Why America’s pastime caused the Masters to be played in April

Have you ever wondered why The Masters is played in April? For anyone interested in more than just the golf at Augusta National, the answer might seem obvious.

Have you ever wondered why the Masters is played in April? For anyone interested in more than just the golf at Augusta National, the answer might seem obvious. With all the flowering azalea bushes and dogwood trees in the background, springtime in Georgia is simply the best time to showcase the tournament and the stunning property upon which it is played. The dazzling array of pinks, purples, and fuchsias that are always so resplendent at that time of year have become almost as alluring as the action on the course. However, the reason that arguably golf’s most prestigious tournament is played every April has nothing to do with the botany and instead everything to do with a completely different sport: Baseball. When Bobby Jones completed the seemingly impossible grand slam of golf in 1930, winning all four major tournaments in a single calendar year, he retired from the game at the age of 28. But there would be much more to his legacy. The Atlanta native then partnered with stockbroker Clifford Roberts to purchase the grounds of the Fruitland Nurseries company from the Berckman family in Augusta, 150 miles to the east of his hometown. Jones thought the property already looked like a golf course and construction began in 1931, with the 18 holes ready for play at the end of 1932. Now, they needed a tournament to showcase the course to the world.