Theron "T.O." Thurman started playing Augusta Municipal Golf Course when he was 12 years old.
A course member, Mr. Thurman, 64, tries to get in a round of golf just about every day.
"For what it costs to play, you can't beat it," he said Thursday morning while sitting in the course clubhouse after completing his game.
Mr. Thurman and other area golfers could see their trips to "The Patch" curtailed after a proposal this week from City Administrator Fred Russell that would close the course to help shave a nearly $8.6 million budget deficit.
The move would save about $230,000 in cash flow, Augusta Recreation and Parks Director Tom Beck said. That number differs from an estimate by Mr. Russell of saving about $310,000 because of factors such as depreciation, Mr. Beck said.
The Augusta Commission ultimately will decide which cost-saving measures to enact, and the course will operate as normal until then, he said.
Regulars at the 81-year-old golf course described it as a no-frills, budget-friendly venue and said shuttering it would be a mistake.
"It would be devastating," said Durance "Smitty" Smith, 49, who has played the course for 13 years. "It's a meeting place for the boys. We all get along together -- it's one big family."
Mr. Smith, who owns a construction company, said he could play golf elsewhere if "The Patch" closed but would have to take in fewer rounds a week.
"With the economy like it is today, it would be hard for someone who works 9 to 5," Mr. Smith said.
One of the main problems with municipal golf courses is they don't traditionally make money. In the 2009 fiscal year, the course had an expense budget of $640,000 and revenues of $530,000, Mr. Beck said.
"It's very, very difficult to make money on a municipal golf course," he said. "It costs a tremendous amount of money to keep a golf course up with the greens (maintenance). ... The problem is we can't charge the kind of fees it would take to break even or make money."
"The Patch," which is short for "The Cabbage Patch," got its nickname from a cabbage patch garden grown near the old clubhouse. Located off Highland Avenue and adjacent to Daniel Field, the overhead roar of aircraft is part of the daily sights and sounds.
Rates range from $7 for nine holes for a senior or junior Mondays through Thursdays to $33 for 18 regular-priced holes using a golf cart on weekends.
Course member Jessie Morton, 65, described Augusta as the "golf capital of the world." He said that made the course's possible closure particularly odd.
"Everybody who's anybody in Augusta has played golf here," Mr. Morton said. "It'd be a shame if they closed a historical place."
This isn't the first chatter about closing "The Patch." The course appeared on a potential sale list in 2006.
"They started saying this once before," said Russell Cooper, 86, who has played golf at the course since 1963. "I've gotten to the age where I probably don't want to play anywhere else."
Reach Erin Zureick at (706) 823-3217 or erin.zureick@augustachronicle.com.
THE FACTS
FOUNDED: 1928
LOCATION: 2023 Highland Ave.
HOURS: 7:30 a.m. to dark
2009 FISCAL YEAR EXPENSES: $640,000
2009 FISCAL YEAR REVENUES: $530,000
DID YOU KNOW: Nicknamed "The Patch" for a cabbage patch that used to be planted near the old clubhouse
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Fact is, financially, that the 'Patch' only accounts for a fraction of the $8.6 million dollar deficit. The city of Augusta needs to find something else (or other things) that is contributing to the deficit that doesn't require people to pay for the usage of it.
Cut a couple of useless orgs like the DDA and you won't have to close it. Sounds like someone wants to buy the course to me.
if the city keeps closing things down, what then the need for a trolley or a tee center???? they spent 37,000 bucks on a 'study' about the trolley; gee, maybe they could have taken that 37 thou and used it on the golf course? or fix their horrible roads downtown? or for SOMETHING productive other than a 'study' report that will now grace the mayor or the city manager's bookshelves in their office for the next thirty years? it appears augusta is run by characters out of that fave acid-trip book of all time, alice in wonderland. only here it is called dufus in wasteland.
They should cut back on the Great City Council's salary! Bet that would save a good hunk! More than likely enough to help save the Patch! But that would make them wanna suck lemons!
joe bowles suggestion is nothing more that political grandstanding on his part to paly to his base....the expenses of the "patch" amounts to less than 3% of the projected deficit, then on the other hand he want to obligate the taxpayers of richomond county to 40-50 million dollar boondoogle which he and the other supporters claim will be a benefit to the local economy...but does not have or have not produced any kind of documentation to support this claim....backwards and irresponsible thinking by him and the other 9 baffoons...as mr. owens said why not disband the DDA as well, since public golf courses normally don't make a profit then it is there for the benefit of the citizenry to enjoy at a reasonable price, to privatize it would mean an increse in costs with an emphasis on profitability...what will happen after privatization the golf course doesn't turn a profit????...he joe you clam to emphasize fiscal restraint....how many "studies" have been done for various projects throughout the county that have not been paid for while you were on the commission???? where is your outrage about that???
Hey lovein check your facts..... Alice in Wonderland is not an "acid" book..that myth was put to rest eons ago!
It's stupid to think that by simply closing the course they would even put a dent in that deficit. I agree with most of you that when you spend 37k for a trolley study, for a trolley that no one wants, you need to evaluate your overall situation not just how to save a couple of bucks.
Lifelong, you just don't get it do you. We had a bid in hand 3 years ago that would have leased the golf course to a management firm for 75,000 a year. That amounts to positive cash flow for the city of 385,000. That is 6.5% of the deficit without any work. I guess that makes to much sense for you????
We need to privatize this golf course. Buyer beware because the water needed for the course will no longer be free.
