Augusta's 'The Patch' reopens with affordable rates, Tiger Woods design

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.

Tom Fazio, Beau Welling combined on project

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. It’s incredible what they’re doing here.”

Douglas lives in Athens, Ga., where he is the associate head coach of the University of Georgia men’s golf team. Thursday was the first time he’d seen The Patch in 30 years, though he’d made trips to Augusta during that time.

“It’s kind of an incredible homecoming,” Douglas said. “It’s not that I was trying to avoid it or anything, it was I just got busy with life.”

When The Patch’s green fee prices were announced on the golfthepatch.com website in early 2026, locals breathed a sigh of relief. Some were worried that with all the improvements, the rates would skyrocket. However, in his April 2025 press conference before the Masters, Ridley had assured locals that “affordability will continue to be that watchword,” and that is the case.

Renderings of The Patch, a municipal golf course in Augusta, Georgia.

Rates have stayed low for locals at ‘The Patch’

In fact, the green fee rates are comparable to those before The Patch, which was then operated by the city after being farmed out to a series of lessees, shut down.

Back then, the maximum rate was $35 with a cart on weekends and holidays.

The new walking rates, for area residents, are $25 for 18 holes Monday through Thursday (juniors and seniors 60-over pay $20) and $35 on Friday-Sunday and holidays ($30 for juniors and seniors).

For a nine-hole round, it is $18 during the week ($15 for juniors and seniors) and $23 on weekends and holidays ($25 for juniors and seniors).

These rates do not include a cart fee, which is the same for locals and non-residents – just $10 for 18 holes and $7 for nine holes.

“I’m not shocked, just knowing the history of the parties involved,” said Andre Lacy II, a grandson of Augusta golfing great Jim Dent, said of the rates. “It’s kind of like the sandwich you get at Augusta National – you buy the same barbeque sandwich (at the Masters) every year and the price is always the same.”

Anyone who would complain about the prices “need to have their heads checked,” said Ira Miller, who was the general manager when The Patch when it closed down. Miller is still working at the “new” Patch.

Starting this week, the course is open for local community groups, including regular players at The Patch and high school teams. Play will continue for private hospitality opportunities during the week of the Masters Tournament week (April 6) before the full reopening to the public on April 15.

Tee times for The Patch can be booked online two weeks in advance at golfthepatch.com, starting April 1 for the April 15 general public opening.

Local resident fees are for citizens of five nearby Georgia counties (Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie, Jefferson and Burke) and two South Carolina counties (Aiken and Edgefield).

Those area residents are receiving quite a price break from non-residents, who will pay $85 during the week and $95 on Friday-Sunday and holidays.

As for The Loop, the nine-hole short course, the rates are $15 for locals ($10 for juniors and seniors) and $30 for out-of-towners. For select night golf play, it is $30 for locals ($20 for juniors and seniors) and $60 for non-locals.

Bobby Jones Links runs ‘The Patch’

The Patch is not operated by Augusta National, but by Bobby Jones Links, of Alpharetta, Ga., for the club.

This is a long-term commitment by Augusta National to the reclamation of the course and revitalization of its importance to the area. The lease is for $1 a year for up to 50 years at the course, the first one in Augusta to allow blacks to play golf, in 1964.

That historic black foursome included 91-year-old Clois Herndon, the last living survivor, who attended Thursday’s ceremony. Herndon and the others opened the door for another black golfer, Jim Dent, who would grow up playing at The Patch and go on to play the PGA Tour and win 12 times on the Champions (50-over) Tour.

Jim Dent Way near the Augusta Municipal Golf Course, a public course also known as The Patch in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Augusta National)

After retiring from competitive golf, Dent spent much of his spare time around The Patch. In 2020, the entranceway to The Patch, which was then located on where Damascus Road hits Highland Avenue, was named Jim Dent Way.

The new entranceway is on the other side of the course. Under the sign that says The Patch are the words Jim Dent Way. There is also a green street sign to that effect.

Although Jim Dent is gone, his legacy lives on

Dent died May 2, 2025, but had expressed his excitement about upcoming changes at The Patch. Three of his grandsons attended the re-opening including the oldest one, Andre, who is 42.

“He was a simple guy and he would have said something like ‘it’s lovely’ or ‘it’s nice,’” Lacy said about the new look to the course. “I think it would have brought tears to him, not only because he’s passionate about junior golf but just to see the transformation of what this is going to be and how it’s going to benefit the community.”

Lacy, who was a contract pro at The Patch before it closed and is now the men’s and women’s golf coach at Paine College, was asked what the sign with his grandfather’s name means to him. “Man, you can’t put a price or meaning on it,” said Lacy, who is a PGA of America pro. “I’m just thankful I had him for a grandfather and I’m part of the legacy.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta’s ‘The Patch’ golf course reopens

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