The Augusta National Golf Club is a private golf club in Augusta, Georgia, that each year hosts the prestigious Masters Golf Tournament. The Masters is the first of the four major tournaments that comprise the official PGA tour. Unlike the other three majors -- the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship -- The Masters is always held at Augusta National.http://www.augusta.com/masters/history/

The Club owes its existence to legendary golfer Bobby Jones who sought to build a course that took advantage of the natural characteristics of the land. Jones, along with his business partner Clifford Roberts, purchased a 365-acre piece of property outside Augusta, Georgia, known as the Fruitland Nurseries, and hired famed Scottish golf course architect Dr. Alister McKenzie as a designer.http://www.augusta.com/masters/history/

The course officially opened to its national membership in January 1933 and hosted its first tournament, called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, in 1934. In 1939, the name of the tournament was changed to The Masters.http://www.augusta.com/masters/history/

The Augusta National Golf Club is considered one of the most respected clubs of the Professional Golfers Association as this is the same golf course used for the The Masters golf tournament. The emerald green grass is manicured to make this not only a practical place to play golf, it is also one of the best kept golf courses available. The trees planted in 1939 are still there to welcome the attendees and the golfers who come to enjoy the sport.http://www.augusta.com/masters/history/

On April 5, 2010, the gates for the Masters Tournament will open promptly at 8:00 and at 2:00 PM, Tiger Woods is scheduled for an interview to discuss his past decisions and his future plans. Jack Nicklaus is the champion of the Masters with six wins under his belt, with Arnold Palmer coming in second with four wins.http://www.augusta.com/masters/history/

The Augusta National Golf Club is open to men, only. After mush criticism from women there are still, no women allowed. The world of professional golf is a business as much as it is a game and this is a business for men, according to the owners of the Augusta National Golf Club. for decades there has been heated debates about the policies that have banned women and the debates continue. Feminist leader Helen Lonhino said it is immoral to keep the women out of the Tournamenthttp://www.spectacle.org/0905/valle.html The Women's Sports Foundation is in agreement that women should be allowed to play in the Tournament and since 2002, they have been working hard to change the current policy.http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Content/Articles/Issues/Equity-Issues/W/Women-At-Augusta-National-Golf-Club.aspx

There is a Ladies European Tour for the female golf professionals. This year, Sophie Gutafson and Anna Nordqvist are representing Swedenhttp://www.mahalo.com/augusta-national-golf-club