Augusta, GA
Why did Augusta National buy a public park? It fits the club's strategy
This week, Augusta National was approved to purchase a nearby city park, on which rests a tennis court and a playground area.
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In about one month, the sports world will once again turn its gaze toward the property at 2604 Washington Road in Augusta, Ga., a property better known as Augusta National Golf Club. For many, that club enters our minds on a one-week-a-year basis, but in reality there are club operations taking place year-round that impact how it runs its major tournament.
For example: this week’s news, that the most famous golf club in the world has purchased a city park.
The idea of ANGC buying property is nothing new. Augusta National has slowly but surely extended its footprint, purchasing a nearby Wendy’s in 2020, a shopping center later that year and dozens of residential properties that border the club. Most of those acquisitions have taken place since 2000. But a city park in 2024? Why would a golf club buy up that land?
Proximity, and improved access to the eastern part of its property. At least that’s what local leaders would make it seem.
Various Augusta-area outlets were the first to report that the club has purchased West Vineland Park, at 239 W. Vineland Road, from the city of Augusta. It’s a small lot — 1.05 acres total, on which sits a single, fenced-in tennis court and a tiny playground area. Importantly, it abuts a small driveway that has been used by Augusta National for years.
The purchase was made for a reported $350,000 on a property with an assessed value of $58,300, and confirmed Wednesday by the Augusta Georgia Land Bank Authority, a public-service entity that brokered the deal. The bank specializes in “acquiring tax-delinquent and abandoned properties and returning them to productive use.”
Local tax commissioner Tederell Johnson provided a bit of clarity to the local ABC affiliate, saying, “It’s my understanding the Masters has, for this particular park, is to use it as access and egress into their property.”
What that means for the park is unclear. A decade ago, this east side of the property was a bit more wooded. But as with many recent developments of building outward, the club added two buildings near that driveway entrance in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Buying up the land outside the entrance is simply just owning another link in the chair of parcels the club now owns along Vineland Road.
Through various LLCs that are confirmed as affiliates of Augusta National, the club has purchased more than 100 properties in recent years, most of them bordering club boundaries. For example, the land acquired from Augusta Country Club in 2017 — to lengthen the 13th hole with a new teeing ground on the course’s southern tip — was acquired via five different LLCs under the name RC Eagle. The massive, global television compound on the other side of Washington Road is housed under the name “The Greens on Washington Road, LLC.”
The most prolific buyer is known as Berckman Residential Properties, LLC, which owns numerous plots both north and south of West Vineland Park. In total, Berckman Residential Properties owns, as of this month, 170 parcels in Augusta (pictured above), the large majority of which surround Augusta National’s 345-acre golf course.
Attentive golf fans (and maybe those who have attended the Masters before) know what the club has done with some of these properties in the past. Along its western border, Augusta National has set up a massive parking enclave for tournament week, and even extended the wooded area that encompasses the outline of the 2nd tee box.
What does the club intend to do with its eastern border? The details of that remain unclear, but there is a clear impetus to own almost every piece of land that rests on the inside of Vineland Road. Only about 12 parcels (out of 34) along that border remain unowned by the club.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A shooting in Richmond County left one male victim dead Sunday evening, according to officials.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3400 block of Lucie Street at 6:45 p.m., where they found one male victim with an apparent gunshot wound, officials say.
The victim, identified as John Bennett, 60, was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:37 p.m., according to the Richmond County Coroner’s Office.
A criminal investigation immediately began, which resulted in issuing warrants on Kenneth Murray Jr, a 40-year-old male of the same address, who had fled the scene, authorities say.
Within three hours, deputies Murray and took him into custody without incident at 9:56 p.m. in the 2200 block of Rosier Road.
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley provided a statement: “Violence in any form is tragic but violence within families and between people who live together is especially heartbreaking. Too often these situations begin with anger frustration or unresolved conflict that continues to build until it reaches a point of no return.”
Brantley encourages anyone who is struggling or feels a situation is escalating to reach out for help before it leads to irreversible consequences.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta men’s basketball turned in a balanced offensive effort and steady defensive performance to earn an 84-55 Peach Belt Conference win over Georgia Southwestern on Saturday evening at Christenberry Fieldhouse. The Jaguars move to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in league play, while the Hurricanes fall to 6-2 on the season and 1-1 in the PBC.
Augusta shot 50.8 percent (32-for-63) from the field, 45.5 percent (10-for-22) from three-point range, and 71.4 percent (10-for-14) at the free throw line. Georgia Southwestern finished 34.7 percent (17-for-49) from the floor, 30.4 percent (7-for-23) from beyond the arc, and 63.6 percent (14-for-22) at the line.
The Jaguars used an efficient first half to build early separation, going 57.7 percent from the field and 71.4 percent (5-for-7) from three to take a 41-21 lead into the break. Augusta continued to control the tempo in the second half, outscoring the Hurricanes 43-34 and never allowing the margin to fall back into single digits.
Luis Nonfon led four Jaguars in double figures with a game-high 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting, adding eight rebounds, one assist, and one block in 31 minutes. Matias Zanotto followed with 16 points, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and chipped in six rebounds and three assists.
Off the bench, Tobias Prall added 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting and 4-for-7 from three-point range, while Camryn Pacheco supplied five points, one assist, and one steal. Rodney Scott turned in an efficient line of eight points on 4-for-4 shooting with three rebounds and three assists. Charlie McBeath finished with six points, five rebounds, and three assists, and Elías Pálsson added seven points and one assist.
Augusta held a 38-30 advantage on the glass and converted 16 second-chance points compared to 10 for Georgia Southwestern. The Jaguars also owned a 38-20 edge in points in the paint, a 15-8 margin in fast-break points, and outscored the Hurricanes 28-12 in bench points. Augusta forced 10 Georgia Southwestern turnovers and turned them into 12 points on the other end.
Georgia Southwestern was led by Amir Reaves with 17 points and three rebounds. Markel Freeman added 15 points, including three three-pointers, while JR Jacobs chipped in seven points.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Salvation Army of Augusta held a Christmas market on Saturday.
From sweet treats and merry music to local goodies and Christmas cheer, you could find it all at the Kroc Center.
We got to speak with one of the organizers about why they only accepted local businesses.
“So we only wanted local vendors because, you know, we serve Augusta and specifically the Harrisburg community. And we just want to be able to have a common place that everyone can come together and show off their creativity, their talents and people to have the opportunity to connect with these different businesses,” said Jennifer Munson, children and youth manager of the Salvation Army of Augusta.
You can learn more about the Salvation Army and their new park they broke ground on Friday here.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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