Augusta, GA

2026 Masters Tees Off Next Thursday, April 9th – The Lasco Press

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2026

2026 Masters Tees Off Next Thursday, April 9th – The Lasco Press

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.

Thursday, April 9 (Round 1):
1 p.m.–3 p.m. (Prime Video)
3 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, April 10 (Round 2):
1 p.m.–3 p.m. (Prime Video)
3 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, April 11 (Round 3):
12 p.m.–2 p.m. (Paramount+)
2 p.m.–7 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, April 12 (Round 4):
12 p.m.–2 p.m. (Paramount+)
2 p.m.–7 p.m. (CBS)

Photo Courtesy of Augusta National Golf Club

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.

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 Advertisement	Booking & Airbnb Combined Average Price
1 Week Before Average Price (1-6 April)	$2,253	$6,378	$4,316 Advertisement
Masters Average Price (8-13 April)	$5,643	$7,844	$6,744
1 Week After Average Price (15-20 April) Advertisement	$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.

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Augusta, GA

Valette Earns Elite 18 Award; Augusta Men’s Tennis Lands Three on Peach Belt All-Conference Teams – Augusta University

Published

12 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

Valette Earns Elite 18 Award; Augusta Men’s Tennis Lands Three on Peach Belt All-Conference Teams – Augusta University

AUGUSTA, Ga. – With the Peach Belt Conference Tournament set to begin tomorrow, the conference office has announced the 2026 men’s tennis all-conference honors. Arthur Valette headlined Augusta’s selections by earning the Peach Belt Conference Elite 18 Award, presented to the student-athlete competing in the championship with the highest cumulative GPA.

A senior from Lyon, France, Valette competed in 18 matches this season for Augusta. He posted a 9-7 singles record and a 6-10 doubles mark, including a 3-3 record in both singles and doubles during conference play.

Augusta also placed three student-athletes on the all-conference teams. David Perret was named Second Team All-Conference Singles, while the doubles tandem of Alexis Bailhache and Perret earned Second Team All-Conference Doubles honors.

Perret, a junior from London, England, has been a key contributor throughout the season in both singles and doubles play. Bailhache, a senior from Nantes, France, teamed with Perret to give the Jaguars a consistent presence in doubles competition.

League major awards were claimed by Thomas Cardona of Columbus State, who was named Player of the Year, and teammate Hugo Didier, who earned Freshman of the Year honors. Columbus State head coach Evan Isaacs was selected Coach of the Year.

PBC Elite 18 Award

Arthur Valette, Augusta

Senior

The PBC Elite 18 Award is presented at each of the PBC’s 18 championships to the student-athlete competing with the highest cumulative GPA

Competed in 18 matches this season for Augusta

Had a 9-7 record in singles and a 6-10 record in doubles

Ended conference play with a 3-3 singles record and 3-3 doubles record

First Team All-Conference Singles

Thomas Cardona, Columbus State

Hugo Didier, Columbus State

Aniss Rafiq, Flagler

Ilian Borlee, Flagler

Harry Pugh, Lander

Pedro Liborio, North Georgia

First Team All-Conference Doubles

Andrea Sandrone / Elias Peter, Columbus State

Aly El Rafie / Noah Paterson, Flagler

Harry Pugh / Brendan Jayaprakash, Lander

Second Team All-Conference Singles

David Perret, Augusta

Aly El Rafie, Flagler

Simon Malis, Flagler

Chase Martin, GCSU

Daniel García Suárez, Middle Georgia

Alejandro Vizoso Ansedes, Middle Georgia

Joao Silva, North Georgia

Second Team All-Conference Doubles

Alexis Bailhache / David Perret, Augusta

Daniel Hammond / Benedek Szombathelyi, Columbus State

Juan Cruz Blanco / Ben Brandl, North Georgia

Player of the Year: Thomas Cardona, Columbus State

Freshman of the Year: Hugo Didier, Columbus State

Coach of the Year: Evan Isaacs, Columbus State

Elite 18 Award: Arthur Valette, Augusta

Augusta opens Peach Belt Conference Tournament play tomorrow against North Georgia in Columbus, Georgia.

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Augusta, GA

Start your engines: Augusta Tech gets $6.8M grant for new auto institute

Published

12 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

Start your engines: Augusta Tech gets .8M grant for new auto institute

An Augusta Tech plan to create an automotive service training center downtown finally has the funding to get rolling after more than four years of planning.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved Augusta Tech’s application for a $6.8 million grant to complete the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute, the workforce development school announced this week.

