88 REPORT Ushering in a new era at The Patch Stacie Zinn Roberts reports from Augusta Municipal Golf Course, which has reopened its golf facilities following projects by Tom Fazio, Beau Welling and Tiger Woods’ TGR Design. This past spring in Augusta, Georgia, the focus shifted away from the azaleas at Augusta National – at least for a moment – to a municipal facility 10 minutes down the road. Augusta Municipal Golf Course, otherwise known as The Patch, reopened after a year-long renovation by Tom Fazio and Beau Welling. A new nine-hole short course called The Loop at The Patch designed by Tiger Woods’ TGR Design, has also been added to the facility. Funding and support for the project came from Masters Tournament Charities, Augusta Technical College, The First Tee of Augusta and the city of Augusta. The goal of the partnership is to offer the next generation of golfers from the Augusta region an affordable and welcome place to experience the game of golf. More than just a municipal golf course, the facility is slated to include a learning centre that gives back to the community through educational programmes and will serve as an engine for golf and turfgrass industry workforce development. The course and practice facilities have been designed to cater for the varied skill levels of golfers who will play there. Junior golfers and students, who may be taking up the game for the first time, have been front of mind for this project. “One of the cool, unique things in the mission of this property is for the game to be fun,” says Will Guererri, director of golf course and grounds at The Patch. “The driving range is at a 45-degree angle so that when juniors are hitting off the tee, they get some air under the ball and can see it go in the air for a little bit.” Intentional design elements like that add to the facility’s inclusiveness. “It’s a fun, come shoot your best round
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