How hard is Augusta National for average golfers? They told us

AUGUSTA, Ga. — There’s the Augusta National you see on TV during Masters week: the world’s best players launching mid-iron second shots into par-5s; awed patrons looking on from folding chairs; the pageantry of the Par 3 Contest and Champions Dinner.

And then there’s the other Augusta National.

The one that, say…a 15-handicapper experiences when the roars and rope lines are gone; the Press Building is vacant; and most of the green-coated members have returned from whence they came. This version of the fabled club and its dazzling golf course may lack the hair-raising drama of the Masters, but for those Average Joes and Janes who have been fortunate enough to play the course, a round at ANGC is not a memory that quickly fades.

That much became clearer when I polled seven of my colleagues who have played Augusta National. All but one of them played the course in the last 10 years; all but one earned their invites by way of the media-lottery outing on the Monday after the Masters; and all but one could be described as a typical “weekend golfer” — their handicaps, at the time of their rounds, covered a wide spectrum: +2, 7, 8, 10, 12 and pair of 15s.

Collectively, their experience answers — or begins to answer, anyway — one of the game’s most tantalizing questions: What is it really like to play Augusta National if you’re not, to cite two entrants in this year’s Masters, Bryson DeChambeau or Billy Horschel? From motoring down Magnolia Lane, to knocking balls across the gleaming practice range, to playing the same shots you’ve been watching on repeat since you were a kid, here’s a closer look at the Augusta National experience for the average golfer, in the words of those average golfers.

ARRIVALS

Every guest arrival to Augusta National begins on the most famous entryway in golf, Magnolia Lane.

The drive down Magnolia Lane was, weirdly, the most surreal piece of the experience for me. I rolled down the windows and took my foot off the accelerator. It was a bit like living in a dream. I tried to see as much of the clubhouse as possible, but, honestly, I don’t remember much of it. I was concerned about missing my tee time.

An absolute bizarre feeling to drive up Magnolia Lane and see a handful of staffers waiting for you at the valet at the front of the clubhouse. You can arrive an hour before your tee time, which seems like a lot, but it goes by in a flash when you realize all the stuff you want to do — explore, grab a bite, warm up, etc.

I had to find something to do so I wouldn’t arrive too early! Driving Magnolia Lane was the best. I propped up a camera on the dash to record the experience for my dad.

Arrival was cool and surreal, but in the interest of transparency it’s tough to feel wholly comfy rolling into Augusta National by yourself. A wingman or two would have helped. They valeted my car and did not ask me to leave, which felt like an early win. My 11 a.m. tee time meant I arrived too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. Sigh. Luckily the laws of blood sugar don’t really apply here.

Stopping at the gate on Magnolia Lane, even with the invitation in tow, I felt like I was still going to get turned back. Like it was too good of a dream. But alas, I made the drive, soaked it all in and was on my way up to the locker room.

Fun fact: The Masters theme song plays in your head when you drive down Magnolia Lane. I don’t know how Augusta does it, but they really have thought of everything.

CHAMPIONS LOCKER ROOM

As part of the media-day outing, participants are given a locker in the Champions Locker Room.

I had Ben Crenshaw’s locker for the round. Pretty cool experience and the thing that stood out was the size of it. It was pretty small, but you can almost feel the history.

The attendant working at the end of Magnolia Lane gave me a knowing grin when I told him my last name. I arrived upstairs to see I was sharing a locker with, yes…Ben Hogan.

In 2022, Phil Mickelson’s locker went untouched due to him skipping the Masters. That changed when I arrived. Lefty was my favorite golfer going up, and it’s one of my favorite tidbits to say I shared a locker in the Augusta National Champions Locker Room with Phil.

It’s insane that they let the media use the Champions Locker Room, although I suppose maybe it inspires more reverential coverage? There is a certain weight of history in the place that’s tough to get your arms around. I didn’t linger; the driving range beckoned.

WARMING UP

It was the old range, now the members’ range. I remember thinking, How on earth could John Daly hit it over the fence onto Washington Road?

We played from the tournament practice range, and I was absolutely mortified at the thought of taking an overeager divot. Every range ball was just a Titleist Pro V1x. No “RANGE” markings. It was one of the best practice sessions of my life until I started visualizing the shots I was about to hit. Then it went to hell.

I don’t think I’ve ever hit more blades in a short-game area. Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback, warmed up a few spots over from me and was going bombs away with his driver. He inspired me to follow suit and hit nothing but driver for the rest of my warm-up to take the chance of a shank out of the equation.

