SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Parts of the CSRA are a wet, muddy mess after Tropical Storm Debby dumped double-digit rain totals on the area.
Especially hard-hit were eastern and southern counties, where many roads were washed out or flooded.
And unlike Augusta, where the rain stopped Tuesday night, the skies were still emptying themselves over places like Screven County, where there were showers on and off all Wednesday ahead of possibly more rain Thursday.
It’s bad enough to keep schools in the county closed for the rest of the week in both Screven and Jenkins counties.
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Screven County
Any dirt road in Screven County – and there are many – was a no-go on Wednesday.
Eureka Road was washed out over the dam at Meldrin Millpond near Savannah Highway.
It left about 15 people stranded on one side of the washout.
“This is a dead-end road,” said Codie Toole. “You got one way in, one way out.”
Tropical Storm Debby caused this washout of Eureka Road at Meldrin Millpond in Screven County.(WRDW)
“Obviously, we didn’t know it was this much rain, but it was, it was a lot of rain,” Toole said. “Obviously, the road is – it ain’t much, ain’t much you could do with it.”
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Heavy equipment was brought in to help after the Screven County Emergency Management Agency raised concerns the dam might fail.
Load after load of dirt was dumped and then spread to help fill in some of the gaps left by the washout.
Toole said it was great to see all the community support, with county crews and others coming out to help.
“Oh, it’s awesome. That’s what this community is about, helping each other,” he said. “It’s most action we’ve had on this road in a while.”
Halcyondale Road remained flooded – as it had been on Tuesday – and 10 people had to be evacuated off of Rocky Ford Road, though no injuries were reported.
By Wednesday afternoon, Halcyondale Road in Screven County had been flooded for about 24 hours.(WRDW)
Quite a few paved roads were underwater, or the debris patterns showed they recently had been.
County officials wanted to close more roads Tuesday when the storm came in, but they couldn’t do that because they ran out of orange barrels and signs.
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Near Newington on Wednesday, water roils alongside Creek Road after receding from the pavement.(WRDW)
Some Screven County neighbors said their yards were under 16 inches to 2 feet of water.
“I don’t even have words to describe this,” the chief deputy said. “It is nothing but a huge mess. I can’t put words to what we are seeing.”
National Guard troops arrived Wednesday morning to offer help where they could. They were requested by county officials after being activated by Gov. Brian Kemp ahead of the storm. They were bringing heavy equipment to deal with debris and trees.
WHAT’S AHEAD?
Debby has gone out to sea for now, but the slow-moving storm is expected to move back inland, bringing more rain Thursday to the already saturated region. South Carolina counties are at more risk than the Georgia side of the CSRA. A slight flood risk has been issued for many local counties, but that will all depend on Debby’s eventual track.
Although areas are underwater, crews are only taking out the boat if there are life-safety issues.
One woman had water up to her knees. She told us the rainwater level reached the level of the pond on her property.
Her family had multiple vehicles sitting in the water, and she feared they might be totaled.
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She was trying to rescue her chickens Wednesday morning, but she wasn’t optimistic.
Another homeowner called the flooding a “devastating blow to farmers.”
On Tuesday night, Screven County emergency management officials were very concerned about the amount of rain that fell – a total they say they’ve never seen.
At Rocky Ford, which got the most recorded rain in the county, the Ogeechee River looked perilously high. One longtime resident said he’d only seen it that high one time before.
As of Wednesday morning, here were some of the rain totals in Screven County:
Rocky Ford: 12.89 inches.
Newington: 11.38 inches.
Sylvania: 9.33 inches.
Burtons Ferry: 8.96 inches.
Sylvania Airport: 8.23 inches.
Hiltonia: 4.99 inches.
Allendale County
Allendale County Emergency Management Agency officials told News 12 on Wednesday that Tuesday’s rain was they most they had seen – definitely more than the last few hurricanes.
Williams Road in Fairfax was washed out, and was blocked from end to end. Here’s a look at the water washing over it:
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Also washed out was Stillwood Road.
Citadel Road was flooded just off Allendale-Fairfax Highway. At the corner, the owner of Showroom Discount Warehouse said it’s the only flooring place in town. The business couldn’t get deliveries in and out because of the flood and was having some septic tank issues.
Citadel Road was flooded just off Allendale-Fairfax Highway.(WRDW)
There were surely more flooded roads, but officials were still riding routes to check around midday Wednesday.
Some areas were underwater, including some farmland along Confederate Highway.
