Doppelganging Augusta

[John Kavanaugh]

While I have never played ANGC it's always fun to be reminded of our spring ritual that fast approaches.


Yesterday I was fortunate to have played Streamsong Black. With disregard to par the approach to the 16th at SSB felt and played surprisingly like the second at ANGC. For me, a driver off the deck hung out left that funneled optimistically to a right side pin. A challenging draw off the tee fade approach bundle of fun. Just as seen on TV.


What other doppelgängers have you found in your AR search to play Augusta?

[Peter Pallotta]

Others may chuckle and/or turn up their noses, but I think the replica course Wooden Sticks (by architect Ron Garl, in Uxbridge Ontario) is a very good one, and uses the land and some earth-moving to excellent effect. The 3rd and 4th holes are modeled on Augusta's 12th and 13th - a 150+ yard Par 3 to a wide shallow green with bunker behind and a creek and bunker in front; and a dogleg left 490 yard Par 5 with a creek and trees along the left but plenty of room (but such longer shot) on the right - over a creek to a green with bunker behind. Even 'just' as replicas they are really good and smart golf holes. And yes, it sure is fun pretending I'm playing Amen Corner as Sunday's second to last group. Alas, the times I've played it there were no eagle roars echoing through the pines

[MCirba]

John,


Is anything more fun than that??


I know exactly what you're describing on 16 and I don't think so!

[Mike Sweeney]

The 17th at Avalon Golf Club, NJ (Bob Hendricks, I think) was modeled after the 12th at Augusta:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i9EAnmN0jo


I think it has changed a little, but when you are 14 years old, it was a thrill !!

[MCirba]

Awesome example Mike.   Will post a pic of the hole soon.

[John Kavanaugh]

John,


Is anything more fun than that??


I know exactly what you're describing on 16 and I don't think so!

Mike,


With apologies, you don't think so what?

[Mike_Trenham]

Waynesborough CC - Paoli, PA - George Fazio 1967 #7 par 5.  I’ve always felt this hole set up much like #15 at Augusta National;


You need to hug the left side with your drive and at the crest of the hill there is a tall group of pine trees on the left, if you do that you can get the ball to leap forward down the hill and have an easy shot at the green.  If you leak it to the right on the drive you are going to have to layup to a down hill lie.  While there are no water hazards the pitch shots from 30 yards around the green are not easy and long is a bad option too.

[MCirba]

John,


Is anything more fun than that??


I know exactly what you're describing on 16 and I don't think so!

Mike,


With apologies, you don't think so what?

John,


I don't think there is much more fun in this life than pulling off the shot you described.


I've lived a pretty libertarian life and nothing comes to mind.

[Matthew Rose]

I believe #6 at Commonground is an homage to #16.

[Mike Sweeney]

Awesome example Mike.   Will post a pic of the hole soon.

Do you have the old 17?


I have not played the new 17, but you can see where the old 17 and pond are here where it says "Deep Creek":

[Tim Gallant]

The 10th at Alwoodley is apparently an earlier Mackenzie rendition of his more famous 13th at ANGC. The dogleg is quite severe and there is a creek in front of the green that currently runs underground, but I believe they may bring out as a feature.

[jeffwarne]

Golden Ocala tributes 12 and 13 at ANGC-not bad

[JJShanley]

The 1st (old 10th) at Duke struck me as similar to the 10th at ANGC.

[Marty Bonnar]

Pitreavie 12 = Augusta 12
(In a mirror, anyway!)

[MCirba]

Awesome example Mike.   Will post a pic of the hole soon.

Do you have the old 17?


I have not played the new 17, but you can see where the old 17 and pond are here where it says "Deep Creek":

Mike Sweeney,

Sad to see the old 17th is no more.   It was a terrific hole   

Here is Mike Cirba, circa 1974, doing my best Reverse C Johnny Miller imitation. 



Here's my late dad, cap turned backwards ala Ricky Fowler, on the same hole trying to extract himself from the front bunker. 



