When Jack Nicklaus speaks, golf fans listen, and that was certainly the case back in 2020 when he made some very strong remarks about one hole at Augusta National.
The name Nicklaus is now synonymous with Augusta National after an outstanding career that saw him win six Masters titles from 1963 through to 1986.
However, the Golden Bear hasn’t always seen eye to eye with the powers that be at Augusta.
Nicklaus openly criticised the Augusta National hierarchy after they lengthened the golf course in 2006.
The most famous golf course in the world has a completely different look about it now to when the 85-year-old was in his prime.
However, he is still extremely clued up on what it takes to succeed around Augusta.
Nicklaus knows Augusta National like the back of his hand, so who better to ask about each and every hole on the course than the 18-time major champion?
Jack Nicklaus named one ‘terrible’ hole at Augusta National
Nicklaus’ long and successful history at The Masters hasn’t stopped him from speaking out about one hole on the property that he simply isn’t a fan of.
When speaking to Golf.com in 2020, Nicklaus absolutely let rip on one hole at Augusta.
He said: “I think the 2nd hole is a terrible golf hole. I think it’s the worst hole in championship golf. The reason I say that is you’ve got a bunker on the right side of the fairway that should be on the left side of the fairway because you want to play it out to where you have some kind of lie.
“If you hit the ball properly down the left side, you’ve got all the trees hanging out. You’ve got a green that wants to accept a left-to-right shot. You’re standing on your head, upside down and the only thing you can play is a hook into a green that doesn’t want it. That’s not a good golf hole to me, and I think they know that at Augusta. I hope some day they’ll change it.“
It’s an interesting point that Nicklaus makes. He is certainly right from the perspective that the shape of the green and its contours are not suited to a right to left approach shot.
However, it must be said that the second hole at Augusta National is one of the most exciting to watch on TV!
So it’s a very fine balance.
Jack Nicklaus named another hole at Augusta he dislikes after changes
In the same interview with Golf.com, Nicklaus highlighted why the changes made to the seventh hole at Augusta National.
He explained: “The change on the 7th hole, I think, was a bad change. They took a golf hole that really required and allowed you to play right up underneath the green if you wanted to and take advantage.
“Now they’re back there, playing into a fairway that is much too narrow.“
That is a fair comment from Nicklaus. The seventh hole at Augusta measured only 365 yards before the huge changes made to the course in 2006.
Now it stretches out to 450 yards, with the landing area being the tightest on the entire course.
It’s a poorly designed golf hole, one that would be a much better spectacle if it were 100 yards shorter.
Sometimes, making holes longer doesn’t instantly equate to a successful change. That’s a huge design flaw in modern-day golf course architecture, and it’s important for people like Nicklaus to keep speaking out about it.
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