40 days until The Masters – 40 fascinating facts

The countdown is on to the most famous golf tournament of them all. To celebrate 40 days to The Masters here are 40 fascinating facts about The Masters Tournament and Augusta National.

1. The first tournament was held March 22nd 1934. Since 1940 however The Masters was scheduled for the first full week Sun – Sun in April each year. The Masters Tournament was called the “Augusta National Invitational” for the first five years 1934-1938 – Entry in 1934 was $2.20
2. The tournament was not played during the years 1943, 1944 and 1945 because of World War II. To help with the war effort turkey and cattle were raised on the Augusta National Grounds.
3. The club was conceived by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. Their vision was to establish a national membership for the club. They took a $70,000 option on a 365 acre property called Fruitland Nurseries in Augusta GA. Jones and Alistair Mackenzie of Scotland designed the course. Construction began in 1931. The course opened in 1932 and formal opening was January 1933.
4. Alistair MacKenzie died before the grass had even been laid at Augusta, never getting to see the completed course he designed.
5. Augusta National looks almost nothing like it originally did when it was first opened with the design layout made by the late MacKenzie.  It took a whopping 15 architects to make changes to the course since 1935. The original routing is the only thing that has stayed the same
6. Magnolia Lane extends from the entrance gate to the club house. The 61 large Magnolia trees that line both sides of the 330yd road date to the late 1850s
7. There are 3 dedicated bridges at Augusta National; The Sarazen bridge at hole No.15 to honour Gene Sarazen’s double eagle there during the 1935 Masters. The Hogan bridge at the No. 12 green to honour Ben Hogan’s then record score of 274 in 1953 and the Nelson bridge at the No.13 tee to honour Byron Nelson’s performance on holes No.12 and 13 when he won the 1937 Masters.
8. Although the Augusta National terrain looks flat on TV, it actually is quite hilly. The difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points is 175 feet.
9. Rob Townsend was the first African American member to be admitted in 1990.
10. An Arnold Palmer plaque commemorating the play and contributions of the 4 times Masters winner is affixed to a drinking fountain by the 17th green alongside a plaque for Jack Nicklaus honouring his six wins.
11. Tiger Woods was the youngest player to win a Masters tournament at 21 years 3 months and 14 days old in 1997.
12. Jack Nicklaus is the oldest winner of The Masters winning in 1986 aged 46 years and 82 days old.
13. Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods are the only players to win back-to-back Masters Tournaments. Only 16 players all-time have won this event more than once.
14. Horton Smith won the first tournament in 1934.
15. When the first tournament was held in 1934 the club only had 76 paying members. The club could not afford to pay winner Horton Smith or any of the top finishers until 17 members chipped in for the purse. Horton Smith took a prize of $1500.
16. Horton Smith’s jacket awarded for his wins in 1934 and 1936 sold at auction in September 2013 for over $682,000 the highest price ever paid for a piece of golf memorabilia.
17. Amen Corner refers to holes No.11, 12 and 13. In 1958 a sports illustrated writer, Herbert Warren Wind named the second half of hole No.11 No.12 and the first half of hole No. 13 Amen corner. He borrowed the name from and old jazz recording called “Shouting at Amen Corner”
18. Rae’s creek was named after John Rae. The creek that runs in front of the No. 12 Green has a tributary at the No.13 tee and passes by the back of the No.11 green. Rae’s house kept residents safe during indian attacks. It was the furthest fortress up the Savannah River from Fort Augusta.
19. The Masters banned a CBS broadcaster in 1995 for saying “They don’t cut the greens here at Augusta they use bikini wax”
20. Only 4 minutes of commercials per hour are allowed during The Masters Tv broadcast.
21. TV commentators are required to call fans “Patrons” and the rough the “Second Cut”
22. The Masters now is the most viewed golf tournament in the world, broadcast in more than 200 countries. But it wasn’t always that way. When it was televised for the first time in 1956, all CBS stations within a 200-mile radius of the club were blacked out from showing the tournament to help with ticket sales. The blackout was lifted in 1969.
23. The Masters was the first golf tournament with bleachers, and the first to be on radio and on high definition TV.
24. Cellphones are banned at The Masters.
25. “The Big Oak Tree” on the golf course side of the club house is about 145-150 years old. This oak tree was planted in the 1850’s
26. The crows Nest is a 30 by 40 room atop the clubhouse available as living quarters for as many as five amateurs during The Masters.
27. The 10 cabins located on the grounds of Augusta National provide lodging for members and their guests. One is named the “Eisenhower” cabin because the club built it for the President and Mrs Eisenhower for their visits to Augusta National.
28. Ike’s pond is also named after general Eisenhower. The three acre pond is manmade, has a dam and is fed by a spring, it is located near hole No. 9 on the Par 3 course, a nine hole layout that is the site of the traditional par 3 contest on the Wednesday of Masters week.
29. President Eisenhower is the only U.S president to have been a club member.
30. “The Eisenhower Pine” was finally removed in February 2014 after suffering storm damage. President Eisenhower an Augusta Member had hit the tree so many times he requested at a club meeting that it be removed. The club chairman at the time Clifford Roberts immediately adjourned the meeting rather than reject the presidents request.
31. Each hole at Augusta is named after a plant or a shrub. For example No.3 is called Flowering Crab Apple.
32. Founders circle is at the base of the flagpole in front of the club house. Two plaques there honour The Masters founders Bob Jones and Clifford Roberts.
33. The pine tree is the most abundant tree at Augusta. Several species grow along the course including Loblolly pines, Longleaf Pines, Shortleaf Pines, Slash Pines and Eastern White Pines.
34. Membership at Augusta is by invitation only. You have to be nominated by a current Augusta member to be considered for membership and they come available rarely, the membership currently hovers at around 300.
35. Jack Nicklaus has the most Masters tournament Wins, with six.
36. Gary Player holds the record for the most appearances with 52. Player also holds the record for the number of consecutive cuts made with 23 between 1959 and 1982. He shares this with Fred Couples who made his consecutive cuts between 1983 and 2007.
37. Anthony Kim holds the record for the most birdies in a round with 11 in 2009 during his second round.
38. The Champions dinner is held for members of The Masters Club. Those who have won a Masters tournament and is hosted by the defending champion on the Tuesday of The Masters week.
39. The Masters is the only major golf tournament in which the yardage of each hole is rounded off to end in “5” or “0.” Roberts felt that an exact yardage was not relevant because the movement of tee markers and pin positions for each round changed the distance. The course is listed at 7,435 yards. And no one can be sure it ever plays to that length.
40. …..and finally – as if you didn’t know the current Masters Champion is Jordan Speith. Who will wear the Green Jacket this year?