The entire Augusta National course has a par of 72. Its 18 holes are divided evenly between a front nine of par 36 and a back nine of par 36.
The course was designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie and opened for play in 1932. It was built on the site of a former plant nursery, which explains why many holes carry names associated with trees, flowers, or shrubs. The Masters Tournament has been played there since 1934, with the exception of the wartime years when the event was suspended.
Augusta National's par-72 layout contains four par-three holes, ten par-four holes, and four par-five holes. Together, those hole pars total 72. The course length and individual hole designs have changed over time, but the standard championship-course par remains 72.
Readers sometimes confuse the course's par with a player's score. A golfer who shoots 72 is even par only if the round is played to the course's full par; a score of 70 would be two under par, while 73 would be one over.