The extremely anticipated new thirteenth tee was one of the changes introduced by Augusta National on Friday afternoon.
Martin Miller/Augusta National
How’s this for a Friday afternoon information dump?
On the eve of Masters week, Augusta National formally introduced a slew of long-rumored changes to its golf course and surrounding property, together with the addition of a brand new, considerably lengthened tee field on the famed thirteenth gap.
In saying the changes, the membership additionally launched the primary photographs of the up to date property, which come to us courtesy of the photographer Martin Miller. The new photographs present a drastically tightened tee shot on the thirteenth and the inclusion of a newly renovated Par-3 Course, which was each rerouted and rethought as a way to enhance spectator entry and pleasure throughout match week.
In the story saying the changes, the membership provided the next context on No. 13, which has been lengthened by 35 yards and the tee field raised by eight yards over 2022.
“To maintain what is one of most intimate settings on the golf course, substantial work was done to install trees and ornamentals around the teeing area,” the club said. “It is one of the few spots on the course where players and caddies are set apart from the patrons. Also, new and improved television camera positions were added.”
Per the announcement, the membership put in “heating and cooling elements” to the thirteenth tee to “improve agronomics,” and that the complete gap underwent a sandcapping course of to “promote firm and fast conditions when elements allow for it.”
Overall, the changes promise to show the thirteenth again into one thing nearer to the true 2.5-shot golf gap first envisioned by course architect Alister Mackenzie and membership founder Bobby Jones within the Nineteen Thirties. In current years, scoring averages on the opening have plummeted as advances in membership know-how have allowed gamers to chop off the opening’s dogleg, permitting a short-iron or wedge second shot on the par-5. Now, Augusta National says, “the potential for a player to take a drive over the left corner of the dogleg has been reduced.”
The different notable change introduced by the membership on Friday facilities across the Par-3 Course, website of the annual Masters Par-3 Contest. The course, which was first designed by Jones acolyte George Cobb within the late Fifties, has been altered considerably to enhance the spectator expertise in 2023.
“A primary goal of the renovation was to make for wider corridors for patrons to move around and to open the viewing options where multiple greens can be seen from one location,” the membership mentioned.
In order to perform this, Augusta National shaping groups rerouted and eliminated bushes from the Par-3 Course’s first 5 holes, “opening viewing options and capacity.”
Perhaps probably the most notable changes to the par-3 might be discovered on the course’s new greens, which have been resurfaced and recontoured in 2023. The new greens function an “alternative variety” of bentgrass — completely different from the membership’s conventional A-1 bentgrass — that can function a “testing ground” for the grass’ doable future inclusion on the massive membership.
Augusta National has used the Par-3 Course as an R&D automobile earlier than. In the late Seventies, grounds crews examined bentgrass greens for the primary time on the property on the Par-3 Course, laying the (literal) groundwork for the principle course’s transition from Bermuda to bentgrass greens in 1981.
Augusta National/Martin Miller
As half of the renovation, Augusta National constructed a bigger constructing that encompasses “merchandise, concessions and restrooms” close to the Par-3 Course’s fifth gap.
The 87th Masters Tournament can be contested starting subsequent Thursday, April 6. The Par-3 Contest can be held on Wednesday, April 5 starting at midday ET.
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