In less than two months, both players and patrons get to stroll the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club. The rolling hills and perfectly green fairways are lined by a plethora of flowering trees, bushes and plants. To some, the scenery looks almost too perfect with internet searches asking are the flowers at Augusta National real and is the grass painted green. Some even find the azaleas ability to bloom almost on cue during Masters week some grand production including packing the plants with ice to keep them from blooming early.
Augusta National has an estimated 80,000 plants of over 350 varieties. It’s only fitting that Augusta National sits on the grounds of what was once Fruitland Nursery. The plant nursery operated on the property from 1857 to 1910 and occupied over 300 acres of what is now one of the most famous golf courses in the world. Fruitland Nursery was well known for importing plants and trees from all around the world onto their grounds.
In 1931, the property was sold for a reported $70,000. The Berckman family who ran the nursery had two sons return to the property after the sale and assist with the construction of the golf course. Additionally, some of the original trees were incorporated into the course design. As a further nod to it’s green beginnings, the clubhouse at Augusta National was the large manor home built on the property once called Fruitland Manor.
The Azaleas are iconic at Augusta National
Each of the 18 holes on the golf course are named after a flowering tree or bush on the property. Fittingly, the par-5 13th hole is named azalea. The azalea is the plant most associated with the Masters and Augusta National. There are actually 30 different azalea species adding up to an astounding 1,600 azalea plants just bordering the 13th hole alone down the left of the fairway. It’s said that all course architect, Dr. Alister MacKenzie, had to do was place the 13th green over the creek as the hole basically designed itself being an open field with a creek running through it.
The Magnolia is the most prominent tree at Augusta National
Many a story is relayed by first time visitors of that special drive down Magnolia Lane as they enter the property to drive up to the clubhouse. The road is a 330 yard drive through a tunnel of magnolias. The magnolia tree is the most prominent on the property. The uphill dogleg left par-4 5th hole is named magnolia. It is said that the hole was inspired by Bobby Jones who was wanting a hole that played like the road hole at Saint Andrews Old Course.
Who named the holes at Augusta National?
It’s said that all 18 of the holes were named by Bobby Jones, Clifford Roberts, L.A. Berckman and Allie Berckman. The Berckman’s did return to the property as the course was being designed and built and assisted with the landscape and planting design. The Masters website has an entire webpage dedicated to each of the named 18-holes.