Augusta National Golf Club is purchasing land from neighboring Augusta Country Club which could allow the home of the Masters to lengthen the par-5 13th hole and potentially add more hospitality to further enhance the Masters patron experience.
Augusta Country Club shared the news with its membership in a letter detailing the purchase of the land near the northwest boundary of the club, the result of months of negotiations. As part of the deal, a new eighth and ninth hole will be constructed for Augusta Country Club, which was designed by Donald Ross.
Well the rumor is true about ACC & Augusta National as first reported by @GetAustinRhodes and his attachment. pic.twitter.com/SVh7v153Iq
— Sean Frantom (@SeanFrantom) August 7, 2017
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne has not issued public comment on the sale, which, according to the Augusta Chronicle, has not yet been submitted to public record.
Dating back to a 2016 Golfweek report, the Augusta scuttlebutt had been that the club had been eyeing the land to extend the 510-yard 13th by some 40 or 50 yards to bring back some of the demand to the dogleg left hole, particularly on the tee shot.
Chairman Payne talked about the rumors ahead of the '16 Masters.
“As we do every year, and historically forever, we are always looking at options for numerous of our holes,” Payne said before the 2016 Masters. “We create plans looking into the future, when we believe that the shot value of certain second shots, principally, has been impacted by how far the ball is now traveling.
“As a consequence, 13 is one of those holes we are studying. We have made no decision whatsoever. Plans are underway to be considered, and as I said, that is one of many holes that we now have under consideration.”
In 2014, Bubba Watson cleared a thinner left-side canopy to leave a 140-yard shot, locking up a second Masters title.
The club could also use the land to further enclose the club so Augusta Country Club wouldn't be visible from inside Augusta National property.