I am not a big range warm-up person but definitely felt compelled to hit balls.

So cool to see your bag down the line at the range. My caddie was steady cleaning my irons, brand new 2015 Nike Vaper blades. I think he felt my nerves and told me to relax. As he said that I chunked a wedge and sent a divot the size of a beaver tail farther than my ball went.

My caddie was delighted that I had just a little Sunday bag and that I could make solid contact. I think on Media Monday, as a caddie, you don’t necessarily know what you’re getting yourself into. It was a little drizzly and I just remember wondering if there was a chance they wouldn’t let us tee off.

Not sure I hit one good shot.

RANDOM PRE-ROUND OBSERVATIONS

I couldn’t find the breakfast area but didn’t want to play on an empty stomach, so when I finally did I shoved down a plain bagel on the way to the first tee. Not my finest moment.

I spent a goddamn fortune (and far too much time) in the members’ pro shop. The “caddie bathroom” was made of mostly Italian marble.

There were a bunch of other people playing, too — it’s not like they shut the place down for media members only. But who were they? Members? Sponsors? Some combination, I s’pose.

After the round there was a loud thud by the entrance while sitting in the dining room for lunch. David Robinson, the 7’1” basketball Hall of Famer, walked right into the top of the door frame. Keep an eye out for Augusta to “Admiral-proof” its door frames.

THE GOLF COURSE

Nerves, gratitude, angst, joy, the weight of history — you feel all kinds of things when you stand on Augusta National’s first tee for the first time. Then you draw back your driver and off you go…

Hole 1: Tea Olive – Par 4, 445 yards

I hit maybe the best drive of my life on this hole, cresting over the oak tree down the right side of the fairway and leaving like 40 yards into the green. Still made bogey.

I led my group with a drive right down the middle that I wish I could watch on loop. My approach shot rolled back off the green. And my third and fourth shots? They rolled back to my feet.

Short par-5. On in 2. In in 7. 

Driver, green in reg, two-putt. Best hole I played all day. Easy course.

I was really happy with my opening drive but was quickly humbled by the short shots around the green. My putting is always a little shaky but the Augusta greens made my already balky putter that much scarier.

As scary as the drive was (I blocked mine way, way right) I felt much more intimidated pitching onto the green and then hitting my first putt. Just how slippery were these things?!

I was the first to go off. I hit a nice draw 10 feet to the left of the fairway bunker. Pitching wedge to 15 feet for birdie that quickly became…a four-putt double.

Hole 2: Pink Dogwood – Par 5, 585 yards

With the sprawling view you get walking down the hill after hitting your second shot, it’s your first of many realizations that the course is basically deserted. It was hard to shake the feeling that you didn’t belong there.

A basically impossible second shot. The green looks 1/10th of the size on TV. I have literally no idea how Louis Oosthuizen made albatross.

I grew an appreciation for No. 2 as one of my favorites on the course.

Totally agree! This tee shot was honestly my favorite of the day, and coming around the corner to enjoy that expansive view down the hill was just fantastic.

The first of four tragic tee shots I hit on Augusta’s tantalizing par-5s. It’s a good spot for a draw but unfortunately not a snap hook. I am fairly certain my caddie improved my lie here — it was suspiciously safe. Wasn’t the last time that happened.

Thought this was one of the best holes to play. Even with a duck hook the trees on the left. I was able to punch out and still make par. Third shot fed down to the Sunday pin perfectly.

It was a par-6. 

Hole 3: Flowering Peach – Par 4, 350 yards

Got up and down short-sided from the deep bunker left of the green, knocking in a 3-footer for par. Might have been one of the best shots of my life. “You have no idea how good that is,” my caddie said. I was one over after 3, but that wasn’t going to last.

A very excellent hole. Bob Jones used those two words to describe a painting he liked, and I thought I’d do the same. 

I made a mess of it, but the hole is pure genius. I have never been so terrified to miss left in my life.

Probably the hole that changed the most in my mind after playing it. I had 50 yards in and remember thinking that there was essentially nowhere to land the ball to that left Sunday hole location. Just tiny, tiny targets here with disaster all around. Lovely, nightmarish little hole.

Fun hole, but…I made a mess of it, too. Short-sided myself and struggled to get in for 6.

Hole 4: Flowering Crab Apple – Par 3, 240 yards

Hey, there’s a palm tree. And a terrifying bunker shot. And somehow I escaped with a par.

