Augusta golf history
Augusta is golf… it’s in the history, the present and the future. Of course, almost everyone in the world knows about the Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, but what’s some of the history surrounding the “tradition unlike any other,” and the overwhelming history of golf in Augusta?
There’s an endless number of stories and history surrounding golf in Augusta. In the blog below, Masters Housing Bureau will touch on some of the golf history that makes Augusta one of the most prestigious golf capitals in the world.
When was the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club founded?
The Augusta National Golf Club was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in 1932 and has been home to the Masters Golf Tournament since 1934. Settled in the heart of Augusta, Georgia, the course is one of the most well-known, prestigious and stunning golf courses in the world.
When you look down Magnolia Lane, you will see 330 yards of path with 61 magnolias enveloping each side. It’s the perfect beginning to a beautiful golf course. The Augusta National Golf Club is bustling with beautiful trees, flowers and shrubs. Each hole throughout the course has even been named because of a tree or shrub found on that individual hole. It is estimated that 80,000 plants have been added to the course since it was built.
Champions at the Masters Golf Tournament
When it comes to champions… there’s nothing like putting on that green jacket. The first winner of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club was Horton Smith in 1934. Horton Smith then repeated as Masters Champion in 1936.
However, if we’re talking most Masters victories, that crown goes to the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicklaus won the Masters Golf Tournament six times between the years 1963 and 1986. Following Nicklaus in wins is Tiger Woods, who has won five and Arnold Palmer with four.
Lowest score at the Masters
What about the lowest 72-hole score at the Masters? For over 20 years that record was shared by Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd who were both tied at 17-under until Tiger Woods shot 18-under in his historic Masters victory in 1997. Jordan Spieth then tied Tiger’s 18-under record in 2015. The lowest 72-hole score mark now belongs to Dustin Johnson who shot an incredible 20-under performance in 2020 to edge out the record by two strokes.
Golf courses in Augusta
Like we mentioned in the beginning, Augusta is golf, and it is no surprise that the area is surrounded by world-class golf courses, both public and private. During the Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta courses open their gates wide for out of town guests, but it pays to get a tee time well in advance.
Don’t miss the opportunity to play the only club in the world featuring three individually designed courses by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus during Masters Week. The three, 9-hole courses are located among 365 faultless acres of Georgia pines, long-standing hardwoods and numerous wetlands along the great Savannah River.
If you like a more old-school feel, the 18-hole "Augusta" course at the Augusta Municipal Golf Course facility in Augusta, Georgia features 6,056 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. This historic course opened in 1926 and is affectionately known as the Patch.
The National's next-door neighbor, the Augusta Country Club, opened in 1899 and has stood the test of time for 121 years. There are also three courses on Fort Gordon, the home of the U.S. Army Cyber Command.
You'll find courses designed by the late Joseph Lee, who designed more than 200 courses in his 40-year career, Thomas Fazio, one of America's top course designers, Fuzzy Zoeller, Gary Player, Tom Jackson and Jim Fazio.
Masters Housing Bureau history
What about our history at Masters Housing Bureau? Fifty years ago, the Augusta National Golf Club and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce partnered to create a trusted home rental program for patrons visiting the Masters Golf Tournament. This partnership has resulted in thousands of satisfied tournament patrons as well as local homeowners who trust Masters Housing Bureau to market and broker their homes for the benefit of visitors from around the world including some of golf's best known players.
Masters Housing Bureau is the Augusta Region's first, foremost and only rental agency associated and sanctioned with the Augusta National Golf Club. Whether you want to rent a home for the Masters Golf Tournament, or if you are an Augusta local who wants to list their home, Masters Housing Bureau can help!
Masters Housing Bureau is the longest serving bureau offering more than 50 years of unmatched experience brokering the widest range of homes for every budget and every client. Whether you are a first-time visitor, a first-time home renter, a life-long patron or a corporate client interested in maximizing your investment, clients of Masters Housing Bureau in Augusta receive customized rental experiences and advocates dedicated to meeting your unique needs and offering Masters Golf Tournament accommodations.