General Golf Discussion Is Augusta National Really a Tough Course?
|
Posted: March 16, 2009 • Views: 1,791 • Replies: 35 • Go to Last Reply |
||
|
With the Masters fast approaching, I'm just curious what you guys make of this: Do you think you would shoot around your average score (whatever that may be) if you played Augusta? If you look at most Masters championship leaderboards, the winning score is almost always way under par (from -6 to -12, it seems)...as opposed to the scores in all the other majors, which generally stay around par or a couple strokes under. There are always a lot of birdies and eagles at the Masters from most of the players in the field, whereas everyone is grinding for pars on all the other majors. So that got me to thinking, is Augusta really THAT much more difficult than some of the nicer public or private tracks that many of us average joes play? Yes, the greens are lightning-quick and undulating, but so are a lot of greens we play. The fairways are very wide by Tour standards. The greens are huge and easy to hit--by comparison to most tracks we mortals play. I'm not trying to take anything away from Augusta here. I've obviously never played at Augusta and probably never will, unless I get markedly better at golf very soon! Augusta is obviously one of the most beautiful and well-maintained courses around, and the centerpiece of many memorable Masters moments (wow, that was a lot of alliteration). But I still think that if I were to play a fairly normal round there, I would shoot close to my average score, which is in the high 70s. I think the all of you would do the same as well! I can't say the same for, say, the US Open especially. If I played a normal round on a US Open setup, I think my score would be anywhere from the mid-80s all the way up to high 90s. I think this is one of the reasons we all seem to enjoy the Masters so much though. Augusta's wide fairways, big greens and relatively low number of severe hazards let each player play to his own strengths. It was even more so like this before Tigerproofing began...anyone remember when Augusta had absolutely no rough? But the course is still playing much more, shall we say friendly compared to the courses at other majors. So what do you think? If you played an average round at Augusta, would you shoot around your average score? I'm curious to see what you guys say. |
||
# 1 on 3/16/2009 6:22:30 PM |
||
|
didn't read all of the comment but i am willing to find out if Augusta is really that hard
|
||
# 2 on 3/16/2009 6:23:43 PM |
||
|
Another interesting tidbit about Augusta: Did you guys know that it is a winter club? Augusta closes down in the summer, I think in late April or early May, and reopens in the fall, somewhere around September. The Masters is one of the last things that happens there before it closes for summer.
|
||
# 3 on 3/16/2009 6:53:54 PM |
||
|
I think the rough made it easier. It's not that thick but it's just thick enough to keep the ball from rolling on into the trees. I'm fairly certain I could score as well there as anywhere else.
|
||
# 4 on 3/16/2009 7:50:04 PM |
||
|
Well, I don't know. Anyone know the course rating and slope? That would be an interesting factoid and useful information for an answer. Of course, that would change depending on the tees used.
|
||
# 5 on 3/16/2009 8:57:48 PM |
||
Well, I don't know. Anyone know the course rating and slope? That would be an interesting factoid and useful information for an answer. Of course, that would change depending on the tees used. Augusta National has never had an official rating by the USGA. In 1990 Golf Digest had some members of the USGA rate the course during the Masters and they came up with a course rating of 76.2 and a slope of 148. I've played the Ko'olau in Hawaii and it has a slope of 152 and it's no joke. I've never seen Augusta National up close but from seeing it on television it just doesn't look nearly as difficult as the Ko'olau. Just my 2c. |
||
# 6 on 3/16/2009 9:33:16 PM |
||
|
I say we go play a round there and then discuss it over beer,shots and local talent after.
|
||
# 7 on 3/16/2009 10:06:18 PM |
||
|
I haven't had the pleasure to play there but a good friend of mine has played there 3 times. He is a +2 handicap excellent player state am champ twice. he played the back tee's his best score was 79 (he said he played as well as he can play) His all time low round is 65 on a course with a 148 slope. It's the greens that are a problem for the average player. It's not about hitting greens but where you put the ball on them.
|
||
# 8 on 3/16/2009 11:53:19 PM |
||
|
Looking at the stats on the course it is very long and the greens are hard to stop a ball on, especially with a long iron. I think us average Joes would struggle on this course and would shoot well over our normal scores from the tees they play the tournament from.
