The Augusta Masters

A Brief History of Augusta
Located in Augusta, Georgia, Augusta National Golf Club first opened in 1933. In 1934 it hosted its first U.S. Masters golf tournament and has hosted every Masters tournament since. The Masters is the only major championships in men's professional golf that is played on the same course every year, and it is easy to see why. The course at Augusta was designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, and is one of the crown jewels of the world's courses. While many of the world's greatest golfers have claimed victory at the Masters, no one has won the green jacket more times than the legendary Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus has taken home the Masters victory six times. No other golfer has more than four Masters wins.

Augusta Fun Facts
The tradition of Augusta's green jacket dates back to the 1937 Masters tournament. That year members of the golf club wore the green jackets so they would be easily identified by non-member golf fans who may have questions or needed assistance. The green jacket soon became something of a status symbol as it represented membership in a very exclusive club. And, in 1949, the tradition of slipping the green jacket on the Masters winner began and symbolized membership in the even more exclusive club of Masters Champions. However, what many do not know is that with the exception of the current Masters champion, no member is allowed to take the green jacket of the club grounds.

Membership Controversies
Augusta National Golf Club membership is achieved by invitation only. No applications are accepted. The club did not invite or accept any African-American member until 1990. After that, the first women were not invited to join the exclusive club until 2012, when Condoleezza Rice and Darle Moore were invited..

About the Course
The course at Augusta has changed more since its inception than any other of the world's top golf courses. The course was originally designed by Jones and MacKenzie to keep the ground game central to the course. However, almost since the day the course was opened it has been undergoing changes. The course has been lengthened to ensure it remains a challenge to today's top golfers and their modern equipment. Originally measuring roughly 6,800 yards in length, the course will measure 7,445 yards when played in April of 2013.

Augusta's rich history, combined with its unusual rules about jackets and controversial membership policies, make it one of the most storied golf clubs in the world. Augusta National Golf Club boasts one of the greatest golf courses on the planet, and one of the proudest golf traditions alive today.