Augusta's par-3 course: The Little Monster

Fergus Bisset takes a closer look at Augusta's par-3 course, famous for hosting the Par-3 contest on the eve of the season's first Major. Find out how the Masters curtain raiser came into existence

Jack Nicklaus
Fergus Bisset
By
published

The much-loved Bobby Jones stands out when one considers the origins of Augusta National and the Masters tournament. The great amateur was the public face of both from their inception. But, another man was equally responsible for turning 365 acres of an old indigo plantation into America's most famous golf course and administering the early invitational tournaments at the club.

Clifford Roberts was a mysterious character. Intimidating and opinionated, Arnold Palmer admitted to being, "almost instantly scared to death of him". Roberts was Augusta chairman from 1931 to 1976 and of the Masters from 1934 to 1976. A Wall Street banker, he worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create and protect the image of the club and the annual tournament it hosted. In the planning of Augusta National, Roberts wanted to include a short course in addition to the main track, though the club's fragile, post-depression finances dictated that the plan was shelved.

The project was only ‘shelved' though and, in 1958, Roberts hired course architect George Cobb to build nine par-3 holes around two ponds close to the clubhouse. For Roberts, this short course was an essential component of the club and would now complement the original Augusta National.

In 1960, Roberts announced a par-3 contest around the short course on the Wednesday afternoon prior to the Masters. The fact the chairman stipulated the main course would be closed for practice at 2.30pm was a clear indication of his intentions. The tournament was won by Sam Snead in just 23 strokes - the course record is 20, shared by Art Wall and Gay Brewer. The tournament is now a tradition, a celebration of golf where Masters patrons have a chance to see tournament participants, non-competing past champions, and honorary invitees in relaxed mood with their peers, families and the people who come to support them.

The setting of the par-3 layout is fantastic. Surrounded by towering pines, azaleas and dogwoods, the holes play across DeSoto Springs pond and Ike's pond - named after President Dwight Eisenhower, an Augusta member and close friend of Clifford Roberts, who regularly fished there. It's a peaceful and hidden oasis, but it becomes a bustling amphitheatre with cheers ringing out as wedge shots pepper the flags. In fact, there have been 67 holes-in-one in the 50 par-3 contests to date and at least one on each of the nine holes. Following Tom Fazio's addition of two new holes over Ike's pond in 1987, the course measures 1,060 yards with the longest hole just 140 yards.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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