What is Amen Corner? Breaking down Augusta’s famous stretch
Everyone talks about Amen Corner during Masters week. But what is it?
We don’t need to tell you that Augusta National Golf Club is a stunning course from start to finish, and home to some of the most iconic holes in world golf. Most notably, Amen Corner…
What is Amen Corner?
Amen Corner at Augusta is made up of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes and are the real showpieces.
For many, Amen Corner has been the catalyst leading to major glory, but for others it has been a Green Jacket crushing affair. Who can forget Jordan Spieth’s collapse at 12 that led to Danny Willett winning the Masters in 2016?
Origins
In 1958 the great Arnold Palmer was playing some of his best golf, and it was at that year’s Masters that the name Amen Corner was born.
Palmer played the three holes in stunning fashion and this allowed him to go on and claim his first Masters title.
The origins of the name isn’t quite as exciting as you might think. Renowned sports writer Herbert Warren Wind, in his report for Sports Illustrated, wrote: “On the afternoon before the start of the recent Masters golf tournament, a wonderfully evocative ceremony took place at the farthest reach of the Augusta National course – down in the Amen Corner where Rae’s Creek intersects the 13th fairway near the tee, then parallels the front edge of the green on the short 12th and finally swirls alongside the 11th green.”
A new term was born.
The Amen Corner holes
11th: ‘White Dogwood’, par-4, 505 yards
12th: ‘Golden Bell’, par-3, 155 yards
13th: ‘Azalea’, par-5, 510 yards
It’s worth noting that Amen Corner is quite the entirety of the three holes and, as Wind notes, it is generally considered to be the second shot at 11, the whole of 12, and the tee shot at 13.
The 11th is a long par-4 that poses a considerable challenge for the whole field. As with all of the holes in Amen Corner, par is a good score. Players will favour the right side of the fairway to gain the best possible angle of the green which is flanked by water to the left.
The 12th hole has seen its fair share of drama. In a similar way to the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, players must ensure they carry the water if they are to find the green in one attempt. But, as we know all too well, the pressure that surrounds players during tournament week makes that much easier said than done.
Completing the set is the par-5 13th which plays a little left to right into a green that is separated from the fairway by a section of Rae’s Creek. A birdie is possible, but those who are to make one must commit to their approach shot.
Now have your say
How does Amen Corner rank for you? Have you been there in person? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on X.
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