And here's an aerial image from Google Earth from 2002 before the hole's demise.

[MCirba]

The 10th at Alwoodley is apparently an earlier Mackenzie rendition of his more famous 13th at ANGC. The dogleg is quite severe and there is a creek in front of the green that currently runs underground, but I believe they may bring out as a feature.

Tim,

I'd have to go back and check but I believe this hole was different originally and that a land purchase made this hole and the next conceivable.   I may be wrong but I think someone told me when we were in the clubhouse.

[Tim Gallant]

The 10th at Alwoodley is apparently an earlier Mackenzie rendition of his more famous 13th at ANGC. The dogleg is quite severe and there is a creek in front of the green that currently runs underground, but I believe they may bring out as a feature.

Tim,

I'd have to go back and check but I believe this hole was different originally and that a land purchase made this hole and the next conceivable.   I may be wrong but I think someone told me when we were in the clubhouse.

Mike,


You may be correct. I know that green originally sat before the creek at the bottom of the hill. I'm not too sure when the green was pushed back a further 30 yards, but it makes sense, both agronomically and strategically.

[Mike Sweeney]

Here is Mike Cirba, circa 1974, doing my best Reverse C Johnny Miller imitation. 

Well that is just a fantastic post! I was a "cart kid" at Avalon GC for one summer circa 1976. They fired me after one season because I wanted to play golf more than clean out carts!!

[MCirba]

Mike,


It is very possible our paths crossed as we visited Avalon at least two different summers during our annual week-long July 4th vacation in Brigantine. 

[Derek_Duncan]

Not a terribly original answer, but if you took the average person and dropped them in the middle of Peachtree and told them they were at Augusta, I don't think they'd know they weren't.


The entire course is a doppelganger.

[Jon Wiggett]

The 10th at Alwoodley is apparently an earlier Mackenzie rendition of his more famous 13th at ANGC. The dogleg is quite severe and there is a creek in front of the green that currently runs underground, but I believe they may bring out as a feature.

Tim,

I'd have to go back and check but I believe this hole was different originally and that a land purchase made this hole and the next conceivable.   I may be wrong but I think someone told me when we were in the clubhouse.

Mike,


You may be correct. I know that green originally sat before the creek at the bottom of the hill. I'm not too sure when the green was pushed back a further 30 yards, but it makes sense, both agronomically and strategically.

Tim, Mike,


Mackenzie always intended the 10th to played as it is now but as you both stated it was originally played to a green short of the stream (no creeks in Yorkshire ). The 11th was also different to today with the original green still there in the trees closer to the 12th tee. I also do not know the date of the change but know Mackenzie never saw it.


Jon

[Scott Warren]

Jon, Tim, Mike:


Mackenzie conceived of the 10th playing to the current greensite and created plans for it (as well as the modern day 11th), but the club didn’t own the land at the time.


By the time the club got the land and implemented the holes, Dr Mac had divorced his wife, whose family were central to the club, and so was persona non grata.

[MCirba]

Jon & Scott,


Thanks for the additional information. That makes a lot of sense.


God I love that course.   What a terrific routing on limited land.

[Kalen Braley]

I can think of several potentials for hole #7, but then again, in its current form, may just be the least interesting hole on the course...

[Joe Bausch]

Waynesborough CC - Paoli, PA - George Fazio 1967 #7 par 5.  I’ve always felt this hole set up much like #15 at Augusta National;


You need to hug the left side with your drive and at the crest of the hill there is a tall group of pine trees on the left, if you do that you can get the ball to leap forward down the hill and have an easy shot at the green.  If you leak it to the right on the drive you are going to have to layup to a down hill lie.  While there are no water hazards the pitch shots from 30 yards around the green are not easy and long is a bad option too.

Waynesborough CC #7 photos start here:

http://www.myphillygolf.com/uploads/bausch/Waynesborough/pages/page_31.html