The member tees at least get this under 200 yards. Looked like a brute from the way-backs.

I consider bogey a par here.

I hit a really good driver!! And I think I still ended up just short of the green. 

Wait…it’s a par-3? 

Sooooo long. Even from the members tees. Couldn’t fight my way out of the front bunker. 6.

Hole 5: Magnolia – Par 4, 495 yards

Another good short par-5.  

Those two bunkers on the left side of the fairway are the biggest traps I’ve ever seen in my life.

I asked my caddie to name the most famous person he ever looped for here. He nearly told but instead elected for this: “[They were] pretty gawd damn famous.”

Way, way, way longer and harder than it looks. Holy hell.

Hard. Brawny.

I was happy to play this hole from the member tees.

Would like to forget this one — in fact, I don’t remember playing it. Oh yeah, made an 8. Don’t go long over the green. 

Hole 6: Juniper – Par 3, 180 yards

Gorgeous hole but I may be shaped by the 3 I made there. 

An absolutely insane green, but long and right isn’t actually all that punishing.

Those slopes are ridiculous. The precision required to get it close is remarkable. That was an overarching theme.

Our group got called out by the caddies as we looked over at the green. “None of you are going to take pictures?” We had realized we were on 6 and hadn’t yet. First one of the day was a good one. The green is crazy. Made a 4.

As many others have mentioned, the undulation of this green stays with you.

Hole 7: Pampas – Par 4, 450 yards

What is a Pampas? People need to know. 

The third of three straight three-putts.

A crazy — and I mean CRAZY — backstop on a terrifying chip gave me an easy par. The green looks about 2 yards deep.

You finish this hole and you actually want to go play it again because the funnel to that Sunday pin, if you catch it just right, is so, so appealing.

Thank god for that Sunday pin. The look down the tunnel of trees from the tee box gets in your head for sure. It’s tight. Great looking hole and not a bad result from the front bunker. Made 5.

I hit my worst drive of the day with a worm-burner about 5 feet off the ground that, fortunately, went straight as an arrow. It was a good miss for what’s a narrow tee shot.

Hole 8: Yellow Jasmine – Par 5, 570 yards

Home of the best punch shot I ever hit in my life — through the woods, over the mounds and to within a couple of feet. Easy game. Par.

Reached with a 3-wood. Driver, 3-wood, 3-wood. 

Driver, then a 5-iron so good I hit it to the back edge of the green. Three-putt par from 20 feet. I nearly wept.

This is a hole I wish I could play again. I made a mess of it, and it felt like a hole I had ignored, for whatever reason, in prior years of roaming the course to recall where I was going.

Tried to go at the green from the right trees and instead hit a tree as squarely as I ever have. Had 190 in for my second and 240 in for my third. My playing partner Bob Harig made birdie. He was over the moon.

The tee shot felt like I had no power. I didn’t but playing up the hill made it worse. Still made it out of there with a par thanks to a great little pitch over the mounds.

Hole 9: Carolina Cherry – Par 4, 460 yards

I think the hardest two-putt on the course. 

Hit my approach so far left I went through the first fairway. A downhill put to a front pin here is absolutely terrifying.

The craziest putt of my life. Under caddie instructions, I hit my 40-foot birdie putt approximately six feet. The green did the rest, and I tapped in for par.

I put my approach shot about 2 feet away for a birdie. My only one of the day. It felt even better as I sat and watched the group put fearfully at a front pin with a scary slope behind it.

Thought I hit a really, really good approach. Then it rolled off the front and kept rolling for a while.

I faded one into the pine straw on the right. A day earlier, in the same area, Tiger punched one out and hit a root with his club. Then said he popped his bone back into his wrist or something. Huh? Anyway, no root for me, just a three-putt for 5.

Hole 10: Camellia – Par 4, 495 yards

No, I correct myself. This is the hardest two-putt on the course. 

Walking off the tee was one of the most surreal feelings I’ve ever had on a golf course, knowing what holes you are about to play.

Hit my driver into the trees not far from the famed Bubba Watson hook shot. Learned the bushes down that right side allow for all manner of crazy hero shots if you want them. After I punched out, I looked up at that famous scoreboard and felt something insane came over me.  I decided to fire at every flag for the rest of the way. 

Don’t get too far ahead of yourself about what’s to come. The 10th hole is great.

The view ‘round the corner is so, so cool. Stop and take a peek at the McIlroy Cabins on the way.

