I don't really like Augusta as much. I used too but I think it has got ugly over the years.
I understand it is a minor opinion but it has morphed in 50 years to something that I dislike more than like. A lot that I now don't like has been by the 'need' to extend the course, the design intent for many has been lost and the course plays only 'true' to those that bash it 350.
I think the bunkers are too big. I dislike the green shapes. The trees are now too tall for some corridor widths so they look disproportionate. The slopes are too steep which means balls are carted off hundreds of feet and so the skill ability is taken away from almost any golfer. There are very reduced ground options. The pine straw in circles around the trees looks very contrived. The greenside bunkering is very severe.
I think I could love it again with a bunker re-do and wispy fescue like yesteryear, some options of the ground game brought in.
Spending all that money to make the slopes steeper was sure unsustainable
Fescue? There was a bit of bermuda that might've been mowed less back in the day....
In seriousness, I'm with you on the pine tree circles, and there are often too many planted and crammed together.
Then you see a silly massive alley like way right of the New Forest on 11 and you think wtf.
It really does not look great on TV, but better in person.
In all fairness, vertical hazards, like the ones on 13, are the only ones making that hole relevant and imaginative anymore.
There are still a lot of interesting ways to attack that hole-I'm still amazed how few shape their tee shots and end up in the rough.
The bunkers look way better in person and are truly deep,deep hazards-and the lies aren't great or easy to spin it.
As far as playing true to 350, I don't know what 'True" is, but we saw Langer and Woosie hanging tough, and the fact that it's been lengthened and remained relevant is a tribute to ANGC and a knock on the governing bodies who fiddled while Rome burned.
To Tom's point about Adam Scott and 14(there's also a hospitality house over there now), they have reduced the second cut in a few places, notably #3 left of fway bunker nest, but 2 of the 4 fairway bunkers need to go to make that a more oft used option.
As far no ground game, there are tons of options, the pros are just so good and used to their wedges that they just don't see or use those options-pity. I would definitely bump/run many of those shots, because I lack their skill, and have a ton of fear just watching.
And Sean, we do this every year.
It IS a garden, the holes are named for the specific trees pulled form the Fruitlands nursery that the property once was.