The Augusta National Golf Club has long been a bit of a mysterious organization to most Augustans, but this enigma we all just know as the ‘National’ has stepped up time and again to support the community and they deserve some recognition for their philanthropy.
It is true that you can’t just go to the front desk of the golf club and apply for membership and pay a fee. You have to be asked to join. Aside from a few high profile names, hardly anyone in the public knows who are actually the members of the club.
All along Washington Road where the golf course is located, the greens and fairways are shielded from public view by a thick bamboo forest.
Back in the early days of the Masters Tournament, tickets were given away for free. These days, getting a practice round ticket is like winning the lottery.
The Augusta National’s logo is recognized internationally, but to most people who live near the golf club, it remains an enigma. Like Willy Wonka’s candy factory, no one really knows what goes on inside, but what comes out is a delicious chocolate for the entire community to enjoy.
The economic impact of the Masters Tournament on the local economy is in no doubt huge. But there is more, the Augusta National is comprised of some incredibly generous people.
While their charitable giving over the years makes only a blip in the news, the truth is that Augusta National has quietly donated millions upon millions of dollars to community non profit organizations through their Community Foundation of the CSRA.
Just recently the Augusta National gave Augusta University 10 million dollars in seed money to begin development of the property on 15th Street.
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Now, in a time of crisis, Augusta National has stepped up along with the Community Foundation of the CSRA to partner with Augusta University to provide a Covid vaccination clinic on property the National owns at the Washington Square shopping center.
The two million dollars they have pledged will also fund pop-up and mobile vaccination sites.
Two million dollars is a lot of money, but we are willing to bet that if more funds are needed, the Augusta National will pull out the checkbook again. That is just how they roll.
Yes, the Augusta National remains an enigma to most of us, but there is no doubt that no other private organization we can name in the United States has been more committed to the health and welfare of their community as this one golf club has been to the CSRA.
On behalf of the citizens of the CSRA, The Augusta Press would like to tell the Augusta National thank you.
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