Toughest Holes at Augusta National

Home to The Masters, Augusta National is an exclusive golf club that few ever get the chance to play. It is also the only golf course to annually host a PGA major championship, as the other three majors are hosted on a rotational basis. Individual holes on the course are named for a tree or shrub, each with a special significance to the respective hole. Although names like Camelia, Golden Bell and Flowering Crabapple may not sound intimidating, golfers will tell you that these daunting golf holes more often than not, get the final laugh on the scorecard.

Historically ranked as Augusta National's toughest hole, Camelia - the 10th hole, plays as a par 4 at 495 yards from tee to green. The hole is built around a perfect drive that needs to land on an undulating fairway that slopes from right to left. Too far to the left and golfers must contest with the trees on their approach shot, while a shot that fails to reach the slope will leave an extra 20-30 yards to the green. In 2009, the 10th hole only had 16 birdies over the course of the four day tournament, and historically Camelia is played overpar at 4.26 strokes.

Golden Bell is Augusta's 12th hole and the heart of "Amen Corner," which encompasses the 11th fairway through the drive on the 13th. Although it's the shortest hole on the course at only 155 yards, the green is deceptively protected. Golden Bell ranks as Augusta National's second hardest hole. To the front of the green lies Rae's creek. To the rear of the green lie dozens of azaleas. Immediately hugging the green on both front and back are bunkers. The layout forces golfers to loft the ball high into the air, which become problematic with the swirling winds. In 2009, the hole played toughest with the pin on the extreme front-left of the green, and historically Golden Bell has been played overpar at 3.30 strokes.

The third most difficult hole on Augusta National is the fourth, known as Flowering Crabapple. At 240 yards, the par 3 tests long iron or fairway wood accuracy for most tour players. The hole runs up to the green which is protected by a front-side bunker and another bunker to its left. Players that can't land an iron on the green have the option of trying to run a wood up through the fairway gap between the two bunkers, but the play is risky. Augusta National also tends to tuck the pin position behind the front bunker, leaving a long putt for anyone choosing that route. An ideal shot is to play a sweeping left to right fade over the left-side of the green and hope that the ball funnels back toward the pin. Historically, Flowering Crabapple has been played overpar at 3.29 strokes.

Source: The Masters,
Augusta National, Course Tour