Amen Corner

The 11th, 12th, and 13th holes at Augusta were termed "Amen Corner" by author Herbert Warren Wind in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article. Searching for a name for the location where critical action had taken place that year, he borrowed the name from an old jazz recording "Shouting at Amen Corner" by a band under the direction of Milton Mezzrow.

In 1958 Arnold Palmer outlasted Ken Venturi for the Green Jacket with heroic escapes at Amen Corner. Amen Corner also played host to prior Masters moments like Byron Nelson's birdie-eagle at 12 and 13 in 1937, and Sam Snead's water save at 12 in 1949 that sparked him to victory.

At one point, Augusta National could have been considered amongst the two or three most innovative designs in U.S. golf. The scarcity of bunkers and its width of fairways were in stark contrast to the penal features found on the most revered U.S. courses at that time. However, the many changes from several different architects — including adding bunkers, reducing the green contours, and adding trees and rough — have taken the course away from Bobby Jones' and MacKenzie's inspiration of St Andrews in Scotland.

The greens at the Masters were traditionally Bermuda grass. In 1981, they were reconstructed with bent grass, resulting in a significantly faster surface, requiring a reduction in the contours of the greens.

During a visit to Augusta National, then General Eisenhower returned from a walk through the woods on the eastern part of the grounds, and informed Clifford Roberts that he had found a perfect place to build a dam if the Club would like a fish pond. Ike's Pond was built and named, and the dam is located just where Eisenhower said it should be.
Rae's Creek

Rae's Creek cuts across the southeastern corner of the Augusta National property. It flows along the back of the 11th green, in front of the 12th green, and ahead of the 13th tee. This is the lowest point in elevation of the course. The Hogan and Nelson Bridges cross the creek after the 12th and 13th tee boxes, respectively. The creek was named after former property owner John Rae, who died in 1789.

Augusta National Golf Club has about 300 members at any given time. Fees are reported to range between $250,000 and $500,000. Membership is strictly by invitation; there is no application process.

No woman has ever been a member of Augusta National, though women are able to play the course as guests of a member. The club's lack of female membership received national attention in 2003 when Martha Burk, chairperson of the National Council of Women's Organizations, publicly challenged the club's stance. Pressure placed upon corporate sponsors of The Masters over the 2003 controversy led the Club to voluntarily broadcast the 2003 and 2004 tournaments without commercials.

Every member of Augusta National receives a green sports coat with the club's logo on the left breast. The idea of the Green Jacket came from club co-founder Clifford Roberts, who wanted patrons visiting during the tournament to be able to readily identify members.The winner of each year's Masters Tournament becomes an honorary member, and thus receives a Green Jacket as well. The jacket is presented by the winner of the tournament from the previous year.

The Green Jacket is worn only on club grounds. A tournament winner may wear his jacket off-grounds for the year following his win, but after that it hangs at the club.