|
||
# 9 on 3/17/2009 12:34:45 AM |
||
|
Interesting perspectives. Agreed, the greens are tricky...but compare them to, say, Donald Ross greens, especially a place like Oakland Hills. I would venture to say that the greens at Augusta are the course's main defense. Maybe it's the lack of deep rough that causes the much lower scores as compared to the other majors? Experience may play a part--they play the same course every year--but even newcomers have been able to go low (look at Brandt last year). This is why I think it would be fun to see if we could shoot near our average round there--and if we couldn't pull it off, figure out why. I've played on similar greens to Augusta (Lakewood CC in Dallas) and it was great fun. They were lightning fast (Crenshaw bentgrass) and tricky to read, for sure...but I didn't putt any worse than I normally do. So an amendment to the question: Why do you think the pros shoot markedly lower scores at Augusta as compared to the other majors? |
||
# 10 on 3/17/2009 7:29:45 AM |
||
|
Ray Romano played Augusta from the tips in 2000 and wrote about it. His goal was to break 100. I think he's a 15 to 18 handicapper. http://sports.espn.go.com/golf.. |
||
# 11 on 3/17/2009 8:42:10 AM |
||
|
So the amended question is perhaps answered in your original post: "The fairways are very wide by Tour standards. The greens are huge and easy to hit--by comparison to most tracks we mortals play." Perhaps keeping the ball in play with wide fairways and huge greens allows higher percentages of FIR's and GIR's which usually translates into lower scores. But I suppose you'd have to look at those stats compared between majors to verify that as a cause. How long is the course? |
||
# 12 on 3/17/2009 2:02:36 PM |
||
|
I tend to putt better on fast greens so it's hard for me to say. BUT I should be able to shoot around my average score provided that I keep it on the green. Those Augusta greens are hard to hold. I've played some courses that you could hit the middle and then have it run off the back down into a valley. And these greens weren't as close to being hard and fast like Augusta. I will say this though, I did shoot a 91 at Bethpage Black from the US Open tees and I do have witnesses. One of the best rounds I've ever had so if I get one of those at Augusta, I should be able to get in the low-mid 90's. |
||
# 13 on 3/17/2009 4:38:08 PM |
||
|
In reading the April 2009 "Golf Digest" magazine, it has half the magazine dedicated to The Masters, with ariel views of each hole and some very interesting stats and figures. Something that really stands out is prior to 2002, Augusta was playing to a yardage of 6985yds. This was leaving your pro's with average drives, and wedges-8 irons on 2nd shots on Par4's and going for it in 2 on par 5's. Augusta made the decision to go through and make some radical changes. From the year 2002-2006, Augusta went through redesigns under the direction of former chairman Hootie Johnson. These redesigns were bold and in principal a neccessary attempt for a major championship to deal with the way the game is being played at the highest level. Johnson was right, beginning in 2002, to push back hard against the wedge-fest that had broken out on too many par4's on the course. That was not to mention all the middle-and even short-iron second shots that were being hit to the back-9 par 5's. He pushed back numerous tee-boxes and now the course plays to 7445yds. So yes, prior to 2006 when Augusta was only playing a short 6985yds, it would have been easy, and that explains all the low past scores in the tournaments. Now, with it playing a monsterous 7445yds, you better bring a lunch cause its going to be a long day. Take the new yardage, with the small and fast greens, and try and hold mid-iron shots on em', WOW...TOUGH! Here is a big tid-bit that sinks in. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson has wan the last 5 out of 8 masters. How tough is Augusta, pretty god darn tough when looking at these photos from the air and how you have to move the ball from left-right, vice-versa to keep it in the fairways. I suggest picking up the April edition of Golf Digest, it makes for some pretty surreal insight on Augusta National.
|
||
# 14 on 3/18/2009 12:24:41 PM |
||
|
Wind and greens are the issues! Tee to green you may be able to play fairly well but once you get on those greens forget it. A friend of mines brother had the pleasure of playing it and if he didn't listen to his caddy some of his three putts could have been six putts. His words to describe the greens "nightmare" The undulations are so tough to understand, just look at where the players aim on Sunday for the 16th par 3. They use the swail on the right to get the ball close to the pin. Boy, what I would give to play it once!
|
||
# 15 on 3/2/2010 11:04:56 AM |
||
|
i dont know,but it looks like it is.fast greens,cant wait to see the masters
|
