AAfter more than a year of making dreams come true, the Augusta Municipal Golf Course – better known as The Patch – is almost ready for its close-up.
The golf course, located just five miles from Augusta National, will fully open for public play on April 15, following a soft opening in March, allowing some of The Patch’s regular players, along with local community groups and high school teams, to get a first look at the completely renovated layout.
The Patch will also be made available for private catering events during the week of the Masters.
The renovation project was announced in April 2023 by Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley in partnership with Augusta Technical College, The First Tee of Augusta and Masters Tournament Charities. The project was an important part of Augusta National’s commitment to the community and created a top-tier public golf course for the city and its surrounding area.
The Patch has been an integral part of the golf fabric in the Augusta area for decades. It’s where Jim Dent, a successful PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions player, got his start and where a group of Augusta National caddies learned the game.
In addition to significant improvements to the golf course, The Patch will offer affordable green fees for area residents, with walking rates for 18 holes as low as $25 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday.
Before the Masters last year, Ridley spoke about the vision for The Patch.
“We’re leaning into the nickname The Patch, as the course was affectionately known by local golfers. You’ll notice that the primary and secondary logos pay tribute to the course’s history, with a nod to the cabbage patch that was hidden behind the 14th green and later the 10th tee,” Ridley said last year.
“As you enter the property on the new Jim Dent Way you will see a brand new relocated clubhouse with an outdoor pavilion, driving range and extensive practice areas for local schools and the general public.
The Patch is operated by Bobby Jones Links and offers rates for active military, seniors, juniors, local and non-resident golfers.
“The redesign of the third-oldest course in Augusta also recognizes the previous course routing on 11 holes by utilizing existing corridors from the original design.
“We know that once this project is complete, it will enhance this nearly 100-year-old public golf facility while keeping it affordable. This preservation will boost those who have loved playing here while creating opportunities for others to come and enjoy the game.”
The course was nicknamed “the Cabbage Patch” after the late Red Douglas, who ran the course for many years, established a nearby vegetable garden. The track, located next to the Daniel Field Airport runway, also suffered from conditioning over the years, adding an extra element of authenticity to the nickname.
The Patch has been an integral part of the golf fabric in the Augusta area for decades. It’s where Jim Dent, a successful PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions player, got his start and where a group of Augusta National caddies learned the game.
“We know that once this project is complete, it will enhance this nearly 100-year-old public golf facility while keeping it affordable.” – Fred Ridley
Among the notable caddies who got their starts at the Patch were: Willie Peterson Jr., who was on the bag for five of Jack Nicklaus’ six Masters victories; Carl Jackson, who played 54 Masters, including both of Ben Crenshaw’s victories; and Nathaniel “Iron Man” Avery, Arnold Palmer’s longtime Augusta caddie.
Dent, after whom the new trail access road is named, died last May at the age of 85.
Course designers Tom Fazio and Beau Welling oversaw the 16-month renovation of The Patch, while Tiger Woods and his TGR Design group were hired to create a short nine-hole course called The Loop. The name of the short course is a tribute to the caddies who have gathered at The Patch over the years, Ridley said last year.
Woods and his TGR Foundation are also building a TGR Learning Lab in Augusta, expected to open in 2028.
While playing a practice round together in 2024, Ridley brought up the topic of creating a short course and Woods showed immediate interest, leading to the larger collaboration in the Augusta area.
One of The Patch’s features is a 17-acre training facility that features a Trackman range with 20 indoor battlefields. There will also be a 12-hole putting course, which is free to the general public.
The facility will be operated by Bobby Jones Links and will offer rates for active military, seniors, juniors, local and non-resident golfers. The number of starting times will gradually increase with the aim of reaching full capacity in the summer. More information is available at GolfThePatch.com.
© 2026 Global Golf Post LLC
Photos courtesy of Augusta Municipal Golf Course
#Augustas #Patch #reopens #renovation