Community gets first look at new Augusta Municipal Golf Course, 'The Patch'

Augusta National Golf Club has transformed the Augusta Municipal Golf Course, that scruffy, blue-collar, workingman’s course, into a jewel of the first order. That much was clear on Thursday when the 98-year-old public course, better known as The Patch, re-opened on a limited basis, nearly 14 months after Augusta National officially took over as the new lessee for the city and started making plans for an extensive renovation of the 18-hole course. It also features a nine-hole short course (par-3) that was designed by Tiger Woods and his company, TGR Design, a state-of-the-art practice facility and new clubhouse and entrance at the corner of Wrightsboro Road and Damascus Road The unveiling on Thursday was the culmination of the work done by The Patch Project LLC, a partnership between Augusta Technical College, The First Tee of Augusta and Masters Tournament Charities to foster opportunities to play and work in the sport.

Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Fred Ridley announced the formation of The Patch Project in April 2023, so it has been a nearly three-year wait for the red tape to be taken care of and then the renovation to be completed. Work on the course started on March 24, 2025. The restoration and new design work was done by famed golf architects Tom Fazio and Beau Welling.

Fazio is the “go to” architect for any changes made at Augusta National Golf Club’s course. One of the attendees Thursday was Jim Douglas, the 60-year-old son of the late Red Douglas, who leased The Patch from the city from 1952 to 1993. Jim’s late mother, Anne, also helped operate the course.

“I think they would be amazed at the investment Augusta National has made, but I think more than anything, they would be pleased with what this does for the opportunities to play golf,” Douglas said. “My dad was so passionate about what the game can do and the lessons it can teach people. So the concept of what golf can do for you is continuing.