At a home along Buford’s Bridge Highway, no one was there, but the yard and driveway were underwater.
At a home along Buford’s Bridge Highway, no one was there, but the yard and driveway were underwater:(WRDW)
There was flooding all around Fairfax Gardens Apartments at 772 Saluda Ave., which is home to many seniors. Fire crews tried to clear the water Tuesday, but they weren’t successful.
Many residents left Tuesday, and those who stayed did so by choice.
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There was flooding all around Fairfax Gardens Apartments at 772 Saluda Ave., on Wednesday in Allendale County.(WRDW)
Burke County
In Sardis, Tom Bargeron Road was washed out near Highway 23. On Wednesday morning, the asphalt had been peeled away atop culverts that run underneath the roadway. Water swirled along the side of the road.
In Sardis, Tom Bargeron Road was partially washed out near Highway 23.(WRDW)
It’s a familiar problem to the area. The road was replaced about 10 years ago due to flooding and washouts from the creek that runs under it. Crews installed four large culverts to help move the water. But on Tuesday, that wasn’t enough.
Also in Sardis, Beaver Dam Road was closed Wednesday.
Just a few miles to the northeast, Perry Road was washed out off of Stoney Bluff Road. That’s east of Girard.
Flooding forced the Georgia Department of Transportation to close State Highway 24 north of Alexander-Munnerlyn Road in Burke County on Tuesday night. And Mill Pond Road near Murray Hill Road was closed due to flooding.
Also in Burke County, part of a tree broke and penetrated the roof of a home in Sardis off Zeigler Circle on Doris Lane. No injuries were reported.
Even though winds have been relatively low, it doesn’t take much to bring down a tree in soggy ground.
Water nearly surrounds this mobile home along Hiltonia Creek Road in Burke County after Tropical Storm Debby swept through.(WRDW)
Falling trees have been deadly during the storm. A 19-year-old man in Moultrie died when a tree fell through a home Monday afternoon.
Jenkins County
Flooded rural roads were also a problem in Jenkins County, where rainfall totaled 5 to 6 inches, depending on location.
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Jones Plantation Road was covered in 7 inches of water Tuesday evening. That was up from 5 inches in less than two hours.
Jenkins and Emanuel counties both had all hands on deck, with first responders of every kind on standby, from law enforcement to rescue crews.
WHAT ABOUT THE RIVERS?
One thing we probably won’t have to worry about is flooding from the Savannah River. Although the river is expected to rise about 6 feet by Thursday night, it will still be below the lowest flood stage at that point. The Ogeechee River at Midville, however, could reach minor flood stage by Thursday night, when it will have risen by 5 to 6 feet.
Bamberg County
Bamberg County, which is still recovering from a Jan. 9 tornado, was mostly unscathed by Debby.
Some trees came down Tuesday night, but crews had already cleared them by the middle of Wednesday.
The only closed road was Turkeycut Road.
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Bamberg County spokeswoman Alisha Moore said people are just hunkering down for the second round of Debby on Thursday.
County officials ask people to stay off the roads – and don’t go try to see the flooding if there is any.
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA — April 2, 2026
The 2026 Masters is set to tee off a week from today. Millions will watch on television with coverage from Prime Video, ESPN, Paramount+, and CBS. The weekend schedule is listed below.
A ticket to watch the tournament live at Augusta National Golf Club is one of the harder to acquire in all of sports. If you are lucky enough to score an admission, you might be wondering about securing a place to stay in the greater Augusta area.
Ahead of this year’s tournament, Rotogrinders.com analyzed over 1,000 accommodation listings in Augusta, Georgia and its surrounding areas on Booking & Airbnb to determine how much higher accommodation prices are during the tournament compared to the week before and after.
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According to the results of the analysis (when looking at accommodation for 2 adults during the Masters between the 8th and 13th of April in Augusta & its surrounding areas):
A 5-night stay on Booking during the Masters costs (on average) $5,643, which is 150.4% more than the week before and 537.7% more than the week after.
A 5-night stay on Airbnb during the Masters costs (on average) $7,844, which is 23.0% more than the week before and 175.9% more than the week after.
When Booking & Airbnb data is combined, a 5-night stay during the Masters costs (on average) $6,744, which is 56.3% more than the week before and 261.8% more than the week after.
As of today (when looking at accommodation for 2 adults during the Masters between the 8th and 13th of April in Augusta & its surrounding areas):
The most expensive option on Airbnb is a 3-bedroom house located walking distance from the Augusta National Golf Club for $55,715.
