Eighteen acres, 140 million dollars, and it’s used for only twelve days a year. The Tournament Practice Facility at Augusta National Golf Club sits quietly in the northern corner of the property, almost untouched for most of the year.

Then Masters week arrives, and the place comes alive, turning into one of the most perfectly prepared practice areas in professional golf.

But this did not happen quickly. It started in 2004, when Augusta National bought 85 acres near Berckmans Road to fix a parking problem. That decision slowly led to something bigger. By 2009, the area had become this facility.

Once the parking was resolved, the club used the extra space more strategically. They built a 30,000-square-foot tee area with underground heating and added eight greens, each designed for a different purpose.

One of them was built specifically to recreate the approach shot on the second hole of the course.

Bunkers Built to Mirror Augusta’s Real Course

The sand traps at Augusta National aren’t just there for aesthetics. The course designers placed them to mirror the bunkers on the first and fifth holes, setting them at the same distances players face during competitive rounds.

A player on that tee is not guessing. They can hit the same shot repeatedly.

The short game area is different, and the bunkers are not very deep. This helps players see how the ball spins and reacts.

The Caddie Services Building is also there. This is where caddies get their white uniforms. It is also known for its popular cheeseburger.

The Media Centre opened in 2018. It is connected to the range by an underground tunnel. The club built it underground to keep the area clean.

It took many years to build all this. In 1933, players practiced between the ninth and 18th holes. By the 1950s and 60s, the range had moved near Magnolia Lane. As equipment improved and the game grew, that space was no longer enough.

The club didn’t tear down the old Magnolia Lane ground. Instead, it quietly converted the space into a private warm-up area for Masters champions, with no cameras, no crowds, and no exceptions.

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav