Augusta National
Bobby Jones' contributions to the game of golf are so numerous and immense,
they are difficult to overstate. The fact that one man could leave his personal
impression on such diverse aspects of the game as the swing, equipment, championship
records, sportsmanship and literature is overwhelming. But, as great as Jones'
achievements were in all areas of the game, perhaps his most enduring legacy
resides in 365 acres of land once known as Fruitlands Nursery, but known today
as the only golf course Bobby Jones ever built-Augusta National.
Shortly after retiring from competitive golf in 1930, Jones had plans to construct
what he hoped would be the ultimate golf course. When an undeveloped tract
of land became available in Augusta, Georgia, Jones knew immediately he had
found the future home of his course. He would later relate that unforgettable
first experience walking the grounds: "It seemed that this land had been lying
here for years just waiting for somebody to lay a golf course upon it. Indeed,
it even looked as though it already were a golf course." Although Jones had
a vision for what Augusta National could become, he also knew that "no man
could learn to design a golf course simply by playing golf, no matter how
well." For that expertise, he turned to one of the game's greatest golf architects,
Dr. Alister Mackenzie.
Mackenzie was a former medical doctor from Scotland who shared two common
views with Jones. First, both were great admirers of the Old Course at St.
Andrews. Second, both held to a common philosophy of golf course design that
centered on building a course where the greatest number of players could get
the greatest amount of enjoyment from the game, regardless of skill level.
Mackenzie and Jones were the perfect team, producing a golf course for the
ages in record time. Allowing Mackenzie to chart the layout, Jones then made
hundreds of experimental shots on the half-finished course during 1931 and
1932 to test its merits. Although he had designed more that fifty golf courses,
Alister Mackenzie would later call Augusta National his "best opportunity
and, I believe, my finest achievement."
Augusta National was built, in part, because Bobby Jones could not play a
casual round of golf without attracting a gallery of hundreds, even thousands.
A private course would enable him to spend time with his closest friends and
enjoy a round of golf in peace. The private club opened in 1933 and the following
year Jones hosted the first Augusta National Invitation tournament, an event
that would blossom into one of the most recognized and respected tournaments
in the world-The Masters.
The Masters
The idea of hosting an invitation tournament at Augusta National developed
more out of necessity than anything else. In early 1933, Bobby Jones knew
he had a championship caliber course on his hands and, along with the members
of Augusta National, thought it a superb setting for the U.S. Open Championship.
Unfortunately, several factors stood in the way. First, the United States
Golf Association (USGA) always held the U.S. Open in June or July, months
of almost unbearable heat at Augusta. At first, the members thought of requesting
an earlier date in April or May, but were certain the USGA would refuse the
idea. Secondly, the town of Augusta had a population of just sixty thousand
people, most of whom were mill workers who could not be expected to support
an event as significant as the U.S. Open. Finally, and perhaps most difficult
of all, Jones had made it clear that he was officially retired from golf and
would never play in another open championship. As a result, the idea of hosting
a tournament at Jones' home course without him in the field was ultimately
dismissed.
With the idea of Augusta National hosting the U.S. Open now out of the question,
Jones' good friend Clifford Roberts suggested they start their own tournament.
Roberts, an investment banker who-along with Jones-had first conceived the
very idea of Augusta National, saw an opportunity to develop an invitation
tournament hosted by Jones. He suggested the tournament be called "The Masters,"
a name Jones immediately dismissed as too presumptuous. Roberts also wanted
Jones to play in the tournament, a move he felt critical to generating crowds
of people for the event. At first, Jones was hesitant to play the game competitively
again-something he hadn't done in nearly four years. He eventually agreed,
and the "Augusta National Invitation" tournament was born.
By the time the first tournament began in 1934, fans from all over the country
looked forward to seeing Bobby Jones once again play the game of golf. Cars
with license plates from 38 states filled the parking lot, many of them doubling
as sleeping accommodations since every hotel room in Augusta was booked. Although
he finished the tournament tied for 13th, Jones delighted the crowds at Augusta
and started his tournament on a historic journey. Two years later, everyone
outside of Augusta National referred to the tournament as The Masters. By
1938, the name had been officially adopted.
Bobby Jones was a constant presence at The Masters up until the last years
of his life. When his failing health made visits impossible, he watched the
tournament on television from his small white cottage beside one of the greens.
Long after his death, however, Jones' legacy lives on as The Masters continues
to be one of the most celebrated and important events in all of sports.