Joe we obviously don't know the facts. What we do know is that we don't want to see the Patch closed. Nor do we want to see the overall character of the course changed. There are plenty of upscale golf options available to Augustans, but there is only one place that makes golf accessable to Augustans who might not be welcomed at or able to afford to play golf at those other local courses. That to me makes the Patch valuable, especially when you consider that Augusta, Georgia is the "golf" city.
Chief, I agree with you. The proposal we had agreed not to raise green fees, without commission approval. The only changes would be management.
You can't complain about Obama Care or any Government run operation unless you are consistent in your criticism of cities running golf courses. There are dozens of other courses in the area. Why should the taxpayers subsidize a business that can't stand on its own just so some folks can play a round of cheap golf?
Sell the course to a private investor, if anyone wants it. Don't close it and let it go to heck - maintain it and then sell it!!!
Save the golf course by closing the Richmond County Marshal's Department. Transfer all the Deputy Marshals over to the Sheriff's Office. We can save money by eliminating the administrative salaries(6 sergeants,3 lieutenants,1 captain,3 secretaries and 1 major), sub-station costs and vehicle costs. By law we have to keep the Elected County Marshal but we do not have to give him a budget, department or vehicle. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office already has people in place to supervise the incoming Deputy Marshals.
Save The Patch!
I learned to play golf there in the early 60's and I still enjoy playing it. I always thought it was called the "Cabbage Patch" because that was what the fairways looked like many years ago. I have a lot of memories of the course and the people who worked and played there so I would hate to see it close.
Guess what Boog, the Patch was privately run until the 1990's
Save the Patch.
If you don't want it closed, then raise the rates. Unfortunately its barely worth playing there for what they charge, except at the Junior and Senior rates. There are better values in the area, 33 bucks with cart for that goat pasture? outrageous. I played it once, was unimpressed, its not challenging, its maintained poorly, it is, what it is, cheap inner city golf. Its going to need alot of improvements to compete with other local options Forest Hills, Gordon Lakes, Goshen etc. Your better off playing the 6 hole course at the First Tee.
hey joe, then if it was so advantageous why wasn't it adopted and the "patch" turned over to a management company. BTW "mr. bowles" that was three years ago...i am talking about today, it was your suggestion THE OTHER DAY to PRIVATIZE the patch..so what was suggested 3 years ago is hindsight and offers very little if any subsitive value to your current arguement. i guess it doesnt matter to you about the PROPOSED shortfall of 9million dollars for 2010, NOT 2007, that budget was adopted and passed 3 yrs ago..maybe you need to think ahead and not relish in the pass of days gone by. this does not iinclude the estimated 40-50 million you are ready to saddle the taxpayers with based on a "pie in the sky" project...hey joe where is the market analysis/feasibility study and/or demographic data that will back you the claim that the success TEE CENTER will be profitable...i have asked you 3 times this very same question and have yet to receive an answer. or if you don't have it would you be kind enuff to refer me to the individual(s) or business entity who may have it???
The only redeeming quality of the Patch is the people who play it. Otherwise, it's not worth it even @ half the current price.
chief, here we go with the ole political doublespeak, by mr. bowles how can he agree with you in which you indicate not to close the patch because of its accessibility and affordability by all when he advocates closing or privatizing the patch? by closing it you will definitley eliminate the accessibility by all and, by privatizing the patch it changes the the accessibility not based the individual who chooses to patronize the patch but to THE DISCRETION OF THE NEW OWNERSHIP, giving them if they should choose, to develop admission standards, thereby limiting who would be allowed to use the course.CAN WE ALL SAY "THE MASTERS" golf course.also by privatizing the emphasis shifts from accessibility, to profitability which based on basic economic theories will mandate an increase in fees in order to make a profit. then the pressure further increase based on the owner(s) desire for a set return on investment of his, her or their choosing. by keeping the patch public it as you indicated chief keeps it accessible to all and an affordable price not driven by profit but by "benefitting the public good" and offering those who don't play a chance to discover the game of golf.way to go chief
Subsidized golf is a constitutional right.
Is it just me, or does joebowles come off sounding like a jerk on here? Joe, if that's really you, you need to remember that you are an ELECTED official, not somebody whose daddy just turned the keys over to. You may not like the way people are interpreting the policies or the ignorance people have on certain subjects that you are more enlightened on, but you don't have to be a smart-aleck about it. I think we expect more from you than that.
You notice that all the people that are whining about the Patch aren't saying "And it means so much to me, that I have no problem with higher rates."
I would pay higher rates and not think anything about it. I don't use a cart, love to walk and the Patch is an easy walking course. Red Douglas was always such a joy to see when you signed in to play. He was always very warm and friendly and had a good word to say. I still liked the old Army barracks they had for a pro shop. You used to go into the back to take a wizz and there was always a card game going on. I remember the rented clubs they used to have there. They looked like the first steel shafted proto-types after the hickory shafts. And when I first started playing in the early 60's they had caddies hanging around to tote your bag. There were no tee times, you showed up and put your ball in this metal rack and when your ball came up you teed off. I loved it and it was very exciting especially at Masters time. Daniel Field was full of planes but Arnie's brought the most attention. Please keep the Patch going.
It may not put a dent in the deficit, but you have to cut SOMEWHERE. Municipalities, unlike the Federal government, can't print money. The way it is, is the way it is. We are in a depression, and it's going to get worse. There's not much point in having a cheap golf course when no one wants to live in your municipality because the infrastructure is so bad.
hey corgie how about those taxpaying citizens who already live here? Some amimities for them ? What say you?