Inside the Augusta National clubhouse

We take you inside the Augusta National clubhouse, home of so much Masters history

The Augusta National clubhouse will appear on our television screens countless times during coverage of The Masters tournament. Here’s what’s inside one of the most recognizable landmarks in golf.

Augusta National’s clubhouse is one of the most celebrated buildings in golf. 

From the veranda, you can peer down Magnolia Lane and overlook Founders’ Circle, which pays tribute to Masters Tournament co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts.

Inside, the permanent Masters trophy and an oil painting by President Eisenhower are just some of the golf treasures that fill the well-appointed rooms.

Welcome to Augusta National clubhouse, built in 1854 to serve as the home of indigo plantation owner Dennis Redmond. The iconic three-story building is believed to be the first concrete house built in the American South.

The history of Augusta National

Baron Louis Berckmans, a Belgian horticulturist, brought the 365-acre property in 1857. Together with his son, Prosper Julius Alphonse, he established Fruitland Nurseries. By the time Jones and Roberts discovered the place in 1931, the charter for the nursery had long expired, but the clubhouse and land that would become the most famous golf course in the world were still waiting to blossom.

After achieving the unequaled feat of winning the Grand Slam of golf in 1930, Jones retired from the competitive game and focused on pursuing another dream: the development of a course fit to host a major. 

He achieved that goal in 1934 when Augusta National opened its gates for the inaugural Masters Invitational Tournament, its course created by Jones, Roberts, and the Yorkshire architect Alister MacKenzie.

Jones and MacKenzie planned the course with the plantation house as a clubhouse. The tees of the starting holes and the greens of the finishing holes adjoin the clubhouse. A walkway of magnolias is flanked by the practice range and on axis with the house.

Completing the clubhouse compound are 10 ‘cabins’, four of which were named for prominent people who had a role in creating the tradition of Augusta National: Jones, Roberts, Butler, and Dwight D. Eisenhower – active at Augusta before, during, and after his presidency.

Because Jones never competed other than as an amateur himself, the amateur golfers invited to play in the Masters continue to receive special treatment. In the clubhouse is the attic area known as the Crow’s Nest, with lodging for five amateur competitors.

Luxury it is not, but those who lay their heads there never complain – Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have both climbed its wooden steps and dreamed of the Green Jacket.

Several changes have been made to the structure in years since Jones bought the property, including the addition of the Trophy Room and kitchen in 1946, construction of the golf pro shop in 1953, and the addition of the Grill Room in 1962.

Then there is the Library, located on the second floor of the clubhouse and one of Augusta’s most storied rooms.

A bronze sculpture of Jones dominates the scene, alongside the desk used by President Eisenhower, on which sits The Right Hand of Lincoln. It is here, tradition dictates, that past champions meet on the Tuesday night of Masters week for the Champions Dinner.

Now, more than 150 years on, Augusta continues to respect this classic, albeit understated, image of a southern plantation house.

About the author

Rob Jerram
Digital Editor

Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. He specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.

He’s passionate about the equipment used by professional golfers and is also a font of knowledge when it comes to golf balls, golf trolleys, and golf bags, testing thousands down the years.

Rob has been a journalist for more than 23 years, starting his career with Johnston Press where he covered local and regional news and sport in a variety of editorial roles across ten years.

He joined Bauer Media in September 2010 and worked as the Senior Production Editor of Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines for ten years before moving into the Digital Editor’s role in July 2020.

During his time in the golf industry, Rob has interviewed and played golf with some of the biggest names in the game, including Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Rick Shiels.

He has been playing golf for almost three decades and is a member at Greetham Valley in Rutland and Spalding Golf Club in Lincolnshire, playing off a 9.7 handicap.

In his spare time, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, watching Peterborough United FC, going for long walks, flying his drone, cooking, and reading.

Rob uses a Ping G driver, Ping G 3-wood, TaylorMade M5 5-wood, TaylorMade P790 irons (2, 4-PW), TaylorMadeMG3 wedges (52º, 58º), Evnroll ER2 putter, and TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.

You can email Rob or get in touch with him on Twitter.