It’s that time of year again, as we countdown towards The Masters. The excitement and anticipation of the golfing community surges as we patiently wait to get our annual fill of Augusta National. The start of Major season is kicked off in style, as a stellar field battles it out to secure the illustrious Green Jacket and etch their name into the game’s history books.
For me, much like Christmas, The Masters is a period of over-indulgence. I simply can’t get enough of all things Augusta National, fuelled by the traditional binge of old Masters films, but this year I decided I wanted to find out a little more about my favourite venue on the circuit.
One of the things I love most is the iconic, pristine white sand bunkers. Their unrivalled majesty masks their perilously punitive nature, providing the backdrop for some legendary moments in the event’s history.
In a move that is very on brand for me around this time of year, and in a bid to feed my unhealthy obsession with the first Major of the season, I decided that I wanted to learn more about these seductive sand traps. My question to you is… how much do you really know about the bunkers at Augusta National?
How many bunkers are there at Augusta National?
In total there are 44 bunkers at Augusta National Golf Club, each filled with immaculate Spruce Pine sand. There are for more greenside bunkers than fairway traps, at 32 and 12 respectively, ensuring players constantly have them in forefront of their mind when planning their approach shots towards the putting surface.
The familiar white sand that we see every year at Augusta National is a variety called ‘Spruce Pine’
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Which is the largest bunker at Augusta National?
The biggest bunker is a bit of a monster. The right-side fairway bunker on the 8th hole measures 6,107 square feet and is filled with more than 100 tons of sand. in 2023, Cam Smith hit a sublime shot from this spot to setup an eagle chance, that he would then go on to convert.
The second largest on the course is the fairway bunker on the 10th hole, measuring at 5,788 square feet. Named Camellia, the hole is consistently ranked the hardest in terms of scoring average at The Masters.
Cameron Smith’s fairway-wood bunker shot leads to an eagle on hole No. 8. #themasters…
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