Reuters
Golf – The Masters – Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, Georgia, U.S. – April 6, 2022 General view of Tiger Woods of the U.S. on the 13th green during a practice round REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Reuters
Golf – The Masters – Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, Georgia, U.S. – April 6, 2022 General view of Tiger Woods of the U.S. on the 13th green during a practice round REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Augusta National is arguably the most iconic golf course in the world. Just the mere mention of it is enough to evoke pleasant memories in players and fans alike. While golf enthusiasts generally revere Augusta for the legendary “green jacket” wins, its expansive greens, and the spellbindingly beautiful azaleas, a different detail about the course has now gone viral. Let’s dive in to find out more!
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The story behind the glorious white bunkers at Augusta
“When I think of Augusta, I think of great beauty,” golfing legend Gary Player once shared. Founded in 1932, the course has hosted 87 editions of the Masters, with the latest one taking place last month.
Every year during the major, fans also catch sight of the unique sand bunkers on the course. Almost sparkly white in color, it does not contain just any run-of-the-mill sand. In fact, the one that goes into the bunkers is the special “Spruce Pine” sand, sourced from the town of the same name in North Carolina.
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So, what makes it so special in the first place? Golfing content creator Dan Evans, who goes by @dansgolfworld on Instagram, explained its origin in a recent video. It turns out that the sand is actually quartz, which is the by-product of a mining process. For the uninitiated, ‘Quartz’ is a mainstay in the semiconductor industry and is used to create a diverse range of products.
The Augusta National course, which was bought for $70,000 almost a century ago, has unsurprisingly increased in value by massive leaps and bounds. But it is truly mind-boggling how a product of mining-related waste has significantly contributed to the course’s beauty over the years.
What is the present value of Augusta National?
From Jack Nicklaus’ heroics to Tiger Woods‘ back-to-back green jacket wins, Augusta National has paved the way for some of the most memorable moments in the history of golf. Who would have guessed that a course bought for $70,000 back in the day will eventually become paramount in the world of golf? Built on a 365-acre site, it now boasts a staggeringly high value in current times.
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AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 12: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2015 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
According to Joe Pompliano, a well-known sports business personality, Augusta has witnessed an unbelievable 14,000% increase in value since 1931. He shared that the current assessed value of the golf course is approximately $200 million.
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So, what is your favorite memory from the Masters? And what do you love most about Augusta National? Let us know in the comments below!