Tough to play this hole from the woods on the right unless you’re Bubba. I’m not and after short-siding my fourth shot left of the green, I felt blessed to make it out with a 7.

Hole 11: White Dogwood – Par 4, 520 yards

If you see Hogan on the left side of the hole there, you will know he pulled his shot. No Hogan but some Hogan chat. 

Still to this day I think my caddie — who was up ahead in the woods — kicked my ball out into the fairway. Oh well. I bladed my next into the water and then hit one of the most nervy pitches of my life, a little 40-yard pitch from the drop zone over water and onto a slick green. Can’t ever remember my hands shaking as much as they did there (and yet somehow still pulled the shot off).

Aimed for the flagstick from the fairway, accidentally missed right. My caddie called it an all-world lay-up, and I think he meant it.

Great tee shot up the left side. Hooked my approach shot into the water. This Drop Zone is one of the most intimidating spots on the course, in my opinion. I put it in the middle of the green and left with a satisfying bogey. One of my favorite holes on the course because of how much I thought about the approach and chip shot.

This hole was the highlight of my day. Driver, 3-wood to the edge of the green. A two-putt par! I was thrilled.

It’s about 100 yards shorter than the pros play it, which is immensely helpful. But it’s still a scary tee shot without a clear landing zone — and years of Masters viewing has trained me to be terrified of that approach shot. A real test of nerves, start to finish.

Long off the tee and the view walking up to my ball in the fairway made me realize, “Damn, I’m playing Augusta.”

Hole 12: Golden Bell – Par 3, 155 yards

6-iron, hole high, 2-putt par. I recall thinking: How much would Weiskopf have paid for that 3? 

8-iron, hole high right. Three-putt bogey. I had 7-iron yardage, but my caddie wouldn’t let me near the club. “You’re excited enough right now.” Lol.

It rained hard the night before my round. I say that because Mother Nature helped my 7-iron stick the landing on the front edge of the green. I was aiming for the middle of the green, but my ball drifted right at the pin. Any other day, my ball likely spins off and goes for a swim. I had about 8 feet left for my birdie. “I’m giving you par, go for it,” said my caddie. So, I left the putt a foot short. Figures. 

After the round, I bought a Christmas ornament of the 12th green to remember a tee shot I won’t forget.

This was the lowlight of my round. I was SO pumped for this tee shot. Everyone wants a good showing on 12. And I pulled it into the left bushes. UGH!

Was determined to aim at the flag and gun for glory. Something took over in my brain mid-swing and I yanked it long and left — but dry. Legitimately heart-pounding moment stepping up to this tee shot, though. You think about it once you crest the hill on 11, or perhaps for several days beforehand.

Caddie took a stance over my right shoulder and just whispered, “Don’t be cute here, just hit it in the front bunker.” I did, and shot 4.

Hole 13: Azalea – Par 5, 545 yards

One of the greatest holes in all of golf. Laid up, pitched third on. Feared my first putt would wind up in creek but didn’t. 

A good wedge away from having a better memory of this one, which might be the prettiest backdrop in golf. Chunk.

Hit the best drive of my life. Forced a 5-iron over Rae’s creek in 2. Cheered when I got out of the bunker safely, leaving like 40 feet for birdie. Somehow, I hadn’t hit a ball in Rae’s Creek. Then I hit my putt a little too firm and watched it roll into the water. The golf gods are cruel.

I dreamt about hitting the tee shot on No. 13 the night before with my baby draw off the tee. The problem? I hit the dreaded straight ball. I was forced to lay up out of the pine straw. Bummer! But I got to experience having to chip over the creek and talk about a nervy shot…

My round really started going off the rails here. Driver failed me, and hit it in the water. Still bummed!

Was about to tee off when one caddie mentioned that Jake Owen had been there recently and pointed to a gap in the trees where he’d skied driver to cut the corner. That sounded like a challenge — I’m better than Jake Owen, I thought — which I gamely took on and failed miserably. Two hits (me hitting the ball, the ball hitting a tree) and a splash.

My best hole of the day. Good Drive, good layup. OK’ish pitch. Two-putt par. Easy game.

Hole 14: Chinese Fir – Par 4, 440 yards

Nobody ever can remember the 14th hole. It connects 13 to 15.

