Augusta National: A history of course changes, Part 4

Augusta National has been lengthened, trees have been planted and bunkers have been repositioned through the years.

But the course’s main defense remains its greens.

The large, undulating putting surfaces are some of the most famous in the game.

Course architect Alister MacKenzie is mostly responsible, but Perry Maxwell deserves credit, too.

Maxwell was a Midwest banker who became a golf architect later in life. He became a partner with MacKenzie in the 1920s, and the two produced several notable courses together, including Crystal Downs in Michigan.

In a letter to Maxwell in 1928, MacKenzie said the architect’s work was “more closely harmonized with nature than any other American.”

Maxwell resurfaced many of Augusta National’s putting surfaces during his work at the club in the 1930s. Most notable were the first and 14th holes, which feature changes in contour.

“Such undulations were his trademark and were known as ‘Maxwell rolls,’” David Owen wrote in his book “The Making of the Masters.” “MacKenzie was no longer alive at that time, but he undoubtedly would have approved: He loved dramatic contours.”

The greens were converted to bentgrass in 1981, making the touches Maxwell put on them even more difficult with increased green speeds.

Maxwell also made some notable changes to Augusta National after MacKenzie’s death in 1934.

He moved the green at the 10th hole in 1937 to its present location – on top of the hill, about 50 yards from the old site – and transformed it into the toughest hole in Masters Tournament history.

No. 10, known as Camellia, played 430 yards in the first tournament. After Maxwell moved the green, it measured 470 yards. In 2002, the tee was moved back another 10 yards and shifted five yards to the golfer’s left.

“It made the shot, and hole, more spectacular,” said Ben Crenshaw, who rolled in a 60-foot birdie putt at the 10th in his first Masters win in 1984.

After changing the 10th in 1937, Maxwell came back a year later to renovate the par-4 seventh. It came at the suggestion of 1934 and 1936 winner Horton Smith, who thought it needed an elevated green with deep bunkers.

Maxwell supervised the work on the hole, moving the green back about 20 yards and adding the bunkers in the front. He added pine trees left of the fairway, making it one of the toughest driving holes. Back bunkers were installed after Maxwell’s work.