AUGUSTA, GA. Observing Masters Chairman Fred Ridley in action Monday was a thoughtful presentation in putting forward a clear action plan. At the center of it — placing Augusta National Golf Club in a prominent role in expanding its reach and support for golf in the host community of Augusta.
Ridley’s press conference was clear in stating how a new and more purposeful relationship with Tiger Woods is now moving ahead and how a closer bond with the City of Augusta is being developed.
The Patch, the city of Augusta’s municipal course, will be updated in a big-time manner with two prime architects (Tom Fazio and Beau Welling) involved. Woods will be developing a par-3 9-hole short course – called “The Loop at the Patch” — that will likely open with the full-course next April in time for the ’26 Masters. There will also be a learning lab school financed in part by the TGR Foundation (started by Woods) and Augusta National Golf Club. The Learning Lab will be the fourth in the U.S. with a planned opening in 2028.
What’s most interesting is how Augusta National has sought to chart a pathway in which its long-time penchant for internal privacy is maintained while still being able to intersect with key people and organizations that exist beyond its immediate club boundary. The wherewithal to do those two separate things and have them placed under one roof is a testament to Ridley’s leadership style.
Keep in mind, Augusta National’s outreach effort dates back to 2013 when the Drive, Chip and Putt initiative, a youth golf skills competition, was founded with the USGA, PGA of America and with the National Finals hosted annually since 2014 at Augusta National Golf Club.
In 2018, Ridley announced the 2019 playing of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The 72-top female amateurs would play a stroke-play event in which the final round is hosted at Augusta National the week prior to the Masters.
In addition, Augusta National has also played a central role in the development of the Asis-Pacific (2009) and Latin-America (2014) amateur events.
While these outreaches have been carried forward under the imprimatur of Augusta National Golf Club – the sheer scope speaks to an independent much larger effort albeit operating in the shadows of the recognized authorities.
The intersection with Woods is indeed a fascinating one given how matters have evolved. Go back to April 2010 and it was then Masters Chairman Billy Payne who publicly rebuked Tiger for his off-course dalliances.
“It is simply not the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here,” Payne said. “It is the fact that he disappointed all of us, and more importantly, our kids and our grandkids. Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children.”
What was so amazing is the clear hypocrisy coming from the leader of a club that routinely heralds the spirit of golf but had not invited a black man to play in the previously all-white event until Lee Elder competed in 1975 . Keep in mind, the Boston Red Sox were the last major league baseball team to integrate but that happened a full 16 years sooner in 1959.
Augusta National membership timelineDecember 1932: Augusta National Golf Club opens. |
The first black member of the club did not happen until October 1990 and it took another 22 years (August 2012) before the first two women were accepted.
In a mind-boggling manner, Payne saw fit to chastise Woods for his behavior but failed to admit — what is obvious to others – how Augusta National had taken a glacial pace in opening its doors to others beyond white men.
Go back to Payne’s predecessor — Hootie Johnson – who said in 2002 without the least bit of regret that women members would not be forced upon the club. When protests were started by Martha Burk.
“There may well come a day when women will be invited to join our membership, but that timetable will be ours, and not at the point of a bayonet,” Johnson said.
The intersection with Woods marks a clear desire by Augusta National to forge a more sustained effort and doing much of that within the host community. Ridley emphasized in his Monday remarks that such involvement would be in alignment with a “core value” in “contributing to our community.”
In years past, Augusta National Golf Club was merely part of the broader landscape with Augusta the municipality. No doubt the community benefited from the vast sums of money the tournament generated. But it was equally clear the two parties, although geographically connected, were essentially miles and miles apart.
Ridley has been an instrumental figure in shaping and bolstering such outreach efforts. The 72-year-old chairman’s credibility comes on many levels. He is the most successful actual golfer ever to serve as the club’s leader having won the 1975 U.S. Amateur, served as a member of the Walker Cup and part non-playing captain and then becoming years later the president of the USGA, before his climb up the leadership ranks at Augusta National. His demeanor has been clear and shaped by an engaging collaborative approach.
Augusta National’s relationship with Woods is a mutually beneficial situation. The club acted stupidly in chastising him give its own sorry past. Working closely with the foundation Tiger created now gives the impetus to bring to life a dynamic and even more purposeful environment.
Woods also realized connecting himself to the effort will undoubtedly raise his own standing on a number of levels. The five-time Masters champion showed uncanny smarts in not addressing the comments Payne made back in 2010. Tiger wisely allowed others to do that. Now Woods is on the inside where his voice can become more impactful.
Public / private efforts are now gaining steam in a number of communities. Private golf clubs have come to realize they are not self-enclosed silos that only show interest to their inner sanctum. The spirit of golf is now blossoming with a meaningful connection that will likely bear fruit in the years to come.
How ironic a place called The Patch” has “patched ” matters together.
Credit Ridley for charting a more dynamic course ahead. Sometimes the band (Augusta National Golf Club) just needs a new maestro to bring forward a much-needed harmony never played before.
A mastermind indeed — no pun intended.