The cheapest option on Airbnb is a 1-bedroom rental unit located 8 miles from the Augusta National Golf Club for $428.
At least 45 accommodation listings on Airbnb during the Masters are currently listed for more than $15,000 for the 5-night stay.
The most expensive option on Booking is a king room in a 3-star inn located 2.5 miles from the Augusta National Golf Club for $10,687.
The cheapest option on Booking is a king room in an inn located 7 miles from the Augusta National Golf Club for $765.
Date
Booking Average Price
Airbnb Average Price
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Booking & Airbnb Combined Average Price
1 Week Before Average Price (1-6 April)
$2,253
$6,378
$4,316
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Masters Average Price (8-13 April)
$5,643
$7,844
$6,744
1 Week After Average Price (15-20 April)
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$885
$2,843
$1,864
So if you are going, bring your big checkbook.
Methodology
In total, 1,061 Airbnb & Booking.com accommodation listings near Augusta, Georgia (and its surrounding areas) were collected for the purpose of the 2026 analysis.
The dates were pre-set from the 8th of April to 13th of April 2026, which was then compared to average prices of 5-night stays on the same days of the week in the weeks before and after the Masters (1-6 April & 15-20 April).
The accommodation search was pre-set for 2 adults.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A hole-by-hole look at Augusta National, site of the 90th Masters to be played April 9-12, with famous shots played at each, the average score and where each hole ranks in difficulty over the years:
No. 1, 445 yards, par 4 (Tea Olive)
This slight dogleg right plays uphill and has a deep bunker requiring a 317-yard carry off the tee. The bunker has a tongue in the left side, so anything that enters the front of the bunker might be blocked by the lip. A bunker is left of the green, which falls off sharply at the back and to the right.
Masters memory: Charl Schwartzel used a 6-iron to pitch a low-running shot from the right mounds across the green and holed the shot for birdie to begin the final round of his 2011 victory.
Average score: 4.236
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Rank: 6
No. 2, 585 yards, par 5 (Pink Dogwood)
The dogleg left can be reached in two with a good drive. A fairway bunker on the right comes into play. A drive kept down the left side shortens the hole, but leaves a downhill lie to a green guarded by two deep bunkers in the front.
Masters memory: Louis Oosthuizen hit a 4-iron from 253 yards in the final round of 2012 that landed on the front of the green and rolled some 90 feet into the cup for the first albatross at this hole in Masters history.
Average score: 4.770
Rank: 18
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No. 3, 350 yards, par 4 (Flowering Peach)
One of the best short par 4s in golf, this hole hasn’t been changed since 1982. Big hitters can drive near the green, and more are trying. But there are difficult short-game shots surrounding the L-shaped green that slopes sharply from right to left. Some players still hit iron off the tee to stay short of four bunkers on the left side.
Masters memory: Scottie Scheffler’s three-shot lead was down to one in the final round of 2022 when he drove left and came up short. He chipped in for birdie and restored his lead to three shots when Cameron Smith made bogey.
Average score: 4.071
Rank: 14
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 13: Tyrrell Hatton of England and Tiger Woods of the United States walk across the fourth hole during the third round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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No. 4, 240 yards, par 3 (Flowering Crab Apple)
This usually is long iron or maybe fairway metal for shorter hitters. A deep bunker protects the right side of the green, with another bunker to the left. The green slopes to the front. This hole features the only palm tree on the course.
Masters memory: Phil Mickelson was one shot out of the lead in the final round in 2012 when his tee shot hit the grandstand and went into the woods. Lefty played two right-handed shots to get it out, hit his fourth into the bunker and got up-and-down for a triple bogey. He finished two shots behind.
Average score: 3.282
Rank: 3
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No. 5, 495 yards, par 4 (Magnolia)
The Masters tee was moved back 40 yards in 2019. It now requires a 313-yard carry over the bunkers on the left of this uphill, slight dogleg to the left. The green slopes severely from back to front, and a small bunker catches anything long. If an approach is long and misses the bunker, it could roll down the slope and into the Magnolia trees. The back left green has been softened to allow for a pin position.
Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus made two eagles in the 1995 Masters, with a 5-iron from 180 yards in the first round and with a 7-iron from 163 yards in the third round.
Average score: 4.267
Rank: 5
No. 6, 180 yards, par 3 (Juniper)
An elevated tee to a large green with three tiers, with significant slopes marking the three levels. Getting close to the hole is a challenge. The easiest pin might be front left. The hole has not been changed since 1975.
