Plans for The Patch Project are coming together, at least on paper.
Augusta commissioners recently approved a term sheet associated with the 50-year lease of Augusta Municipal Golf Course which spells out some of the details.
Augusta National Golf Club announced last year plans for a new partnership involving the city, Augusta Technical College and First Tee of Augusta to operate the municipal golf course long term.
Designed in 1928 by Scotsman David Ogilvie, the public course off Highland Avenue acquired the nickname “the Patch” for its scrappy appearance.
The Augusta Commission approved entering the 50-year lease earlier this year, then last week after a closed-door session approved the term sheet.
In a letter of intent, Augusta and Augusta Tech committed “to develop the Patch into a world-class public golf course with an emphasis on creating the nation’s first golf corridor of education to serve as a model and a national exemplar of collaboration among a municipality and stakeholders in its community.”
The term sheet emphasizes conditions at the course that have become “dilapidated,” extensively damaged by Hurricane Helene and are not fully operational. The course lost an estimated 400 trees during the storm.
Terms of the agreement
The Augusta Commission has agreed to lease the Patch to the Augusta, Georgia Land Bank Authority for 50 years at an annual rent of $1.
The land bank will sublease the property to the Patch Project LLC, comprised of Augusta Tech, First Tee and Masters Tournament Charities, Inc.
The Patch shall host programming that provides golf, youth, and workforce education and include spaces utilized for hospitality and special events.
The Patch Project is responsible for extensive renovations and redevelopment of the grounds, to be completed by April 2026. The renovations will be funded partly through existing reserves, city sales tax funds and shared costs for installing a raw water line.
The city shall provide raw water, potable water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and stormwater to the Land Bank.
The Patch Project shall advance the cost of a raw water line and absorb 50% of the expense of the raw water line contract, not to exceed $2.75 million, with the Patch Project absorbing costs exceeding $5.5 million.
The city shall grant to the Land Bank the right of first refusal and purchase option “as set forth in the drafts.”
The Land Bank shall enter a sublease of the Patch and assign all rights under the lease to the Patch Project, which shall have the right to sublease, partially assign or grant licenses to all or any portion of the Patch to Warrior Alliance, First Tee, Augusta Tech or any nonprofit that performs substantially the same functions.
Golf course operations
After renovations are complete, the Patch Project agrees to operate the facility a minimum of six days a week and make it available for nonprofit events a minimum of six days a year.
The Patch Project may close the facilities to local residents for up to 24 days, to host events or take advantage of increased demand due to events such as the Masters Tournament.
The initial local resident daily green fee shall not exceed $50. The Patch Project may create additional discounted rates for residents of adjacent counties, as well as partner with youth golf organizations regardless of residency.
