What’s it like for a normal hack golfer to play Augusta National? 2 years ago I got the unbelievable honor of playing the home of the Masters with a member. I still pinch myself. So what did I shoot? Let me take you on a hole by hole journey from the member tees:

First, a glimpse at the scorecard. Elegant. Simple. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever been handed before a round.

Augusta National runs 6365 yards from the member tees. It’s a very playable yardage and the course itself is meant to be enjoyed by all skill levels. That doesn’t mean it’s easy!

For those curious, the Augusta National pencil is a normal golf course pencil and the matches are normal matches. Yet, not normal at all. Little pieces of memory of the best day.

I hadn’t played much going in. On top of that, I was battling the driver yips for the first time in my life. 60 yard pushes randomly popping up. I was honestly scared. Didn’t want to embarrass myself or my friends. I was a 7 hcp ballooned to a 10 hcp playing like a 15 hcp.

Let’s get to the golf! It was cold. 40 degrees at tee off. I had just hit a driver on the range that went 40 yards right onto Magnolia Lane. 😢😅 I was so nervous. Never felt anything like it before or since. Then we were called to the first tee…

The first hole at Augusta. 365 yard par 4 We get to the tee box. My head is spinning. I can’t feel my hands, both due to the cold and nervousness. Our host looks at me “Rick, lead us off.” Dear God. It’s really happening. I step up. I’m legit worried I’ll miss the ball.

The 2nd hole. 515 yard par 5. I hammer my drive perfectly and it rolls out well. I hit my 3 wood a little thin but it gets into the front right bunker. I hit my bunker shot 24 feet above the hole and I learn a valuable lesson. My caddie tells me it’s fast, but I still hit it

Hole 3. 340 yard par 4. Hit a solid drive but it ends up in the fairway bunker. My next shot is good but falls short. I now have a super scary chip that could have been an easy double, but I handle it well and end up with a 20 foot 2 putt for bogey.

Hole 4. 170 yard par 3. Simply the greatest shot I will ever hit. Also the hole I think “what if” more than any others My caddie tells me to hit it 180 with my draw. I grab my 6 iron and straight flush it. It towers high. It starts to move left to the hole. The caddies

Hole 5. 400 yard par 4. This uphill par 4 is super tough. I fan my drive and it lands in the pine straw next to a tree. I can’t aim at the pin so I run a 3 wood up the left side. A decent pitch and 2 putt means yet another bogey.

Hole 6. 165 yard par 3. This downhill par 3 has a diabolical green! I took too much club and ended up on the back right. This left an insane downhill putt! I had to aim left 90 degrees and barely tap it…and it still rolled just off the green. 2 more putts and yet another

Hole 7. 330 yard par 4. Disaster. My driver finally goes full yip. It’s a narrow fairway and I hit a pull straight into the trees. Luckily it misses many and manages to still get some distance. I’m forced to pitch out into 3 fairway and still had a chance at bogey. But a

Hole 8. 480 yard par 5. More greatness and heartbreak. A solid drive and a killer 5 iron put me in the go zone. I took dead aim and hit a perfect sand wedge right at the flag! It ends up 3 feet away. 2nd birdie here I come! Sadly I pulled it and missed by a mile. PAIN.

Hole 9. 395 par 4. That giant driver push I was telling you about? It’s first appearance. A giant block into the 8th hole. You can’t even imagine how right this is. I’m dead. I have zero shot anywhere. So I pick a line and attempt a 3 wood punch shot that would need to

Hole 10. 450 yard par 4. My favorite hole. Simply stunning downhill par 4. I hit a good drive and it catches the slope. I have a good look. Sadly my 5 iron would be mishit and I’d end up in a really bad spot in the bunker. It takes 2 to get out and only a super nice 2

Hole 11. 400 yard par 4. Amen Corner!!! It begins! I hit a weak push off the tee that leaves me a very tough approach. The right play would have been a layup. Instead I try to go for it and pay the price. My ball goes into the water like so many before me. A very nice

Hole 12. 145 yard par 3. Oh my. What a golf hole. Where dreams go to die. We get a pin a little left of the normal Sunday Masters pin. Coming off 2 doubles, I choose the safe line. I hit a solid 8 iron over the left side of the bunker to the back of the green, just on the

Hole 13. 455 yard par 5. It’s hard to put into words how beautiful and hard this hole is, even at it’s short yardage. The land is so severe and angled. I decide to play a hot hook off the tee and I over cook it. It nips a tree but appears like it may reach safety. Sadly we

Hole 14. 380 yard par 4. A solid drive finds the right side of the fairway and I’m feeling good. A slightly mishit 7 iron leaves yet another long putt. Yes. Another 3 putt. Bogey. But honestly, you can’t leave long putts at Augusta and assume 2 putt. The greens are too hard.

Hole 15. 475 yard par 5. Another legendary hole. So amazing. I hammer my drive but it’s another push. We find it in the pine straw and I hit an awesome punch 6 iron. A solid wedge and I have a downhill putt to the front right pin. You know what happens next! I leave it

Hole 16. 145 yard par 3. The hole that has provided so many moments! We had a front right pin. I hit a nice draw right of the pin and it bounces left and rolls right past the pin. I have a great look at birdie, but sadly miss it. My host gives me the generous 3 footer for

Hole 17. 370 yard par 4. A decent drive and a decent iron leave me just off the green. I’m left with a super tricky chip off a tight lie. I hit it well but it rolls out a ways. I nail the long putt for a much needed one putt par!

Hole 18. 385 yard par 4. Its hard to put into words how narrow this tee shot appears. It’s so intimidating. I step up and hit a really good drive. It ends up just short of the fairway bunker. The hole plays very uphill. I take my 5 iron and flush it right at the back pin.

Final Score: 88 I don’t love the score, but I played Augusta! One of the best days of my life and the course is so much fun. I smiled ear to ear all day long. Thanks to my great friend @lutzybegolfing for the amazing day. I hope you enjoyed this recap!

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