#NotMastersWeek Thread:

Built on the backbone of the principals CB MacDonald laid out when he designed National Golf Links of America, Bobby Jones’ Augusta National is essentially a course of templates (though some of those design features have faded or have been changed).

Even better stated, Augusta National is a time capsule of the courses Bobby Jones won his majors on over the course of his career. In effect, is it a living monument of the Grand Slam & the amazing playing career of Bobby Jones!

Bob didn’t back down from the idea when asked by the press about his plans for Augusta National.

“It is an idea very dear to my heart to see in reality a golf course embodying the finest holes of all the great courses on which I have played.”

Much like CB Macdonald, the “template holes” or ideal holes as my friend @AnthonyPioppi might put them, they were never meant to be “copies” but rather holes that tip their strategic cap to the original hole- like the Road Hole at St Andrews.

Augusta National at its very best tells the story of Bobby Jones’ Golfing career from his his first major championship at Merion to his last major championship at Merion- it is essentially the proverbial bookend to his amazing amateur career.

Finally OB Keeler connected the dots when he described some of the holes Bob Jones & Alister MacKenzie we’re considering, including CB Macdonald’s original “Cape Hole.”

It’s not a coincidence as the first Walker Cup was played at NGLA.

So when @TheMasters tees it up once again please realize that you aren’t just watching one of the greatest golf championships in history, you are literally watching the career of Bobby Jones unfold in front of your very eyes.

It is his living, breathing time capsule.