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Patch holds reopening ceremony with special golfers hitting tee shots
Mar. 20βAUGUSTA β An opening ceremony with golfers hitting tee shots is a tradition for a certain big event each April.
But three weeks before the 90th Masters gets underway, another special event was held March 19 to celebrate the reopening of The Patch and usher in a new era of public golf for the Augusta area.
Instead of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, it was Clois Herndon, Ike Choice, James Dent, Joshua Dent and Jim Douglas doing the honors.
Herndon, who was among a group of Black golfers who integrated the Patch in May 1964, didn't hit a shot but was recognized at the ceremony. The other golfers who helped integrate the course were John Elam, Maurice Thompson and Raymond Jenkins, all deceased.
The Augusta Municipal Golf Course, established in 1928 and better known as The Patch, will open fully for public play on Wednesday, April 15. That's three days after the 2026 Masters Tournament is scheduled to finish.
But Thursday, special guests were on hand to play the course after it was fully renovated in a 16-month span.
Golfers entered the renovated property, complete with a new clubhouse and a short course designed by Tiger Woods, on Jim Dent Way. The main entrance is a nod to Augusta's most successful Black golfer and is now on Damascus Road closer to Wrightsboro Road. Dent died in May 2025 and didn't get to see the renovated Patch.
"It's bittersweet but I know he would enjoy being here and everybody here showing up for him," his son, James, said. "That was awesome."
The younger Dent said the Patch was more than a golf course and he looks forward to how future generations will enjoy it.
"It's everything to this community. It's where everyone was allowed to play, come out and have fun," he said. "People would sit around here when the course was closed and talk and have a good time."
Douglas, son of The Patch's longtime professional Red Douglas, said it was "an incredible honor" to participate in the ceremony.
"My father, being here for 43 years, to come back here and see what they've done with it is very cool," Douglas said. "It's incredible, really."
Architects Tom Fazio and Beau Welling led the renovation of the 18-hole golf course. Five-time Masters winner Woods and his firm TGR Design did the work on the newly designed, nine-hole short course, The Loop at The Patch. Both courses present opportunities for all levels of golfers to learn and develop a lifelong relationship with the game.
Douglas was amazed at the transformation.
"It's really kind of amazing to be honest with you," he said. "What Augusta National and Tiger Woods and all the crews that have come out here, it's fantastic.
"It's going to be a great thing for the community of Augusta going forward. It's going to provide a lot of opportunities for a lot of people to play golf."
Leaders wanted to keep public golf both accessible and affordable for the Augusta community. The 18-hole walking rate for local residents, as outlined on GolfThePatch.com, will be $25 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday, while The Loop at The Patch will cost $15 for local residents.
The Patch practice facilities encompass 17 acres and feature Trackman Range, including an area with 20 covered bays. Additionally, the putting course is available complimentary to the general public and includes a 12-hole routing, offering a fun way for players of all skill levels to experience the game.
The full pricing structure for The Patch, The Loop at The Patch and the practice facilities is available on GolfThePatch.com and includes rates for active-duty military, seniors, juniors and local and non-local residents, as well as cart fees.
Tee times for The Patch can be booked online two weeks in advance, beginning April 1 for the April 15 general public reopening. To reserve tee times once the window is open on April 1, please visit GolfThePatch.com.
Originally announced in 2023 by Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National and the Masters, The Patch Project, LLC is a partnership between Augusta Technical College, The First Tee of Augusta and Masters Tournament Charities and will foster opportunities to play and work in the sport.
"Words really don't describe it. I have not seen entire golf course, but land and everything is first class," Douglas said. "The game of golf is powerful, teaching a lot of lessons, and it's going to open the doors for a lot of people to have that opportunity."