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Masters memory: Billy Joe Patton, trying to become the first amateur to win the Masters, made a hole-in-one with a 5-iron from 190 yards in the final round in 1954. He missed the playoff between Ben Hogan and Sam Snead by one shot.
Average score: 3.135
Rank: 12
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Viktor Hovland of Norway plays his tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
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No. 7, 450 yards, par 4 (Pampas)
This hole literally has come a long way, from 320 yards to 450 yards. The tee shot is through a chute of Georgia pines, played to the left-center of the fairway into a slight slope. The green is surrounded by five bunkers, the most around any green.
Masters memory: Byron Nelson drove the green in the 1937 Masters for a two-putt birdie when it played at 320 yards. That inspired Augusta National to alter the hole, moving the green back 20 yards and to the right to make it an elevated green with three bunkers in the front and two in the back.
Average score: 4.156
Rank: 10
No. 8, 570 yards, par 5 (Yellow Jasmine)
An accurate drive is important to avoid the fairway bunker on the right side. The hole is uphill and features trouble left of the green. There are no bunkers around the green, just severe mounding.
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Masters memory: Tom Kite and Seve Ballesteros were paired together in the final round in 1986, both in contention. Kite hit a sand wedge from 80 yards that bounced twice and dropped in for his first eagle to get within two shots of the lead. Ballesteros, not the least bit bothered, played a pitch-and-run from 40 yards short of the green and matched his eagle to take the lead.
Average score: 4.813
Rank: 15
No. 9, 460 yards, par 4 (Carolina Cherry)
The tee shot should be aimed down the right side for a good angle into the green, which features two large bunkers to the left. Any approach that is short could spin some 25 yards back into the fairway.
Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus hit 9-iron into 12 feet in 1986 and was ready to putt when he heard back-to-back cheers from behind him on the eighth green. “Why don’t we try to make some noise ourselves?” he said to the gallery. He made the birdie putt, and so began his charge to his sixth green jacket.
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Average score: 4.133
Rank: 13
AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 02: Bubba Watson of the United States prepares to play his third shot on the tenth hole during a practice round prior to the start of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 2, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
No. 10, 495 yards, par 4 (Camellia)
A long hole that can play shorter if the drive catches the slope in the fairway. It is difficult to save par from the bunker right of the green. The putting surface slopes from right to left.
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Masters memory: Bubba Watson was deep in the trees to the right of the fairway, 155 yards away, when he played a 40-yard hook with a wedge that landed about 10 feet beneath the hole. He two-putted for par to win the 2012 Masters.
Average score: 4.296
Rank: 2
No. 11, 520 yards, par 4 (White Dogwood)
Amen Corner starts here. A big tee shot — and a straight one — is required to get to the crest of the hill. A pond guards the green to the left and a bunker is to the back right. The safe shot is to bail out short and to the right, but it leaves a difficult pitch.
Masters memory: Larry Mize was in a sudden-death playoff with Greg Norman in 1987 when he missed the green to the right. Mize’s 140-foot chip was gaining steam when it dropped in for birdie, giving him the green jacket and dealing another blow to Norman’s hopes of winning the Masters.
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Average score: 4.303
Rank: 1
No. 12, 155 yards, par 3 (Golden Bell)
This is among the most famous par 3s in golf and the shortest hole at Augusta National. Club selection can range from a 6-iron to a 9-iron, but it’s difficult to gauge the wind. Rae’s Creek is in front of the shallow green, with two bunkers behind it and one in front.
Masters memory: Jordan Spieth hit two balls into Rae’s Creek and made a quadruple-bogey 7. He started the back nine Sunday in 2016 with a five-shot lead. Walking to the 13th tee, he was three shots behind.
Average score: 3.267
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Rank: 4
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Ludvig Aberg of Sweden walk off the 13th tee during a practice round prior to the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
No. 13, 545 yards, par 5 (Azalea)
The tee was moved back 35 yards in 2023. It still requires an accurate tee shot to the center of the fairway to set up players to go for the green, but they have a mid-iron at best. A tributary to Rae’s Creek winds in front of the green, and four bunkers are behind the putting surface. From tee to green, there are about 1,600 azaleas.
Masters memory: With a two-shot lead in the final round in 2010, Phil Mickelson was in the pine straw behind a pair of trees . He hit 6-iron through a small gap in the pines and over the creek to about 4 feet. He missed the eagle putt but kept his lead and went on to win.
