Not many people know Augusta National better than Jack Nicklaus.
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Few people on this planet know and understand Augusta National better than Jack Nicklaus. He’s played the course hundreds of times, both in competition and recreationally. Even during the Jamboree, a members-only competition.
So it’s relevant, significant and very interesting to hear Nicklaus opine on the course, with the perspective of an elite player, a champion, a course designer, etc. Two weeks ago when we sat down in Florida, the question was simple: What is the best hole at Augusta National?
Jack took it deep, offering simple thoughts on each hole, and critiques of others. If he had to choose, it’s probably the 10th, 12th or 13th. The real gold was in Jack’s thoughts elsewhere on the course. He’s not a fan of the 2nd hole. Or the changes that have been made to the 7th. Or what the modern golf ball does to the 9th hole. Below you’ll find Jack’s quick thoughts on the whole course, with extra tidbits of takes on each hole. If you ever needed to take a second look at ANGC, now might be the time to do it!
Jack: I think the 2nd hole is a terrible golf hole. I think it’s the worst hole in championship golf. The reason I say that is you’ve got a bunker on the right side of the fairway that should be on the left side of the fairway because you want to play it out to where you have some kind of lie.
If you hit the ball properly down the left side, you’ve got all the trees hanging out. You’ve got a green that wants to accept a left-to-right shot. You’re standing on your head, upside down and the only thing you can play is a hook into a green that doesn’t want it. That’s not a good golf hole to me, and I think they know that at Augusta. I hope some day they’ll change it.
“What would you do to change it?”
When Hord Hardin was here, I did plans for it. Cut the fairway down. Bunkered the left side. Move the bunker out further on the left so it controlled what was going on left. Softened the fairway. And we gave them the option of putting back in the creek that crossed the fairway there and put a lake down by the right side of the green.
Also: “I don’t know why they haven’t moved the 3rd tee back about 20 yards. They have the room to do it there, and I don’t think it would affect anybody.”
No. 4
Jack: They’ve lengthened it a little bit, which is actually probably a pretty good hole.
No. 5
Jack: No. 5 plays nicely now. They’ve made the change on the green. They’ve made good changes there.
No. 6
Jack: No. 6 has always played nicely.
No. 7
Jack: The change on the 7th hole, I think, was a bad change. They took a golf hole that really required and allowed you to play right up underneath the green if you wanted to and take advantage. Now they’re back there, playing into a fairway that is much too narrow.
No. 8
Jack: No. 8 is OK. It just happens to be where it is. I don’t think it’s one of their better holes on the golf course, playing up to a blind situation and a green that really doesn’t look like anything else on the golf course.
No. 9
Jack: The 9th hole, now the way they hit it, the trees aren’t even a factor. They just hit it on either side of the trees. I don’t know what you do there [to improve it]. I suppose if they brought the ball back, it would bring the golf hole back in play.
No. 10
Jack: No. 10 is a great hole no matter which way you play it.
Also: “I think the best holes at Augusta are 10, 12 and 13.”
No. 11
Jack: No. 11 is fine. There’s nothing wrong with 11.
No. 12
Jack: No. 12 is a super hole.
No. 13
Jack: I think 13 is a super hole. And I think to lengthen 13 would help.
Also: They haven’t moved [the tee] back yet, so [Bryson] can take it over the top there.
No. 14
Jack: No. 14 is OK. It’s sort of a modest hole in the middle with a very difficult green.
No. 15
Jack: No. 15 allows you to create excitement and have a moving hole.
Also: “All of a sudden, [Bryson] has a wide fairway because he’ll hit it past the trees on the left. He hits one down there he’ll have a little pitching wedge into 15.”
No. 16
Jack: No. 16 is just a nice par-3.
Also: Jack claims he’s never hit into the water on the 16th hole.
No. 17
Jack: No. 17 is a big change. It used to be wide open.The only thing that used to be there was Ike’s Tree. Now Ike’s tree is gone, and low and behold, 30 trees have appeared. You’ve got to drive the ball straight there now. You can’t play it if you don’t drive it straight.
No. 18
Jack: And 18, with the golf ball, what it is and where they’ve moved the tee, is probably OK. It’s pretty good.
Also: Jack used to launch drivers to the left side of 18 where the green space opens up. Augusta responded not many years later and created bunkers along the left side of the fairway.
And lastly: “Augusta is a wonderful golf course. But it’s a difficult piece of property. It’s one big side-hill is what it is.”
Sean Zak is a writer at GOLF Magazine and just published his first book, which follows his travels in Scotland during the most pivotal summer in the game’s history.
