Augusta National planned a 19th hole. What happened?

Augusta, GA.-If you are a big-time golf fan, you may be able to tell me one or two things about all 18 holes in Augusta National.

But what about no. Circle?

An additional hole was, as it turns out, initially part of the plan.

In the early 1930s, before the course existed, the governors of Augusta National had the legendary architect of the Alister MacKenzie course sketched a little extra: a short “19th hole” Par-3, where members could choose their bets dramatically.

Mackezie described it as a play -off type of types, where a golf player who lost a match could earn their money again in a “Double or Quits” game – the British Double version or nothing.

The nineteenth holes existed at the time, but they were relatively rare; MacKenzie himself said he knew only two in SH.BA, one at Knollwood in New York and the other on Tam-O-Shatter in Detroit. But in him ”Plans for the ideal golf course“Published in March 1932, Mackezie included a vision for No 19 as an integral part of his” ideal course inland “.

Only 19 would be short – only 90 yards or more – it wouldn’t say it would be simple. Mackezie wished a placed surface so intriguing that it would turn it into a risk reward hole, partially modeled after no.6 in Lukeside in Los Angeles.

Here’s how Mackezie described the green, throwing some not so delicate shades in the smallest players in the process:

“This 19th hole will be an attractive green plateau, narrow on one side, where the flag will usually be placed, but wide at the other end, in order to give a safety path to the player who does not have the courage or ability to raise to the narrow green edge.”

(You can find the whole letter in Alistermaczie.org here.)

So what happened to Augusta’s 19th?

Well, it did it as much as Mackezie’s projects. And in his letters. There is also a watercolor interpretation On the Masters Website. This shows how close the course posting would be; The players would leave the 18th Green and begin their shooting between ninth and 18th greens towards a target left after the 10th TeE.

Sounds fun, right? But it also sounds chaotic. You can imagine the complexities, from the spectators of the uncertain tournament where to stay in a jersey by drawing the group behind you at No. 18. The rise of the additional hole between the No. 18 Green and the England Clubhouse was a possible complicating factor, too.

Perhaps even more important: Augusta National was broken. In those early days, they had big dreams, but they could not recruit even complete membership. Eighteen holes were more than enough.

Whatever the reason, somewhere along the way, no. 19 was removed.

Well … kind.

Here is the fun thing: Augusta done Wrap by building the Tee box. They simply pointed to the opposite direction and turned it into their first rank.

And they also built green! You’ve actually seen it – it’s green practice where players hit their last overtaking before going to the first tee.

So in a way, hole no. 19 still exists, divided into its constituent parts. It is simply perhaps more accurate to call it a hole Zero.

Stay tuned to some other Masters mysteries while counting on this week’s Augusta National action.