Legendary course began as a nursery

The 2006 Masters finished on schedule Sunday with Phil Mickelson claiming his second Green Jacket. Mickelson who started the final round with a one-stroke lead, held off all challengers.

Mickelson finished at 7-under 281 and earned $1.26 million, putting him atop the PGA Tour money list. The victory also moved him up to No. 2 in the world ranking, just behind Tiger Woods.

With two green jackets now hanging in his wardrobe, ?Lefty? certainly seems to have mastered The Masters. And in doing so, the former ?best golfer to have never won a major? has even more fully established himself among some of the game?s most memorable names, after taming one of the game?s most widely recognized courses for the second time in three years.

But almost as famous as the golfing legends that have walked Augusta?s historic fairways, is the Augusta course itself.

For anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to see Augusta National in person, you understand the true beauty of this majestic piece of land.

I have been there and seen the azaleas in full bloom and for a golfer it is truly heaven, but you don?t have to love the game of golf to appreciate the rolling hills of east Georgia.

There are a few interesting facts about Augusta National Golf Club, that some may or may not know. And, with Warren County being the ?Nursery Capital of the World,? the history of one of golf?s most recognized courses could be very interesting.

Although now recognized as one of the most exclusive country clubs in the nation, with a membership over the years consisting of everyone from legendary golfers to president Eisenhower, you may not know that the 365-acre tract of land on which Augusta National was built was once a working nursery.

In the early 1800?s it was an indigo plantation. But in 1857 all that changed when Baron Louis Mathieu Edouard Berckmans and his son, Prosper Julius Alphonse, purchased the land and began ?Fruitland Nurseries? one year later.

It sort of makes one wonder if ?Augusta National? would have the same reputation as one of golf?s most revered courses if it were known as ?Fruitland National,? doesn?t it?

The nursery closed down after Prosper?s death in 1910, and in 1931 Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts bought the property for $70,000. Not a bad investment for 365 acres, wouldn?t you agree?

With plants still growing on the property, Jones and Dr. Alister Mackenzie designed the course, cut 18 holes out of the nursery stock, and Augusta National was born.

Because of the course?s history as a tree farm, each hole is named after a distinctive plant, such as No. 2, ?Dogwood,? No. 5, known as ?Magnolia,? the 18th, named for ?Holly,? and of course No. 13, which is named for the former nursery?s signature plant, the azalea.

And, just in case you?re wondering about all the azaleas, Prosper is credited with popularizing the plant in the south. There are over 350 varieties of plants totaling 80,000 on the grounds at Augusta National.

And no, these days they?re not for sale.