AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National Golf Club’s fairways and tees are the greenest.
The blooms on the dogwoods and azaleas are the brightest and prettiest.
And the ponds that guard some of the most famous holes in golf are picture-book shades of blue.
Natural timing and natural beauty are just two of the reasons golf fans typically “ooh” and “ahh” each year when they arrive for the Masters Tournament.
Contrary to popular opinion, the club does not apply heavy doses of fertilizer or pesticides to keep appearances up, key personnel at Augusta National say. In fact, the opposite is true.
“At Augusta National Golf Club, we are concerned about the environment,” then-club chairman Hootie Johnson said in 2012. “A state-of-the-art irrigation system and a primarily curative versus preventative philosophy are just two examples of our commitment to the environment.”
A state-of-the-art maintenance facility is where it all begins. Inside are meeting and training rooms, a shop area, a soil lab and an on-site weather station to help the club tackle any problem. Outside, a wash rack for equipment and a water recycling system keep unwanted chemicals in check.
Here’s what to know about the course: