Augusta National Wanna-Be Golf Trail
Compiled by Fat Guy
Augusta National #12
Every April, pretty much every member of the golfing universe longs to be able to just walk--let alone play--the hallowed green fairways of Augusta National.
Since 99.9% of us schmos will never get that chance (and make no mistake, we despise you 0.1% who have), here's a baker's dozen public-access courses that have at least a hole or two that bear enough resemblance to Augutsa's design and/or conditioning to give you at least an inkling of what it might be like to play there... minus the history, the traditions, the rolling hills and blooming vegitation of the former Fruitland Nurseries, the multi-million dollar maintenance budget, the perfect conditions, the rock hard greens Stimping at 14, the old school Southern gentlemen caddies in white overalls, and being the only foursome playing, of course.
14. Baywood Greens, Long Neck DE-
While much of Baywood Greens' watery target layout won't conjure up visions of MacKenzie's routing, both the plush manicured conditions and numerous floral flourishes will definitely bring Augusta to mind. Six holes routed through Delaware maritime forest come a bit closer to South Georgia surroundings, and a new Duneside 9 (scheduled to open 2013) will add more parkland flavor. 2012 greens fees are $119 for prime time.
14. Longleaf, Pinehurst NC-
13. Desert Pines, Las Vegas, NV-
It's not easy to evoke the well-watered emerald fairways of Augusta in the Nevada desert, but Desert Pines is a very good second-tier course for Vegas. The resemblance here comes from Desert Pines' greens being patterned after the greens at Augusta. Throw in the fact that it's in Vegas (just try hitting a world-class pool then going out clubbing after a round in eastern Georgia), and it's well worth a round.
12. Architects GC, Lapatcong NJ- This isn't a replica course so much as an homage to the varying styles of the great architects of the game. Per Golf Magazine, especially noteworthly is the demanding par-4 fourth, with its massive fairway bunker and wild green, and the gambling par-5 13th, which has a destinctive Augusta National feel. T&L Golf also digs the 13th, "an Alister Mackenzie impersonator notable for its elaborate bunkers."
11. Renditions GC, Davidsonville MD- Now it's on to the replica courses... : "For those seeking the 'Grand Slam Experience' without the travel hassles, there's a pretty darn good imitation at Renditions Golf Course. The course offers 'Golf's Grand Slam Experience' by replicating 18 famous golf holes from legendary courses in the U.S. and British Isles-all of which have played host to at least 1 of golf's 4 majors (and the 'The Players Championship,' known widely as golf's '5th' major). It includes simulations of Augusta National's Amen Corner, the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass and three links-style British Open holes (amongst others). Set in an abandoned salt & gravel mine. It's got some open land, stands of trees and wetlands-it was ripe for environmental reclamation after 60 years of pretty heavy industrial use. Renditions' principles built exact replicas of these famous holes to as close as plus or minus six inches from the real thing. The devil's in the details. "We really try hard to make it look exactly the same. Where there's a dogwood, we'll put a dogwood. Where there's a pine, we'll put a pine. We'll put in azaleas as well (and other flowering plants for the rest of the season). We'll do whatever we possibly can to make the holes look as close as feasible to what you'd see if you actually went there. They're extremely close--by using aerial photography, the distance of the holes is very accurate and the positioning of bunkers and hazards is fairly easy to adapt to. I'm not saying that if you walk the course you'd swear you were in Scotland or Georgia, but it's a pretty tight approximation." [OldDominionGolf.com]
10. World Tour GC, Myrtle Beach SC- Another replica course, this Myrtle Beach staple features holes from Augusta, and St. Andrews (on which Augusta was loosely based). Fun, but shockingly pricey.
9. Tour 18 Dallas, Dallas TX- It's an ambitious challenge, carving 18 replicas of the great golf holes of the world. Especially when the 3 closing holes are Amen Corner at Augusta. By all accounts, they've succeeded.
8. Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain, Tuscon AZ-
For legit Augusta-like conditions, Golf Channel's Erik Peterson says Dove Mountain might be as close as you can get on a public-access course. "Site of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, these 27 Jack Nicklaus-designed holes are set amidst the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains. With unobstructed panoramic views of cacti that are decades – and even centuries – old, the setting is about as naturally beautiful as a desert gets. But more important than the scenery, the course conditions at Dove Mountain are among the finest I’ve ever played. Believe it or not, the conditions at Dove Mountain remind me of Augusta National. There are two things that amaze me about the conditions at Augusta: First is the contrast of colors – the lush greens against the white bunkers, brown pine straw and blooming flowers. The other is how green the course is, without being soft. Dove Mountain is the only course I’ve played that is similar to Augusta in both regards. It begins with the tee boxes, which epitomize the word “oasis” with their green, tightly clipped Bermuda grass surrounded by gnarly desert plants. The contrast of colors and conditions is marvelous. The views from the tee down the wide fairway corridors are also stunning, with cross-cut fairway mow lines and dramatic bunkers. It’s a view that’s just as photogenic as it is intimidating. The fairways are the same consistency as the tee box, with hardly any divots to be found (this is probably due in part to the course not getting a ton of play even during high season, and also because the fairways are so large that the divots are spread far apart). Though the tee boxes and fairways are superbly maintained, it’s around the greens where Dove Mountain really stands out. The firm, fast bent grass surfaces usually are kept at around 11 on the Stimpmeter, which is lightning fast by resort golf standards. These massive putting surfaces are works of art, characterized by deceptive run-off areas and severe undulation. In fact, Nicklaus gave the greens so much severity that they were flattened in 2010 so PGA Tour officials could get them up to Tour-caliber speed without making them unplayable. Dove Mountain is no doubt one of the finest golf courses in Arizona. For the best chance of playing it in peak form, visit between October and May."
