Feels Just Like Augusta

April 9, 2014

Each and every April, golfers see what many consider heaven on Earth during the telecast of The Masters. Augusta National Golf Club is revered for its beauty, design and the test it offers the world’s best golfers.

Unfortunately, we’re also reminded each and every April just how exclusive Augusta National is. Only the elite – and the lucky – get to play the Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones design.

There are options, though, for golfers seeking the experience without the lack of access. Here are courses across the GolfNow network that will provide the major winner in all of us with an Augusta National-like experience:

Baywood Greens (Long Neck, Del.) – Considered the “Augusta of the North,” Baywood Greens is a public course on the Delmarva Peninsula. Set on 27 acres with man-made ponds and more than 200,000 flowers, plants and shrubs, the scenery is very similar to Augusta’s.

Texas National Golf Club (Willis, Texas) – Just outside of Houston is Texas National. The course reopened in 1997 with an 11,000-square foot clubhouse. The course is a true bargain, offering scenic landscaping with ponds, creeks sand picturesque views for a rather inexpensive fee.

World Woods Golf Club (Brooksville, Fla.) – Head to the Pine Barrens Course at World Woods Golf Club, the No. 64-ranked course in the world according to Golf Digest for an experience. The course is modeled after Pine Valley in New Jersey – perhaps the hardest course to play other than Augusta National and the consensus No. 1 course in the world.

Tour 18 Dallas (Flower Mound, Texas) – At the Tour 18 Golf Course in Dallas, you’ll play on simulated holes from some of the best courses in the United States. The course includes holes from many greats like Pine Valley, Firestone and Doral. The 16th mimics the par-4 11th at Augusta National.

Tour 18 Houston (Humble, Texas) – Like its sister course in Dallas, the Houston-area Tour 18 replicates many of golf’s top holes. This one takes the Augusta experience to an entirely new level, though with its own version of Augusta’s “Amen Corner.”

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club (Philadelphia, Miss.) – From the azaleas to the southern hospitality and charm, Dancing Rabbit sure does provide a hit of the Augusta experience. The Azales course is a Tom Fazio/Jerry Pate combination that opened in 1997.