What makes Augusta a great course?

We ask four highly regarded course architects to pinpoint what makes Alister MacKenzie’s masterpiece stand out from the crowd

- Jeremy Ellwood

The irony, if that’s the right word, about Augusta National is that for most golf fans, although it’s one of the courses they are least likely to visit, let alone play, it is also one with which they are most familiar. The reason, of course, is that it is the venue for the only Major that never moves, so we have all become hugely familiar with it, especially since finally being granted live televisual access to the front nine early this century.

We know the final nine holes in particular like the back of our hands – where to go, where not to go; what is a good approach, what is almost certain three-putt country; when to go for it, when not to on 13 and 15; and perhaps most of all, that the tournament is never over until the water holes have been successfully negotiated.

The back nine, which originally played as the front nine, has become a theatre of dreams for those watching, and occasionally of nightmares for those trying to get their hands on a Green Jacket. The fact that so much can change on any of those holes is what makes Augusta National such a great viewing spectacle. But what else about Dr. Alister MacKenzie’s most acclaimed design makes it great?

To find out, we chatted with four highly regarded golf course architects: Martin Ebert, who has worked on many Open rota courses and created the new holes for Royal Portrush’s return last year; Australian Tim Lobb, who worked alongside five-time Open Champion, Peter Thomson, for many years; Jonathan Gaunt, who is currently overseeing the changes at Whittington Heath in Staffordshire as a result of HS2; and Ken Moodie, who has worked on MacKenzie’s creations at Alwoodley and Moortown in recent years.

From a design perspective, what makes Augusta National a great course?