Augusta is known for its famous golf tournament every April. But a few weeks before the 2008 event, another sport received nationwide attention.

The Augusta State men's basketball team furthered the area's reputation as a sports town when it advanced to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass. The Jaguars advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game, which was broadcast throughout the country on CBS.

When the basketball team returned home, the dogwoods and azaleas were in bloom, just in time for the Masters Tournament, the first major golf tournament of the year. After the last ball drops and tourists depart, Augusta still has plenty to offer the remaining 51 weeks.

Annual events include the Augusta Futurity, the National Barrel Horse Association World Championships, the Nike Peach Jam, the Augusta Arsenal Soccer Shootout and the Head of the South Regatta.

All of those events bring in competitors from throughout the United States and beyond. For example, the National Barrel Horse Association World Championships featured more than 1,000 entrants, with some coming from Canada, Panama and Italy.

According to data provided by the Greater Augusta Sports Council, more than 25,000 athletes participated in sporting events in the Augusta-Aiken area in 2008.

The sports range from fishing and rowing events to boxing tournaments and gymnastics meets.

Augusta State University, the University of South Carolina Aiken and Paine College all play collegiate sports on the NCAA Division II level, with the exception of ASU's Division I men's and women's golf teams.

The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team won the Peach Belt Conference regular season men's basketball title in the 2007-08 season. They finished the regular season with a No. 6 national ranking, just ahead of Augusta State (No. 10). Augusta State and USC Aiken each opened the 2008-09 season ranked in the top 10.

The USC Aiken men's golf team won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2004, 2005 and 2006, while the Augusta State men's golf team is one of the top teams in the country annually.

Augusta also is home to some of the finest rec sports facilities in the Southeast, including:

- Patriots Park in Columbia County, which boasts one of the state's largest multipurpose athletic complexes.

- Diamond Lakes in Richmond County, which draws enthusiasts of America's most popular participatory sport -- softball.

- Riverview Park in North Augusta, which offers an outstanding venue for pickup and recreation-league basketball.

- Blanchard Woods Park in Columbia County, which opened with its $5.1 million first phase in September 2007. The first phase, 40 acres of the 150-acre park, features four soccer fields and a practice field. When completed, the park will feature seven additional soccer fields. In fall 2008, the Peach Belt Conference held its soccer championships at the park, which also is used for cross-country meets.

The Aquatics Center has two indoor pools for competitive and recreational swimming.

The Augusta Soccer Park is home to the Augusta Arsenal Soccer Club, a program that fields more than 20 select youth teams in age brackets Under 9 through Under 19.

Basketball

- Garden City Roundball Classic. For information, call (706) 722-8326.

- Nike Peach Jam Invitational at Riverview Park in North Augusta in July. For information, call (803) 441-4300.

- Nike Nationals at Riverview Park in July. For information, call (803) 441-4300.

Drag boat racing

- Augusta Southern Nationals on the Savannah River. For information, call (706) 722-8326.

Football

- CSRA Classic at Laney Memorial Stadium in October. For information, call (706) 722-4222.

Golf

- Augusta State Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club, Evans, April 4-5. For information, call (706) 731-7925.

- The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, April 6-12. For information, call (706) 667-6000.

- Augusta State Lady Jaguar Invitational, at Forest Hills Golf Club, October-November. For information, call (706) 731-7925.

Horse events

- Augusta Futurity at James Brown Arena, Jan. 23-31. For ticket information, call (706) 823-3417.

- Aiken Triple Crown: Trials, March 14; Steeplechase, March 21; Polo, March 28. For ticket information, call the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, (803) 641-1111.

- National Barrel Horse Association World Championships at James Brown Arena in October and November. For ticket information, call (706) 823-3728.

Polo

- Aiken Polo Club fall season at Whitney Polo Field or Powderhouse Field. For information, call (803) 643-3611.

- Aiken Polo Festival at New Bridge Polo and Country Club, in Aiken in September and October. For information, call (803) 644-8785.

Rowing

- Aiken-Augusta Spring Regatta at Langley Pond. For information, call (803) 642-7559.

- Head of the South Regatta by the Augusta Rowing Club at the Savannah River in November. For information, call (706) 821-2875.

Running

- Triple Crown Road Race in March. For ticket information, call (803) 642-7760.

- Whiskey Road Race in September. For information, call (803) 649-9909.

- Broad Street Ramble in September. For information, call (706) 737-9114.

- The Augusta Chronicle Half Marathon in October. For information, call (706) 722-8326.

Soccer

- Augusta Arsenal Soccer Shootout at Fort Gordon's Barton Field in February. For information, call (706) 854-0149.