The Augusta National Golf Club has an undeniable mystique. People treat it with a reverence accompanied by a misunderstanding that, since it's a private club, the National tends to its business, and doesn't "open up" -- literally or figuratively -- to outsiders.
But that's not the case.
The National is one of the most giving community partners Augusta has. In the past 10 years, the club has donated more than $12.5 million to the Community Foundation of the Central Savannah River Area.
Because of the club's annual giving, the foundation has been able to help further urban ministries, underwrite preventive medical care, fund clubs for at-risk youth, pay to provide counseling and advocacy services for abused children -- the entire page could be filled with the good works that continued in Augusta because of the gracious, community-conscious charity of the Augusta National.
The point is that the club is as proud of Augusta as Augusta is proud of it. And the club is showing more signs of opening up to the community -- and the world.
The Masters Tournament and the club this year are more accessible than ever, from allowing younger golf fans to watch on tournament days to reaching out globally for suggestions on "how to get people playing, watching and talking about golf," according to the tourney's official Web site, masters.org, which is soliciting the suggestions.
And it must be working. Suggestions have been pouring in from as far away as Great Britain.
How heartening that the world is getting a better, closer look of Augusta's crown jewel.
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