This year I wanted to understand why that magical area at Augusta National — shared by holes 11, 12, and 13 — is called Amen Corner.
You might be surprised.
Amen Corner is something like Augusta’s Bermuda Triangle — that magical part of the course where everything is as beautiful as it is difficult.
It’s an area full of water, little creeks, and elegant bridges named after golf legends. The greens change in speed and difficulty as the day goes on, and a strange microclimate makes the wind swirl around and mess with any player’s calculations.
Hey — I’ve never even played it, okay? Sounds convincing though, right? Hahahaha.
So the balls…
They go into the water. A lot.
Like… a lot. Hahahaha.
Now, the name originally refers to a place in church where the most devoted believers shout “Amen!” It was chosen by Sports Illustrated journalist Herbert Warren Wind to describe a tense situation involving Arnold Palmer in 1958, on the 12th hole.
Palmer was leading the Masters that year when his ball ended up partially embedded in the ground after heavy rain had softened the area. The official told him he did not get relief without penalty and had to play it as it lay (he made double bogey).
But Palmer decided to play a second ball before finishing the hole, invoking the rule for “doubt about procedure” — and with that second ball, he made par on the par 3.
A little later, the officials ruled in his favor. Palmer won his first Green Jacket.
Warren Wind used the expression “Amen Corner” to describe a place where you rely more on the divine than on logic to get through it alive. He was inspired by the jazz song “Shoutin’ at Amen Corner”, performed by Milton Mezzrow’s band.
If you ever find yourself in one of those situations where you’re not quite sure what to do… Take a picture with LAZAR on your phone. It’ll help you out.
Have a great weekend, golfer!
P.S. No P.S. this week. Hahahaha. I’ve already told you everything. Now get out there and hit it hard!