Tom Watson To Design New Golf Course 4.5 Miles From Augusta National

Two-time Masters champion Tom Watson is designing a golf course as part of new venue just a few miles north of Augusta National

Tom Watson speaking at the Masters at Augusta
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Paul Higham
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A Tom Watson-designed golf course described as “America’s next great masterpiece” is being built just 4.5 miles from the iconic Augusta National.

Just a few miles north from where he slipped on Green Jacket twice, the 1977 and 1981 Masters champion will design one of the two 18-hole courses being built on a new golfing venue as part of a luxury sports and residential development.

The 1,742-acre property will be known as Cypress Shoals and resides in North Augusta, which is actually across the state border from Georgia in neighbouring South Carolina.

Sitting on the banks of the Savannah River, it will have two 18-hole golf courses, one designed by Watson, and a nine-hole short course along with practice and teaching facilities.

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A multi-use property, there will be several other sporting and lifestyle activities on offer such as shooting, horse riding, fishing and hiking, along with conference facilities and a spa and wellness centre.

Housing will also be part of the venture, with golf cottages and condominiums, luxury cabins, residential lots and a riverfront hotel all being planned.  

Being so close to the home of the Masters, the accommodation options are sure to be popular among golf fans and even the players themselves may fancy owning a home-from-home right on Augusta National’s doorstep.

And that’s not to mention just how popular the site will be for that one week in April that’s highlighted in every golfer’s calendar.

The venue’s website is keen to state the benefits of its tremendous location, saying: “Cypress Shoals’ close proximity to the Augusta National Golf Club allows it to be equally suited for guests that can take advantage of its hospitality offerings for conferences, conventions, and corporate retreats.”

There were rumours and reports of LIV Golf's Saudi backers looking to buy-up land near Augusta National in February, with talk of Greg Norman's new tour looking to host a tournament around Masters time.

Whether that was this piece of land being used for Cypress Shoals or somewhere else remains to be seen, but it seems that land around Augusta is literally hot property right now.

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
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Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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