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Average score: 4.775
Rank: 17
No. 14, 440 yards, par 4 (Chinese Fir)
This is the only hole on the course without a bunker. Even if the drive avoids trees on both sides of the fairway, the green has severe contours that feed the ball to the right.
Masters memory: Phil Mickelson holed out for eagle during an eagle-eagle-birdie stretch on Saturday in 2010 that helped him get into the final group. He won his third green jacket the next day.
Average score: 4.162
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Rank: 8
No. 15, 550 yards, par 5 (Firethorn)
A cluster of pines is starting to mature on the right side of the fairway, making it critical to be straight off the tee. The green can be reached in two with a good drive, but a pond guards the front and there is a bunker to the right. Even for those laying up, the third shot requires a precise wedge from a severe downhill lie.
Masters memory: Gene Sarazen was three shots behind when he hit the “shot heard ’round the world” in 1935. His 4-wood from 235 yards went into the hole for an albatross. He tied Craig Wood and defeated him the next day in a playoff.
Average score: 4.781
Rank: 16
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AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 12: Jon Rahm of Spain makes a putt on the 16th green during the second round of Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
No. 16, 170 yards, par 3 (Redbud)
The hole is played entirely over water and eventually bends to the left. Two bunkers guard the right side, and the green slopes significantly from right to left. The Sunday pin typically is back and on the lower shelf, and pars from the top shelf that day are rare.
Masters memory: Tiger Woods had a one-shot lead over Chris DiMarco when he missed the green long in 2005. He chipped away from the hole up the slope, watched it make a U-turn at the top and roll back toward the hole, pausing for a full second before dropping for birdie.
Average score: 3.138
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Rank: 11
No. 17, 440 yards, par 4 (Nandina)
The Eisenhower Tree to the left of the fairway about 210 yards from the tee could not be saved from an ice storm in February 2014. That has made the tee shot much easier, especially for those with a lower, left-to-right ball flight. The green is protected by two bunkers in the front.
Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus made his final birdie in 1986 with a 12-foot putt that sent him to a 30 on the back nine and a 65, giving him a one-shot win and his sixth Masters.
Average score: 4.164
Rank: 9
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No. 18, 465 yards, par 4 (Holly)
Now among the most demanding finishing holes in golf, this uphill dogleg right is protected off the tee by two deep bunkers at the left elbow — the only bunkers in play off the tee on the back nine (except for par 3s). Trees get in the way of a drive that strays to the right. Bunkers grab any shot to the left and right.
Masters memory: Sandy Lyle was tied for the lead with Mark Calcavecchia in 1988 when he hit 1-iron in the first of two bunkers down the left side of the fairway. Not thinking he could get on the green, Lyle hit 7-iron over the tall lip and behind the flag, and it rolled back to 10 feet. He holed the putt for birdie to win.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – While golfers drive down Magnolia Lane, patrons have the chance to take a walk through history to see where it all began.
The Augusta Museum of History is seeing increased traffic during golf week.
“We are busy, no doubt about it,” said Nancy Glaser, executive director of the Augusta Museum of History.
The museum features a green jacket, photos and other golf memorabilia.
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“What makes it special, the passion or the interest these people have in golf,” Glaser said.
Museums draw international visitors
Glaser said the museum expects a couple thousand patrons and locals to visit during tournament week.
“It’s an exciting time of year because we get, again, meet people from all over the world, come here. And literally they do. I’ve met Australians, English, Germans, Italians, Japanese, you name it, they’re coming through. And it’s just fun to meet people, whether you speak their language or not. Golf is international,” Glaser said.
She said visitors have an opportunity to learn backstories before they attend the tournament.
“The opportunity to share stories is what museums do, and that is our primary focus. We want to share stories. And every chance we get, we are able to share those stories,” Glaser said.
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Glaser said the community benefits from the increased traffic.
“And they’re coming not just to the museum, but they’re eating in our restaurants, they’re shopping in our stores. And that’s part of it too. The community is benefiting by all this as well,” she said.
Other museums hosting events
The Augusta Jewish Museum will be open every day next week, from Sunday to Sunday. Visitors can explore the Jewish history in Augusta and notable Jewish golfers. On Friday, April 10, the museum will host a special tournament week event from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Lucy Laney Museum is bringing the history and role of Black caddies to life with the Man on the Bag Experience. Actors will portray notable caddies like Willy ‘Pappy’ Stokes, the godfather of caddies. That event will be April 8 at the Lucy C. Laney Museum from 6 to 7:30