Augusta National Golf Club Golf Course

— About

About Augusta National Golf Club Golf Course

Augusta National Golf Club is the world's most famous private golf club and home of The Masters Tournament — the first major of the calendar year and the only major played at the same venue every year since 1934. Co-designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones on a former plant nursery, the course blends sweeping elevation changes, immaculate bentgrass fairways, and some of the most strategically complex greens in existence. MacKenzie's genius is visible in every contour: greens that slope away from the player, backstops that funnel approach shots into specific positions, and wide fairways that punish the wrong angle more than raw length. Amen Corner — holes 11, 12, and 13 — is golf's most pressure-loaded three-hole stretch, where tournament fortunes have been made and destroyed on a swirling, unpredictable wind. The par-3 12th across Rae's Creek is the most famous short hole in the world. Azaleas blooming along every fairway in April, the pristine white sand, and the green jacket ceremony make Augusta National as much a cultural phenomenon as a sporting event. Access is strictly members-only; playing Augusta National remains the most coveted golfing experience on earth.

— History

History of Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National was founded in 1932 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts on the grounds of the Fruitlands Nursery — a former indigo plantation and then a horticultural business that supplied the distinctive flowering plants still visible along the fairways today. Alister MacKenzie died in January 1934, just weeks before the first Masters was played, never seeing his design tested in competition. The Masters has been held every April since 1934 (with a wartime gap), making it the only major played on the same course every year — a consistency that allows the history of the game to accumulate in a single place.

— Signature Holes

Signature Holes at Augusta National Golf Club

The par-3 12th, Golden Bell, is the most copied and most analysed hole in golf architecture — a 155-yard shot across Rae's Creek to a narrow green backed by bunkers, where the swirling wind in Amen Corner can make any club feel like the wrong choice. The par-5 13th, Azalea, rewards a drawn tee shot around the corner to leave a reachable second — but the approach to a green that runs away toward Rae's Creek penalises any shot that does not hold. Together with the 11th, these three holes at Amen Corner have decided more Masters tournaments than any other stretch in major championship golf.

— Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National is a private club with no public access — the only way to play is as the guest of a member. For those fortunate enough to receive an invitation, the course is open from October through May and closed in the summer heat.

— Practical Tips

Tips for Playing Augusta National Golf Club

Access to Augusta National requires a member introduction — there are no public tee times, no green fees, and no resort stays. Tickets to the Masters can be entered through the public ballot, but demand vastly exceeds supply and waits of years are common. For the Masters experience from outside the ropes, Augusta tickets for practice rounds are somewhat more accessible.

— Highlights

Why Play Augusta National Golf Club

• ▸ Home of The Masters — the world's most watched golf tournament since 1934
• ▸ Co-designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones on a former plant nursery
• ▸ Amen Corner (holes 11-13) — golf's most pressure-laden three-hole sequence
• ▸ Par-3 12th over Rae's Creek — the most famous short hole in major championship golf
• ▸ Bentgrass fairways and greens maintained to a standard no other club in the world matches

— FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Augusta National Golf Club

Can the public play Augusta National Golf Club?

No — Augusta National is a private members-only club with no public green fee access. Playing requires an invitation from a member, which is extraordinarily rare.

How can I get tickets to the Masters Tournament?

Masters tickets are allocated through an annual public ballot. Practice round tickets are easier to obtain than competition badges, but demand for all passes far exceeds availability.

When does Augusta National close for the summer?

The club closes during the summer months, typically June through September, due to the intense Georgia heat. The course is open to members from October through May.

Who designed Augusta National?

The course was co-designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones in 1932 on the grounds of the former Fruitlands Nursery, opening for play in January 1933.