TheAugusta National Golf Club, founded in 1933 and home to the prestigious MastersTournament, can be an American icon shrouded in intrigue. Co-designed by legends Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, Augusta boastsgorgeous fairways and perfectly manicured greens, set against a breathtakingbackdrop of azaleas and pines. Behind the wondrous scenes and memorabletournament play resides a secretive and special clan, marked with scandal andinvested using the social capacity to make or break a man’s rise to about Augusta glory.

Journalist and novelist Steve Eubanks has used most of hisinvestigative and storytelling abilities to get to the center of Augusta’sturbulent background, including its 44-calendar year rule beneath the iron fist of Cliff Robertsand his suicide in the club’s grounds; the Masters’ impetuous yet long-standingrelationship with CBS; allegations of racism; and the club’s countless, rigidrules.

With45 inspiring photographs, Eubanks’s balanced account also captures the historicmoments that evoke deep affection for Augusta, from Dwight Eisenhower teeingoff in the days before the Masters was televised to Jack Nicklaus’s emotionalvictory at age 46, 23 years after he won his first green jacket. Having a newchapter on Tiger Woods’s 1997 triumph and published just in time for the 1998Masters, Augusta is essential readingfor anyone who wants the complete tale of American golf’s most hallowed floor.