While Bubba Watson was closing out his win at the Northern Trust Open last weekend, officials at Augusta National Golf Club had to make a very difficult decision.

The severe ice storm that ripped through Georgia and the Carolinas last week caused irreparable damage to the famous Eisenhower tree that stood guard on the 17th fairway at Augusta National.

Many limbs were broken from the heavy weight and the tree could not be saved.

It was aptly dubbed the Eisenhower tree for President Dwight D. Eishenhower, who was a member at Augusta National for 20 years.

It was undoubtedly the most famous tree in golf.

The Loblolly Pine reached over 65 feet in the air and sat approximately 180 yards from the forward tees. Its width spanned the left half of the fairway, which forced a very uncomfortable tee shot.

President Eisenhower played a fade and that tree would invariably interfere with his drive on the 17th hole.

Near the end of the annual meeting of the Augusta National membership in 1956, Ike moved that the tree be cut down. He was tired of it interfering with his golf game and didn’t feel the hole needed that tree.

Augusta National Club President, Clifford Roberts not wanting to offend the President of the United States, immediately adjourned the meeting and forever ended the discussion.

Hence, that tree became known as the “Eisenhower Tree.”

The tree added to its lore, when Tiger Woods injured his knee and Achilles while trying to extricate himself from pine straw underneath it in the 2011 Masters. He was forced to miss both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship while recovering from those injuries that year.  

From the back tees long hitters like, Bubba Watson or Dustin Johnson simply flew their drive over the tree and were left with short irons into the green. Shorter hitters were forced to work a draw around it to find the fairway.

Future plans for a replacement or other design changes to the 17th hole are unknown.