance they will remove/thin the forest of trees they added on the right side of the fairway at the top of the hill?


-Joe