What’s next for the Patch’s partnership with Augusta Tech, Augusta National?

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Big strides are happening in Richmond County to grow the game of golf.

The Patch is becoming a focal point for future leaders in golf management to learn and develop their skills with schools like Augusta Tech, who will be hosting classes.

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley says when it comes to the future of the Augusta Municipal Course, also known as the Patch, there’s ‘almost unlimited potential.’

The Patch will start to be transformed in 2025.

“We’re doing something that has really never been done,” said Augusta Tech President Dr. Jermaine Whirl. “Which is how do you make a municipal golf course your world class golf course, and so this is really very much unprecedented. I hope the folks in this community are excited about it, knowing that all of the inputs that they’ve been giving us, there’s going to be incorporated into a new renovated Patch.”

Dr. Whirl is working with Augusta National to make create a golf management program unlike any other.

“A place that other communities can say, what, how can we do it in our community. And so we want this to be something that other places want to emulate,” said Dr. Whirl.

First Tee of Augusta is a partner as well to help grow the game for kids.

Augusta Tech will help teach and train employees in the golf management business with soon to be classrooms alongside the course with new specialized classes.

“I’m thinking about how we expand our program for continuing education with caddy classes,” he said. “So, we’re really looking at a full umbrella of program offerings to also include culinary arts and hospitality and tourism.”

Even with golf growing, the hiring pool is in need of growth.

“Golf has grown since COVID. It’s gone up tremendously over 200% around the world. But one of the things that has not gone up is talent, the workforce to actually that infrastructure,” said Dr. Whirl.

Augusta Tech knows this partnership will get them more on the map and help bring up enrollment.

“It’s a big deal to Augusta National, to do what’s right for this community. They want to uphold the culture, the heritage and the history of this place, but really just bringing it up to a new standard,” he said.

Augusta Tech is also looking to building on campus housing for when this project at the Patch is looking to be completed by April 2026.

For more information and updates with the project click here : https://www.thepatchprojectaugusta.com/

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