"The azaleas, the pines, the dogwoods -- they just sort of play on your mind like a song. It was phenomenal. I was just so overcome by it.''

Tiger Woods and caddie Steve Williams work on the 13th green during Tuesday's practice round at Augusta National. The 13th is called Azalea for the plants that line the left side of the fairway. (Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff)

-- Songwriter Dave Loggins, whose inspiration for the song Augusta came as he walked down the 11th fairway -- the entrance to Amen Corner

Three holes define nature of National

Amen Corner is the most famous stretch of real estate in golf.

It's probably the most photographed, too.

The three holes at Augusta National Golf Club -- Nos. 11, 12 and 13 -- are known as much for their beauty as their difficulty.

Amen Corner is more, however, than the swirling wind and Rae's Creek, which have combined to produce some of the most memorable moments in golf history.

The 11th hole, known as White Dogwood, gets its name from the dozens of trees that line the left side of the fairway.

The 12th, Golden Bell, has plenty of the distinctive flowers behind the green.

The 13th is named Azalea for the colorful plant that lines the left side of the fairway from tee to green. More than 1,500 azaleas make a stunning backdrop for the par-5 hole.

Mother Nature deserves much of the credit for Amen Corner's splendor, but she received a helping hand long before the Masters Tournament was ever held.

The property was an indigo plantation until 1857, when Belgian Baron Louis Mathieu Edouard Berckmans purchased the land. He and his son, Prosper Julius Alphonse, formed a partnership a year later to start a nursery.

Operating under the name Fruitland Nurseries, the baron and his son began to import many types of trees and plants from other countries. The business thrived for more than 50 years but ceased operations a few years after the death of Prosper Berckmans in 1910.

With a good foundation already in place, Augusta National founders Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones enlisted the help of Louis Alphonse Berckmans, son of Prosper.

Berckmans returned to Augusta during the construction of the course in the early 1930s and helped decide where the varieties would be located on each hole. According to club records, a few were already in the right location, but most had to be planted.

Each of the holes at Augusta National is named for its distinctive plant. Over the years, more than 80,000 plants of more than 350 varieties have been added to the Augusta National grounds.

Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.