Augusta National Files Plans To Lengthen 5th Hole

John Boyette with the exclusive Augusta Chronicle details on plans filed by Augusta National to realign the Old Berckmans Road to extend the 5th hole by a significant yardage. The plan submitted does not appear to significant change the angle of the tee shot, though the original bunkering has been pushed down the fairway.

From Boyette's story:

According to the preliminary plans, filed by Augusta firm Cranston Engineering Group P.C., a total of 23.1 acres would be affected. The approximate start date would be May 1, which comes after this year’s Masters, and the approximate end date is Nov. 1. Masters Week begins April 2 this year, with tournament play April 5-8.

Work is also scheduled to begin this spring at neighboring Augusta Country Club with changes to its eighth and ninth holes, the two holes affected when Augusta National purchased land from the country club last year.

Work at the Augusta Country Club, according to plans filed Feb. 9, is expected to begin in May and end by November

From the purely Jones-MacKenzie point of view, it will be interesting to see if the fairway bunkers and slopes require recontouring to retain the original dynamics intended to reflect some Old Course strategies.