Masters Course Guide 2009

1 Tea Olive

Par 4, 445 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “A drive that is long and straight will be
in a favourable position for the second. It is difficult to obtain par figures from any other position.” ALISTER MACKENZIE
RECENT CHANGES: Back of tee reduced 10 yards, scorecard changed from 455 yards to 445.
IT IS… One of the hardest par 4s at Augusta. It appears harmless, with a big, straight fairway and only two bunkers – the one on the fairway a 300-yard carry. There is also a treacherous green.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.25 Rank: 4 Hist av:  4.23  Hist rank: 7
PIN POSITIONS (ROUNDS 1-4)

2 Pink Dogwood

Par 5, 575 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “Though this is the longest hole on the course, a well-hit tee shot will take a good run down the fairway as it slopes over the hill. It was one of our guiding principles in building the Augusta National that even our par 5s should be reachable by two excellent shots.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: None.
IT IS… A certain birdie or eagle chance. Big hitters can still reach in two, so anyone who walks away with a par feels as if he lost a shot.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.82 Rank: 15 Hist av:  4.81  Hist rank: 16

3 Flowering Peach

Par 4, 350 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The left
side of the green is very narrow; whereas the right side is broad. It is easy for anyone to reach the wide portion of the green with their second shot, but difficult to reach the narrow end.” ALISTER MACKENZIE
RECENT CHANGES: None.
IT IS… Fairly simple. The shortest par 4 on the course tempts the big hitters to use a driver, but the green is the key. Anything with too much spin can come back down the fairway. 
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.03 Rank: 14 Hist av:  4.10  Hist rank: 14

4 Flowerin Crab Apple

Par 3, 240 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The length of this hole can be varied a great deal, depending upon use of the back tee or the rear portion of the forward tee. From the back tee the shot is usually a strong iron or even a 4 or 3-wood.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back 25-30 yards in 2006.
IT IS… A brute. When he won in 2007, Zach Johnson laid up on this hole in round three because it was an easier up and down.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  3.23 Rank: 5 Hist av:  3.29  Hist rank: 3

5 Magnolia

Par 4, 455 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The proper line here is past the bunker on the left. It is not necessary to carry this bunker in order to direct the drive into a groove in the fairway on top of the hill. But it is a very comforting safety factor to have sufficient length for the carry should the shot be pulled slightly.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: None.
IT IS… All about position off the tee. Players rarely try to carry the bunkers, but it’s a longer shot from the right side. Tough green. 
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.23 Rank: 6 Hist av:  4.27  Hist rank: 5

6 Juniper

Par 3, 180 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “With the
ball stopping either short of this raised area (back plateau) or off to the left of it, it is an extremely difficult job to get the first putt close to the hole.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: None.
IT IS… A cosmetic change to fill a pond in front of the green in 1959 has had no real effect for tournament play. Putting the tee shot on the correct side of the green here is key – or you could be faced with a 20ft second putt.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  3.10 Rank: 11 Hist av:  3.14  Hist rank: 13

7 Pampas

Par 4, 450 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “Length is certainly not at a premium here, but the narrow fairway seems to have an added impact because it suddenly confronts the player just when he has become accustomed to the broad expanses of the preceding holes. The second shot is normally a steep pitch, often with a wedge.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Tees moved back 35-40 yards in 2006.
IT IS… No longer a wedge second shot… More like a 6-iron.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.25 Rank: 3 Hist av:  4.14  Hist rank: 12

8 Yellow Jasmine

Par 5, 570 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The green is completely visible for the third shot and a player who is sufficiently long to get up in two will be able to define the position of the green owing to the size of the surrounding hillock.” ALISTER MACKENZIE
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back and right in 2002.
IT IS… Another good birdie chance. The big-hitters can draw it on in two, but the bunkerless green slopes from back to front to make long putts tricky.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.79 Rank: 17 Hist av:  4.85  Hist rank: 15

9 Carolina Cherry

Par 4, 460 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “A long drive straight down the middle will give the best result, since the ball will reach a reasonably flat area and provide an open shot for at least half the green. The hole opens up more and more as the drive is played to the right, but the distance becomes longer.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back 25-30 yards in 2002.
IT IS… True to Jones’ vision. A poor approach can easily spin off the false front down the fairway. 
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.20 Rank: 7 Hist av:  4.15  Hist rank: 11

