Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta, GA • Private

4.9

Panelists

94 Reviews

1 / 11

Dom Furore

2 / 11

BEN WALTON

3 / 11

Dom Furore

4 / 11

Dom Furore

5 / 11

Dom Furore

6 / 11

Stephen Szurlej

7 / 11

8 / 11

Dom Furore

9 / 11

Dom Furore

10 / 11

Stephen Szurlej

11 / 11

Dom Furore

Overview

No club has tinkered with its golf course as often or as effectively over the decades as has Augusta National Golf Club, mainly to keep it competitive for the annual Masters Tournament, an event it has conducted since 1934, with time off during WWII. All that tinkering has resulted in an amalgamation of design ideas, with a routing by Alister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones, some Perry Maxwell greens, some Trent Jones water hazards, some Jack Nicklaus mounds and swales and, most recently, extensive rebunkering and tree planting by Tom Fazio. The tinkering continues, including the lengthening of the par-4 fifth in the summer of 2018, the lengthening of the 11th and 15th holes in 2022, and the addition of 35 yards to the famed par-5 13th in 2023.

About

Holes 18

Length 7510

Slope 148

Facility Type Private

Year Opened 1933

Designer Alister Mackenzie & Bobby Jones

Awards

Ranking history:

100 Greatest: Ranked since 1966.
2023-'24 ranking (and previous): 2nd
Highest ranking: No. 1, 2009-'12, 2015-'16.

Best in State: Ranked first since 1985. Ranked inside the top 5, 1977-'84.

Current ranking: First.

The Genius Trick of Augusta National's 12th hole

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.9

100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES

Shot Options

8.5742

Character

9.299

Challenge

8.5767

Layout Variety

8.8254

Fun

8.5797

Aesthetics

9.0809

Conditioning

9.0027

Reviews

1 / 8

Review

“The 10th hole should be annexed into Amen Corner. The best routed golf course I have ever played. The switching of the back 9 from the front to back occurred in 1934. It could only have happened by divine intervention. The reachable par 5’s on the back nine are like candy sprinkled in a alligator infested swamp. The aftermath of the par 3’s create heroes and zeroes in their wake. It is a great symbol of American golf with enough unnoticeable width to remind of The Old Course in St.Andrews."

2023

2 / 8

Review

“Much has been noted about the large elevation changes of the course, but the size and scale of the property contribute at least as much to the impression one gets playing the course. ANGC, as a former club chairman stated, is not your Saturday country club. It is an institution where everything good about the game is curated, celebrated, and constantly under review for improvement. Seen as elitist and hyper-stuffy by some, the interaction between members, guests, and employees is everything but that. Respectful, yes. Being mindful of one's behavior, for sure. But it is obvious that those who play the course do so in a manner that should be the standard at our own Saturday club. How this reflects on the course, its architecture, maintenance, playability, fun and entire experience is profound and unmistakable. The approach if not the allocation of enviable financial resources should be aspirational. This evaluation is In keeping with Ron Whitten's admonition to avoid awarding 10s, a position which should be re-evaluated. Having played the vast majority of GD's "Top 50", I am doubtful that I will find a course or two which merit higher "grades"."

2022

3 / 8

Review

“Augusta has a unique atmosphere to it, even after playing it multiple times, which doesn't seem to go away. Very distinct difference between member tees and Tournament tees in many aspects of the rating criteria. Course is very straightforward off of the tee giving player generous landing areas and almost zero rough. There can be some reward on a few holes to push the ball further down the fairway or lay back with a shorter club. Most of the challenge for a scratch golfer is going to come on and around the greens. If creative, the slopes can be used to get the ball close to the green, however if caught in the wrong spot it can be very penal. Great variety of holes, up and down, left and right. Maybe lacking some more left to right shots and from member tees lacking some length on par 3s and 5s. Always a fun day at Augusta National, peaceful setting, Conditioning of the course is near perfection, Great risk reward on the back 9."

2021

4 / 8

Review

“What can be said about Augusta? If you get invited, you're going to drop everything to go (and you should). And if you're lucky enough to go, you're in for one of the best experiences in golf—and it's been that way since the Masters put it on the map. The ideal 2 days is filled with playing the Par-3 course, 36 on the main course and breakfast/dinners at the club—finished off with one of the best wine collections in the world."

2021

5 / 8

Review

“One of only a few courses in the world where you can feel the history of golf in each shot. Incredible conditioning that produce some of the purest putting conditions and fairways imaginable. Each hole has a distinct personality unlike nearly any other course."

2021

6 / 8

Review

“This is the ultimate golf experience. The course is immaculate and every hole is unique. Amen corner is as good as it appears on TV. Staying on the property and dining in the clubhouse was one of the most memorable experiences ever. I don't think Augusta is the best course I've ever played, but the overall experience was number one."

2018

7 / 8

Review

“Just driving up Magnolia Lane gives goose bumps. The golf course is equally matched by the club house experience. The wine list is off the charts. You can sense the history with every step taken on this hallowed ground."

2018

8 / 8