There's something magical that happens when you first step onto the hallowed grounds of Augusta National during Masters Week. The colors are more vibrant, the air seems cleaner, and the grass—my goodness, the grass—it's unlike anything you'll experience at any other golf course in the world. As someone who's been fortunate enough to attend 14 of the last 16 Masters Tournaments, I've developed a deep appreciation for what makes this place so special, particularly those infamous putting surfaces.
The Bentgrass Marvel
Masters green featuring bentgrass maintained at 1/8 of an inch from my 2025 trip to Augusta National.
The magic and mayhem of the Masters greens all start at the most fundamental level: the grass. Augusta National's greens are composed of a specialized bentgrass variety that creates a surface so pure it almost resembles carpet.
This year, as announced on the club's social media, they were being maintained at a mere 1/8 of an inch—a height that would be unmanageable at most courses but is perfection at Augusta. The bentgrass thrives in the cooler spring temperatures of early April, allowing the maintenance staff to create putting surfaces that are both lightning fast and remarkably true.
What many television viewers don't appreciate is how the greens change throughout tournament week.
During my visits, I've noticed that Monday practice rounds typically feature greens running around 12-13 on the Stimpmeter. By Sunday, they're often approaching 14-15, creating a completely different test for players as the tournament progresses.
Rapidly accelerating speeds plus increasingly difficult pin placements throughout the weekend makes the Masters greens a truly one-of-a-kind challenge.
The Undulations That Television Flattens
Images Courtesy of Masters.com
Standing on the practice putting green at Augusta National is a humbling experience even for accomplished players. The first thing that strikes you is how the seemingly gentle slopes create dramatic ball movement. Television simply cannot capture the subtlety of these contours.
The 6th green, for instance, features a slope that drops dramatically from back to front. The 9th green has a false front that will send poorly struck approach shots rolling back some 60 yards down the fairway. And the 14th? It might be the most severe putting surface on the property, with multiple plateaus that create putting challenges that border on the impossible when the greens reach their Sunday speeds.
For many players, simply getting the ball close to the cup and avoiding disaster on the greens can be considered a success.
Maintenance Perfection
Greens like this don’t happen by accident. The maintenance practices and procedures at Augusta National are legendary.
The greens are hand-mowed multiple times daily during tournament week. Sub-air systems beneath each putting surface allow the grounds crew to control moisture levels with remarkable precision.
I've watched early morning maintenance routines where teams of workers roll the greens with such care you'd think they were handling precious artifacts—which, in the golf world, they essentially are.
Rory McIlroy's playoff victory this year showcased just how perfect these surfaces can be. Even after four grueling rounds and a playoff, there wasn't a single imperfection to be found. The ball rolled true on every putt, leaving the outcome purely in the hands of the players.
Apply Augusta's Lessons to Your Game with My Putting Calibration Method
For my students who ask how to prepare for fast greens, I recommend the 10-foot calibration method. It’s a very simple drill that helps you get your putting stroke locked in for the green speeds at wherever you are playing. Here’s how it works:
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Before your round, find a flat section of the practice green and pace off exactly ten feet.
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Take practice strokes until you consistently roll the ball to the marked distance
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Pay close attention to how far back you take the putter. This becomes your baseline stroke for the day.
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Maintain a 2:1 tempo ratio—the throughstroke should be twice as fast as the backstroke.
With this calibrated stroke and proper tempo, you can adjust proportionally for putts of different lengths. Longer putts simply require a longer backstroke while the tempo remains the same. Of course, uphill and downhill putts will need to be adjusted for.
While you may not be prepping for the challenge that is the greens at Augusta National, understanding how to calibrate your stroke to the day's green speed is a skill that will serve you well on any course.
