One of the peculiarities of Augusta National is how little the club’s alterations impact the perception of the golf course. Improvements have taken place nearly every off-season since the inaugural Masters in March 1934, yet despite Augusta National’s evolving character, it continues to be perceived as a monolithic entity.

The Augusta National of 2024 is like the Augusta National of 2004 to the same degree that the course of 1974 is like the course of 1934, which is to say not very much. It begs the question, was there a moment when the club came the closest to an ideal presentation?

That’s the question our Architecture Editor Derek Duncan tackled with thorough research and technical expertise. The result is a conclusion of a specific time period when Augusta National was greatest, and the answer might surprise you.