On Thursday 6 April, the 2023 U.S. Masters tees off, and as golf fanatics across the world are glued to the action in Augusta, it signals one thing… Golf season is well and truly underway.

First held in 1934 and the first of four majors on the golfing calendar, The Masters is the most prestigious tournament in golf. Many elements make the competition so special, the pinnacle being the course on which it is played.

Augusta National Golf Club is the home of the only major tournament played at the same course every year. The top 50 ranked golfers in the world are invited to compete alongside previous champions, compiling the smallest field of any major championship.

In addition to a trophy of the Augusta National Clubhouse, the champion receives the iconic Green Jacket. Only the victor can wear the jacket and it must be returned to the clubhouse the following year where it is retired to a cloakroom with those of the other champions.

The historic course at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA was designed by renowned golf architect Dr Alister MacKenzie. Here in Aberdeen, a piece of his legacy can be found.

Drawn out in 1922 and completed in 1927, Dr Alister MacKenzie created the Hazlehead Championship Course in Aberdeen. The course features a tight layout and large greens testing all elements of the golfing skillset as it follows the now century old design. Renamed in 2015 to the MacKenzie Championship Golf Course, it sits as one of Golf Aberdeen‘s four stunning 18-hole courses.

It is an exciting time to be a Golf Aberdeen member as over the winter period, we have made a number of improvements.

Our new Golf and Outdoor Services Manager, Graham Ritchie, said: “A lot of grounds improvement works have taken place over the winter period on all of our courses, including an intensive programme of tining, top dressing, brushing, rolling and applications of various wetting agents and fertilisers to the main greens by our greenkeeping staff. I’m sure we shall see the dividends of these works in the months ahead.”

More noticeable work has been undertaken across our courses including the renewed 15th tee on the Hazlehead Pines course, the new bunker sand at the King’s Links course and the improved elevated 11th medal tee at Balnagask.

Graham continued: “Not only have changes been made to the courses, but this season will also see the introduction of six golf buggies available to hire out on the two 18-hole Hazlehead courses which I am sure will be popular amongst our golfers.”

With the weather improving and The Masters kicking off on Thursday, golf-fever is spreading throughout Team Sport Aberdeen.

Graham states: “This weekend, I’ll be watching The Masters and seeing if Sandy Lyle can make the cut in his last ever Masters, which I’m sure some of you will remember him winning back in 1988.

“I am also looking forward to seeing if Rory McIlroy can finally win the only major that has still eluded him to date.”

If you are looking to watch The Masters, action gets underway early Thursday afternoon and concludes late on Sunday evening. The full list of tee times for Thursday’s round can be found here.

If you’d ready to practice your swing then why not check out one of our four 18-hole courses or our 9-hole course. Our amazing value Golf Membership allows you to play across all our courses, as much as you like, for only £29.50. For more information and to purchase a membership, click here.