10 Camelia

Par 4, 495 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “A tee shot played to the right which does not avail itself of the slope will add at least two clubs to the length of the second. A good drive down the left side usually makes it possible to play the second with a medium iron, sometimes even less if the wind be behind.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: None.
IT IS… The hardest hole of old. Moving the green from the bottom of the fairway to its new position in 1937 turned it into a brute.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.30 Rank: 2 Hist av:  4.32  Hist rank: 1

11 White Dogwood

Par 4, 505 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The second shot is usually played with a 3-iron or a stronger club, and a player must be bold indeed to go for the pin when it is in this location (left-hand side). A great many players play this hole safely to the right, relying on getting a long putt or chip dead for par.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Lots, including trees added on right in 2006 and 2007, plus 15 yards.
IT IS… The hardest hole on the course (see page 100 for why).
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.35 Rank: 1 Hist av:  4.29  Hist rank: 4

12 Golden Bell

Par 3, 155 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “Here the distance must be gauged very accurately, and the wind sweeping down along Rae’s Creek is often deceptive to the player standing on the tee about to hit.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: None.
IT IS… This is the scariest shot on the course when the winds are swirling. No change was necessary for this hole. Come up short and you will find Rae’s Creek or a bunker; go long and you could find the two bunkers.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  3.08 Rank: 13 Hist av:  3.30  Hist rank: 2

13 Azalea

Par 5, 510 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “Whatever position may be reached with the tee shot, the second as well entails a momentous decision whether or not to try for the green. Several tournaments have been won or lost here.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back 20-25 yards in 2002.
IT IS… Moving the tee made the task of hitting the green in two harder. A classic risk-reward hole. Many a dream has been sunk in the creek that skirts the green..
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.83 Rank: 16 Hist av:  4.80  Hist rank: 17

14 Chinese Fir

Par 4, 440 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The putting surface along the front spills over the contours into the fairway. But an approach putt from this area is exceedingly difficult. A really good second shot leaving the ball close to the hole is most comforting here.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back 30-35 yards in 2002.
IT IS… A big challenge to get the ball close to the pin as the green is so slopey. Now shorter hitters can need as much as a 6-iron.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.08 Rank: 12 Hist av:  4.18  Hist rank: 8

15 Firethorn

Par 5, 530 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “It is not only an interesting three-shot hole, but also a magnificent two-shot hole, as a skilful and courageous player will, aided by a large hillock to the right, be able to pull his second shot around to the green. A pond in front of the green provides the penalty for the long player who fails to make a perfect second shot.” ALISTER MACKENZIE
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back and left 30 yards in 2002.
IT IS… Easy. Par’s a dropped shot.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.76 Rank: 18 Hist av:  4.79  Hist rank: 18

16 Redbud

Par 3, 170 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The tee shot to this hole will be played by the tournament players with a number 2, 3 or 4-iron,  depending upon the wind.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Stream turned into a pond in 1947.
IT IS… Miles easier than Jones wanted. The pond rarely comes into play, and players rarely use long irons on this hole – more like 8 or 9-irons. Getting the tee shot on the same level as the hole is the most important thing.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  3.12 Rank: 10 Hist av:  3.16  Hist rank: 9

17 Nandina

Par 4, 440 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “Depending upon the wind, a fine drive may leave a second shot requiring anything from a good 5-iron or easy 4 to a short pitch.”
BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back 10-15 yards in 2006.
IT IS… Playing more like its designers originally intended, with a mid or long iron to a backward-sloping green. Shorter hitters now struggle to carry the Eisenhower tree on the left off the tee.
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.13 Rank: 9 Hist av:  4.16  Hist rank: 10

18 Holly

Par 4, 456 yards
ORIGINAL INTENT: “The front area of this green is nicely molded to receive a pitch and provide a good putt for a birdie when the hole is cut here. Yet a drive to the left side safely away from the trees must be pitched quite closely over the guarding bunker.” BOBBY JONES
RECENT CHANGES: Tee moved back 55-60 yards in 2002.
IT IS… One of the most demanding on the course with a second Jones would have liked – i.e. not normally a short iron.  
HOW IT RATED IN 2008
Av score:  4.14 Rank: 8 Hist av:  4.23  Hist rank: 6

* Historical averages and rankings for each hole taken from the first 20 years of the Masters.