Augusta National reportedly files plan that would lengthen par-4 5th hole
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Another course change could be coming to Augusta National, according to site plans filed last month by the Augusta Planning and Development Department.
The plans, first reported on Augusta.com, indicate the club will be exploring the idea of lengthening the par-4 5th hole. This could mean pushing back the tee box roughly 20-30 yards across Old Berckman’s Road, which has been closed to through traffic since 2015, but the plans call for the road to curve around the area that will be used as a tee box.
According to the report, preliminary plans filed by Augusta firm Cranston Engineering Group P.C show a total of 23.1 acres would be affected. The approximate start date would be May 1, which comes after this year’s Masters, and the approximate end date is Nov. 1.
An Augusta National spokesman said Friday that no definitive plans have been announced for any work on the fifth hole and that the site plans were filed so the club could explore its options.
If the club follows through on the proposal, it would be the first major alteration to Augusta since 2006, when six holes were lengthened. The 5th hole, known as Magnolia, ranked as the fifth-toughest hole at last year’s tournament, behind Nos. 1, 11, 18 and 12.
The plans on file don’t indicate any changes to the fairway bunkers or the green, which is considered one of the more challenging putting surfaces at Augusta National.