Not to get all sentimental here, but for some reason it was on this hole, after my drive, when I looked around and thought about how badly I wished my grandpa was still around so I could tell him I played Augusta National. He was a huge fan and a good player, and I still remember watching Tiger win the 1997 Masters at his house. He was so awe-struck he told me, “you’ll never see someone like this again in your life.” He was right.

The only hole on the course without a bunker. It doesn’t need one — it might be the most ferocious green of the Masters. I missed my approach left and thought I had an easy chip on, only to have my caddie say the goal was to get it on and two-putt.

Not that hard unless your short game is bad. Then it’s really, really, really hard.

My scorecard says I made par. I can’t remember a significant moment from playing the hole. I guess that says something in its way?

Really a nice hole for a draw off the tee. As they all should be.

Forgot there was a 14th hole. I was thinking about 15 already.

Hole 15: Firethorn – Par 5, 550 yards

Second in water. One year, the only time I caddied in the Masters, I half-talked my guy into going for it. It pitched on the bank and DID NOT GO IN. Prayers sometimes are answered. 

Decided, in a fit of insanity, to go for the green in two. Made it safely — pin-high left. Up and down for the greatest birdie of my life.

You have to go for the green in two. I can’t accept anyone playing Augusta National and not attempting to accomplish this feat. I failed with a 3-wood that bailed out to the right, but I’m glad I tried.

I blew my tee shot into the right trees and was forced to lay up, which led to my greatest moment of glory from the round: I hit that scary downhill wedge shot! I landed it middle of the green, it skipped forward and stopped about six feet away. I did not make the putt.

Pushed the tee shot. Punched out to have about 180 yards in for my third. That Nike Vapor Hybrid, ugly and blue, shot a true high draw. Then I three-putted for bogie.

Hole 16: Redbud – Par 3, 170 yards

I was playing with a British tennis writer who had played twice before. That is, golf. He ran out of balls here. 

I was playing with a French tennis writer who donated two but wisely had plenty more in the holster. I was devastated to miss the big slope. It looks so easy when those guys do it.

I was pumped to give myself a birdie putt. I was not as excited to four-putt.

The bunker to the left of the Sunday pin is the safest spot on the whole golf course to make par. (There’s a backstop caused by that famous undulation.) The key is to hit it in that bunker on your first shot.

I walked up to this tee box overly cocky after my shot on No. 12. A thin iron left me long and my caddie simply told me “Good luck” with a headshake before handing me my greenside club. A bump and run 8-iron that I hit about 1 foot somehow traveled 100 feet and nestled 4 feet away from the cup. I missed the par putt. 

Hit a great shot to Thursday pin. That’s not good when the Sunday pin seems like a football field away. Caddie saved me here and I walked away with 4.

Hole 17: Nandia – Par 4, 440 yards

Below the hole you can two-putt it. Above the hole, take your 3-putt double and run to 18. 

The bunker in front of the green is the devil.

Bummed I never saw the Eisenhower Tree. Three-putt double from high of the hole.

Don’t go long. Don’t go long. Don’t go lon…

I remember my group was absolutely dragging by this point. Three middle-aged sportswriters (plus me, a younger but also hungry and sleep-deprived sportswriter) who’d been out doing physical and emotional battle for four hours? There were some dribbled tee shots on this one, and some chatter about The End.

I, like some others, went long and did take my double and ran to the 18th tee. In part, because it started to rain and I wanted to finish.

Hole 18: Holly – Par 4, 465 yards

Impossibly narrow shoot. Decent drive still needed a 3-wood second.

I was frustrated after my driver, but my caddie gave me the ole “Do you realize where you are?” He was right. That lifted my spirits to close with a gritty bogey.

Aim for the bunker and hope for the best. Enjoy the walk.

I hit a shot out of the left greenside bunker that might be up there with the most satisfying of the day to end on a high note.

This tee shot terrified me. And I hit it in the trees. I think I ended on a double. But, shopped my heart out in the clubhouse afterward. And six years later, I still wear my Augusta-logoed full-zip often!

So much longer than I thought. Piped a drive, soaked in the walk up to my second and then bladed a 5-iron in the front bunker. Couldn’t get up-and down as my putt slid over the left edge. Bogey finish, and felt amazed that I got this experience.

You’re walking where they walked. Putting to the same hole they did. That’s impossible, but it’s true. This place is smaller than it looks on TV. But more special. It’s a lot to try to unpack while you’re trying to get up and down for par, while you’re sorting through how much you should be tipping your caddie, while they’re letting you know that hey, your car is ready out front. Wait, already? How ‘bout 18 more?