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Golf Monthly

Sport

Paul Higham

A Statistical Look At Augusta National’s Par 3s For The Masters

Augusta National Masters The Masters Louis Oosthuizen

We all know the course at Augusta National by now and we've seen so much drama at the short 12th hole over the years, but there's more than one par 3 to look out for at The Masters.

Golden Bell is one of the most recognisable holes in all of golf, even just in recent years we've seen Masters dreams ended - just ask Jordan Spieth!

There are three other par 3s on the famous old course though, with one you may not know too much about proving tough down the years, and another the scene of some huge hole-in-one celebrations.

Let's take a look at the short holes at The Masters.

Hole 4: Flowering Crab Apple

Length: 240 yards
2023: 3.216 (5th hardest)
Overall: 3.284 (3rd hardest)

The longest par three on the card is also the toughest with 240 yards a long iron shot to hit when you're landing on the Augusta National putting surfaces, even if it is downhill.

One of many holes that usually has a tricky wind to work out, the two bunkers guarding the front of the green get plenty of use.

It's also been the hardest to make an ace on, with only Jeff Sluman managing to hit a hole-in-one here back in 1992.

Hole 6: Juniper

Length: 180 yards
2023: 3.097 (10)
Overall: 3.137 (13)

The second par three comes just a couple of holes later, with an elevated tee looking down on a larger target area on the green.

However, the green has a huge slope from front to back so your landing spots can change dramatically depending on pin placements.

It's not quite as volatile as the others with a highest score of seven, while six players have made an ace.

Hole 12: Golden Bell

Length: 155 yards
2023: 3.065 (12)
Overall: 3.270 (4)

It really shouldn't be that hard should it? But Rae's Creek at the front has broken many a player's heart over the years. Don't go long either!

The big factor here though is the wind, it whirls and swirls around the bottom of Amen Corner and you just never know if it'll make your ball stall or carry it long.

Overall the fourth hardest hole in Masters history says it all. There's only been three holes-in-one on this hole while in 1980 Tom Weiskopf made 13.

Hole 16: Redbud

Length: 170
2023: 2.964 (14)
Overall: 3.139 (11)

The famous Sunday pin placement in the front bowl means that this is a hotspot for holes-in-one, with no fewer than 24 over the years - including a ludicrous one from Louis Oosthuizen in 2016.

It's also the scene, of course, of one of the most famous in golf history when Tiger Woods eventually saw his chip drop in the most dramatic style in 2005.

With water on the hole there's still always danger and you can run up some big numbers - the biggest being Herman Barron's 11 in 1950.

But this hole is all about making shots especially on Sunday, where Green Jackets can be won and lost.

How many holes-in-one have there been at the Masters?

The short answer is 34, with 24 of those coming on the 16th, six aptly coming on the 6th hole, just the three on the devilish 12th and only one on the fourth.

Here's the full rundown of all the Masters holes-in-one on each hole, the yardage and even club used for the ace (* denotes amateur status).

Hole 4

Jeff Sluman, 1992 (4-iron, 213 yards)

Hole 6

Leland Gibson, 1954 (4-iron, 190 yards)

*Billy Joe Patton, 1954 (5-iron, 190 yards)

Charles Coody, 1972 (5-iron, 190 yards)

Chris DiMarco, 2004 (5-iron, 198 yards)

Jamie Donaldson, 2013 (7-iron, 177 yards)

Corey Conners, 2021 (8-iron, 182 yards)

Hole 12

Claude Harmon, 1947 (7-iron, 155 yards)