Augusta National Golf Club

Overview: Augusta National is the most recognizable and coveted golf course in the world, a botanical wonderland that serves as the permanent home of The Masters. Built on the site of an old indigo plantation and nursery, the course is defined by its immaculate conditioning, its vibrant displays of azaleas and dogwoods, and its famously large, undulating greens. The design by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones emphasizes strategic width and "optionality," allowing the world’s best players to choose their risk level on almost every shot. With no traditional heavy rough and a landscape that feels like a pristine park, the course’s true defense lies in its severe slopes and the mental pressure of competing on the game’s grandest stage.

History: The club was founded by the legendary amateur Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, who sought to create a world-class private club where the greatest players could congregate. Opened in 1933, the course immediately became a sensation for its beauty and its revolutionary approach to design. Over the decades, it has hosted every edition of The Masters, witnessing the greatest moments in the sport’s history, from Gene Sarazen’s "shot heard 'round the world" to Tiger Woods’ historic victories. While the course has been lengthened and refined to adapt to the modern game, it remains a timeless monument to Jones’s vision of a "thinking man’s" golf course.

Did You Know? The iconic three-hole stretch from the 11th to the 13th is known as "Amen Corner." The name was coined by sportswriter Herbert Warren Wind in 1958, inspired by a jazz recording titled "Shoutin' in that Amen Corner." It is widely considered the most pivotal and dramatic location in championship golf, where many a Masters jacket has been won or lost.