By Joel Beall
Augusta National has been active in acquiring neighbouring real estate to expand the club’s footprint. In the past few years alone the National has purchased a 28-acre strip mall, a Pep Boys and music store, and a part of Augusta Country Club for its various endeavours.

Add Wendy’s to the list.

According to the Augusta Chronicle, Augusta National—through one of its limited liability companies—has spent over $6 million in recent weeks on real estate assets, including the fast-food chain Wendy’s on Washington Road along with multiple homes located in Augusta’s West Terrace neighbourhood.

The eight properties total six acres, with the Wendy’s giving the club almost complete autonomy over the southside of Washington Road between the club’s western parameters and the Berckmans Road-Alexander Drive intersection. According to the Chronicle, the only non-National Washington Road southside properties are an Olive Garden restaurant and Walgreens pharmacy.

Over the last two decades, the club’s property acquisitions have facilitated such additions as free parking for the Masters and the Global Broadcast Village, state-of-the-art television and digital compound. The club is also expected to lengthen the iconic par-5 13th in the near future, with satellite imaging showing traces of a new tee box.

This year’s Masters begins April 9.

The post Report: Augusta National purchases more property appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Augusta National may ultimately lengthen its iconic 13th hole, but that change won’t be made ahead of the 2020 Masters. Nevertheless, the National will unveil its latest modernization to the property come spring.

Last year Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced the addition of the Global Broadcast Village, a state-of-the-art television and digital compound. The space, almost 40 acres, was previously occupied by a Big Tree shopping centre, the Savannah West apartment complex and Lakemont Presbyterian Church.

The area, located outside club walls (near the Par 3 course) and separated by the busy Washington Road, necessitated the installation of a tunnel. Connected to the golf course to Gate 1, Ridley introduced this endeavour as the “Washington Road Underpass Project.”

“This project is the first of its kind in the state of Georgia,” Ridley said in 2019. “Thanks to modern engineering, we will be able to excavate under Washington Road without any impact to the flow of traffic above.”

With the 2020 Masters to begin in eight weeks, MetroSpirit.com was able to capture some photos of the tunnel from its development to its completion.

The tunnel is 26 feet deep and 120 feet long, with an interior 16 feet high and 26 feet wide. Additionally, the blueprints submitted to the city last year detailed the club adding over 200 pines, oaks and holly as landscape to the renovated area. More photos of the tunnel can be found on Metrospirit.com.

Augusta National has been active in buying surrounding real estate to expand the club’s footprint. In the past few years the club’s purchased a 28-acre strip mall, a Pep Boys and music store, and a part of neighbouring Augusta Country Club.

The post Augusta National completes tunnel to state-of-the-art compound ahead of 2020 Masters appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
When Augusta National bought land from neighbouring Augusta Country Club last summer, many believed the transaction signaled big changes to Amen Corner. Although a leaked letter in August confirmed these premonitions, it appears other changes are afoot at ANGC.

According to a report from the Augusta Chronicle, the 455-yard fifth hole could undergo renovation for the Masters. Preliminary site plans filed Jan. 30 with the Augusta Planning and Development Department, according to the Chronicle report, show a design that moves the tee box back 20 to 30 yards. Work would not begin until May 1, with the alterations done before the 2019 Masters.

The fifth hole has been far from a pushover in recent years, with the field logging just 21 birdies versus 82 bogeys or worse last year (4.212 average, fifth-toughest hole on the course). If Augusta National goes through with the project—an Augusta National spokesman told the Chronicle the club is still exploring its options—it would be the first significant modification to the course since 2006 when six holes were lengthened.

The post Report: Augusta National weighing change to fifth hole appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.