Augusta National Golf Club

Lore & Background

Augusta National (originally, during planning stages, Augusta-National) was founded in 1932 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts on the 365 acre site of a former nursery and antebellum plantation called Fruitland (later Fruitlands). Jones sought to create a world-class winter golf course in his native state of Georgia. During the first decade of the club's existence, membership was low and finances were short due to the Great Depression and the relatively remote location of Augusta.

Construction of the golf course, designed by Alister MacKenzie, began in February 1932 and was finished quickly. MacKenzie was assisted by Marion Hollins. The club also hired Olmsted Brothers to design a new, future clubhouse and a planned subdivision. An official opening took place in January 1933.

The Masters was first held in 1934. The Georgia Railroad and Banking Company forced a foreclosure of the club and re-incorporation as Augusta National, Inc. in 1935. During World War II, Augusta National closed on October 1, 1942. After the war, more people joined and ANGC reached 130 members.

Its first club professional was Ed Dudley, who served until 1957. In 1948, Dwight D. Eisenhower became a member. A new par-3 course designed by George Cobb and Roberts was built in 1958, and the annual Par 3 Contest was first held in 1960. In 1976, the club won a trademark lawsuit against Northwestern Mutual over the use of the name 'Masters.'

Reader's Guide

Since 1934, the club has played host to the Masters Tournament, one of the four men's major championships in professional golf, and the only major played each year at the same course. It was the top-ranked course in Golf Digest's 2009 list of America's 100 greatest courses and was the number ten-ranked course based on course architecture on Golfweek Magazine's 2011 list of best classic courses in the United States. In 2019, the course began co-hosting the Augusta National Women's Amateur with Champions Retreat Golf Club. Fred Ridley has been Augusta National's chairman since October 16, 2017.

Did You Know?

• During World War II, German prisoners of war were forced to restore the grounds and built a wooden bridge over Rae's Creek.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower became a member in 1948 and visited Augusta National 29 times during his presidency.