
Augusta National Golf Course: The Ultimate Test For Any Golfer
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Following is a guest post by Dr. Eric Wilson. Dr. Wilson is a PGA Master Professional in Instruction at the College of Golf, a Keiser University school in Port St. Lucie, FL.
Every year the cream of the crop in the field of golf descends on Augusta for the Masters tournament. The Augusta National Golf Club, first opened in January of 1933 for play, has hosted the Masters since 1934. Currently ranked the number one golf course in the United States by Golf Digest, it’s one of the top courses in the world. The course, known to be unforgiving, is the ultimate challenge to any golfer. But why? What makes the Augusta national golf course so tough?
Golfers who have had the chance to play Augusta, quite often talk of the “mystery” of the course. It is said that knowledge of the course is just as important, or perhaps more important, than a player’s actual golf skill. Players study the course, sometimes drawing diagrams to get a feel for it. Not understanding Augusta National Golf Course can result in disaster and a very poorly played game. And studying and getting a feel for the course isn’t easy: over the past few decades several changes have been made to the course, resulting in an additional 500 yards. So, what you learned about the course last year may not hold up this year.
Augusta golf course is very topical, with lots of peaks and valleys. This in and of itself makes for a difficult course. The course designer, Alister MacKenzie, definitely knew what he was doing. With a difficult topography, sometimes even standing correctly can be a challenge. A slope on the fairway can make balance an issue, greatly throwing off a player’s swing.
Placement of waterways, trees and other greenery also makes the course extremely difficult. Add the tightness of the fairways and you can see why this is one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. It can get the best of even the most talented players in the field, as witnessed by Tiger Wood’s 4th place standing at this year’s Masters.
Weather and wind can also change this course drastically, so players need to be completely on their game every time they attempt to play and get the best of the course. This means paying attention to the daily conditions and being extra careful in deciding which club to use for which stroke.
Ray Floyd, who played the Masters 45 times and announced his retirement this year at Augusta, says that when players discuss how well they think they will do at Augusta, they tend to talk in code.
“They say, ‘I have a good eye for the course,’ or ‘I feel confident with the golf course,’ ” Floyd said. “What they’re saying is that they have enough knowledge to play it. They know where to hit the ball. They know when they can be aggressive and when they can’t.”
Players respect the course, and while they recognize its difficulty, they also treat it with reverence. It’s a stunningly beautiful course, and they know it. Augusta also isn’t for the faint of heart. A pro golfer can spend his whole career battling this golf course, never feeling like he won.
Some players and fans of the game of golf think that the course is actually too difficult and makes it almost impossible for someone to play his best. They argue that if a course is too difficult to play, it takes not only the fun, but the sport out of the game. But others, like golfer Kenny Perry, appreciate the difficulties associated with the course.
Perry sums it up nicely: “It’s an ingenious design. I don’t know why someone doesn’t design another course like it.” Someone may have, but I’ve never played it if it’s out there.
About the Author:
Dr. Eric Wilson is a PGA Master Professional in Instruction at the College of Golf, a Keiser University school in Port St. Lucie, FL. The College of Golf offers students the opportunity to study at a professional golfers career college.
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