7. True North, Harbor Springs MI- From both a conditioning and solitary golfing experience point of view, TravelGolf's Brandon Tucker says, "Nothing beats having a course all to your foursome in the morning sun, playing on bentgrass in prime condition. Northern Michigan has loads of opportunities, and a recent round at True North Golf Club in Harbor Springs had the best conditions I can recall in some time. During my visit in September of 2009, True North only had a handful of members and their public play allowance was by word of mouth. Technically, you were only allowed to play one preview round as a prospective member. The lack of traffic meant pure, fast greens, fairways with virtually no divots, and consistent sand traps with no foot marks. The green conditions were so good the shop told me they had never aerated the golf course since it opened a few years prior. That's unheard of Michigan. Most courses perform a spring and fall punching. A golf club with such little play isn't sustainable, of course. Since my visit, True North has opened up their tee sheet policy a bit further ($165 peak season). Still, compared to many other more well known courses nearby, True North should remain relatively undiscovered for awhile. That should mean butter smooth greens and fairways, plus a fast pace of play, which only adds to the experience."
6. World Woods GC, Rolling Oaks Course, Brooksville FL- T&L Golf ranked Royal Oaks as the #6 most underrated sister course in the U.S. "Her brother's Pine Valley-like facade may steal the thunder, but the Tom Fazio-routed Rolling Oaks emulates Augusta and fits more seamlessly into the terrain, making for a vastly enjoyable romp through nature." The numerous Azalea bushes add more Augusta vibes when they're blooming, and the gorgeously tranquil short par-3 8th over water is one of the prettiest I've ever seen. When I played it a few years ago, there were a few Mickey Mouse holes that required local knowledge and the conditions didn't approach Augusta-like, but a recent renovation lengthened holes and enlarged greens, which were converted to more plush Tift Eagle grass.
5. Dancing Rabbit GC's Azaleas Course, Pearl River Resort, Choctaw, MS- Located 70 miles NE of Jackson MS, this resort has two courses, the Azaleas and the Oaks, both named for the fauna featured on each course. The Azaleas course, designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate, was dubbed "the Augusta you can play" by Golf Magazine. Both courses feature plush conditions, but the Azaleas course is reserved for guests of Pearl River's Golden Moon Hotel & Casino, giving it more of an exclusive country club feel, while the Oaks is open to public play.
T-4. Wynn Las Vegas / Shadow Creek, Las Vegas, NV- The $350- $500 greens fees both of these uber-upscale Vegas courses charge might be around the same amount that most of us would be willing to shell out for a round at the real thing (if such a thing were possible), but either of these ridiculously lush Tom Fazio designs will rival Augusta in terms of beauty, conditions, solitude, hospitality, and expert caddying. Wynn features a 37-foot waterfall behind the 18th, brilliant white sand bunkers, and one of the best 19th holes in the world. Shadow Creek conjures up the Carolinas in spots, with a mind-blowing finish.
Wynn Las Vegas 18th
Now it's time to head for 'Augusta-Southwest,' Houston Texas...
3. Augusta Pines, Houston, TX- It's a ballsy thing to reference Augusta when you name a golf course. T&L Golf says, "Its front nine a liberal interpretation of the storied back nine at Augusta National. The layout's back nine borrows from Oakland Hills, Pinehurst and others, though the holes are inspirations, not clones. Site of a Champions Tour event, Augusta Pines is derivative but likable."
2. Tour 18 Houston, Houston TX- Another replica of Amen Corner, I once played this faux 3-hole stretch in 1-under, which I'll be bragging about for years to come. Thus is the charm of the place. Weekday afternoon greens fees of ~$40 make this a steal of an experience.
1. Redstone GC, Rees Jones Championship Course, Humble, TX – "When the date of the Shell Houston Open was moved to the week before the Masters in 2006, tournament officials decided to do something brilliant. In an effort to get as many top players as possible, they prepped the Tournament Course at Redstone Golf Club like Augusta National. That meant using a combination of rye/bentgrass to overseed the greens and heavily overseeding the fairways and tees with rye, essentially turning Redstone into a winter golf course. The players raved, and with the exception of Tiger Woods, the Shell Houston Open has been able to attract the top players in the world because they're looking for a tune-up to the Masters. Of course, the players' endorsement and subsequent publicity has been the best form of advertising for this Rees Jones course, which was specifically designed for the PGA Tour event. Bret Nutt, head golf professional of the Tournament Course, said in the weeks following the tournament, which is held in early April, the course is booked solid. There are outings, but there are also plenty of individual players who have seen the course on TV or walked the course during the tournament. In short, nothing attracts players like perfect conditions, and from February to late spring, that's pretty much standard operating procedure at Redstone Golf Club, which is located just 15 minutes east of George Bush Intercontinental Airport." [WorldGolf.com]