Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley announced Wednesday that the Augusta National Golf Club was entering into a partnership with Augusta Tech, First Tee of Augusta and the city of Augusta related to the only city owned course.
The Augusta municipal golf course known by locals as “The Patch” is located at the end of Daniel Field Airport at the intersection of Wrightsboro Rd and Highland Ave. The First Tee property is adjacent to the Patch and is also owned by the city of Augusta.
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- Staff Photo.
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- Screenshot from Richmond County GIS of ‘The Patch” with neighboring First Tee.
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- Subscriber submitted photo of First Tee from two weeks ago.
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- Subscriber submitted photo of First Tee from two weeks ago.
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- The sign outside of youth golf program First Tee of Augusta at 3165 Damascus Road. Plans are to consolidate operations in some fashion with nearby Augusta Municipal Golf Course. Staff photo by Liz Wright
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- A large tee sits at youth golf program First Tee of Augusta at 3165 Damascus Road. Plans are to consolidate operations in some fashion with nearby Augusta Municipal Golf Course. Staff photo by Liz Wright
The change should save the city of Augusta from funding the course going forward. Since 2017 the city has spent roughly $3.2 million according to the cities only check register.
“This partnership frees up a lot of taxpayer money that can be better utilized to help other parks such as Diamond Lakes get up to a much higher standard,” Commissioner Brandon Garrett said.
“As the saying goes, it has wonderful bones,” Ridley said. “It’s a fantastic facility. It’s got great history, great traditions. So that’s the perfect combination for us to partner with the organizations I mentioned earlier to really make a difference in the community.
“Augusta Technical College is proud to partner with Augusta National Golf Club and First Tee of Augusta to enhance the public golf experience in Augusta,” stated college President Dr. Jermaine Whirl. “Through this partnership we’re excited to establish the nation’s first corridor of golf education that will further cement the city of Augusta as a global mecca for golf.”
In 2010, as Augusta leaders complained about public golf’s expenses, then-Augusta State University considered it as a place to expand and included its 100 acres in a master development plan.
Then after several false starts, commissioners agreed to outsource the golf course to another Scotsman, Brian Hendry, in 2011.
The commission would later reject two more private offers to run the course, as well as a persistent proposal to merge operations with the adjacent youth golf program, First Tee of Augusta.
“The resulting synergies will produce innovative programming, provide an affordable and welcoming pathway for anyone who wants to learn the game,” Ridley said. “And finally, we will assist in the master planning and renovation of both courses to present a public golf experience for residents and visitors to pursue a lifelong relationship with the game.”