The campus will use the former site of Johnson Motor Co., a longtime Augusta Cadillac dealership on Walton Way that closed in 2021. Augusta Tech completed its purchase of the 6.5-acre property in December 2022.

“This grant is a powerful investment in Augusta’s economic future,” said Augusta Tech President Dr. Kendricks D. Hooker. “The Jim Hudson Automotive Institute will directly address critical workforce shortages while creating pathways to high-wage, in-demand careers for our students.”

Within a week of each other in April 2022, the Augusta National Golf Club and Columbia, S.C.-based Jim Hudson Automotive Group donated $1 million each to rev up the program.

“Anybody can sell a car,” company founder and principal Jim Hudson said at a June 2022 donation ceremony in the showroom of his Lexus dealership on Washington Road. “It takes a really good technician to keep it sold.”

Vehicles today aren’t just powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. Hybrid and electric vehicles are rising in popularity, and with it, the demand for more auto mechanics with high-tech training to repair increasingly computerized vehicles.

The facility will occupy about 33,000 square feet, or about half of the dealership building. The property’s layout as a working auto dealer will help flesh out the institute’s design “to support dealership operations, fleet maintenance and emerging vehicle technologies, while providing hands-on, industry-aligned instruction that responds to both regional and national labor market demand,” the school said in a statement.

Then-Augusta Tech President Dr. Jermaine Whirl told The Augusta Chronicle in 2022 that the school spent months talking with local auto dealers, transit companies, and other industry stakeholders to gauge interest in helping increase the auto-repair talent pool in the Augusta area.

The Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration approved the full grant request of $6,808,307, months after U.S. Rep. Rick Allen supported the grant application in a July 2025 letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

“Not only will this grant funding enable Augusta Tech to develop a Center for Excellence in Automotive Technology in Richmond County, but it will also equip hundreds of students and workers with the skills needed to succeed in our booming automotive manufacturing industry,” Allen said Tuesday.

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Augusta, GA

Map shows latest wildfires across Georgia and Florida

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Map shows latest wildfires across Georgia and Florida

Firefighters are battling wildfires in two southeastern states, prompting officials in one to issue its first ever burn ban, authorities said on April 22.

The blazes, created by “extreme drought,” are burning across parts of southern Georgia and northeast Florida, forcing road closures and destroying homes and buildings in their path, officials said.

In Georgia, the state’s Forestry Commission reported more than half of the state’s 159 counties had burn bans in effect. At the same time, burn bans were in effect for more than 40 counties in the Sunshine State, according to the Florida Forest Service.

“My office and I are working closely with the Georgia Forestry Commission to respond to the increasing threat of wildfires in South Georgia,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp wrote on X April 21. “If you are in a directly affected area, please adhere to guidance from your local officials to keep you and your family safe.”

The burn ban order prohibits the outside burning of trash and yard debris and agriculture material in the affected area. Campfires, fireworks and burn barrels are also not permitted.

The commission reported it marked the first time in the agency’s history that a mandatory ban on outdoor burning has been issued.

Slated to remain in effect for at least 30 days, the Georgia Forestry Commission said the ban includes regions below Atlanta and covers Harris County to Columbia County, south to the Florida line.

As of April 22, there were about a half dozen wildfires burning in the Peach State, USA TODAY data showed.

The Pineland Road fire, discovered on April 18 in Clinch County, about 13 miles northwest of Fargo, also continues to burn. As of the early afternoon of April 22, the fire had spread to nearly 9,000 acres and was 10% contained.

Where are wildfires burning in Georgia? See map.

The Georgia Forestry Commission reported 98% of Georgia’s total land area is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought conditions, and the number of wildfires statewide has now risen above Georgia’s five-year average.

The chance of rain is unlikely for most of the affected area in the coming days, the Georgia Forestry Commission said.

“The extreme drought conditions across Georgia are putting agriculture and forestry at significant risk, and I want to strongly encourage all Georgians to do the right thing and adhere to the Georgia Forestry Commission’s burn ban while these conditions persist,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper said in a news release.

Where are wildfires burning in Florida? See map.

At the same time, there were 135 wildfires burning almost 21,000 acres in Florida, the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

Roads in Franklin and Levy counties remained closed there due to smoke, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The law enforcement agency was urging motorists to use caution.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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