News 12 at 6 o'clock, February 9, 2010

AUGUSTA---The Augusta Municipal Golf Course, a part of Augusta's history for more than 80 years, is in danger of closing. The city has six months to raise $150,000 to keep the course open.

News 12's cameras were the only ones rolling today as leaders met to try and hammer out a solution.

What happens when there's no city money for golf in a city known for golf? People have been hitting balls at the Municipal Golf Course since 1928, and people we talked to today hope it stays that way.

"Sometimes I say my golf cart looks like a chuck wagon," course member Barbara Green said. "We have a soft drink and some crackers."

Green's days at the family attraction may be numbered. The city can only fund the next six months.

"It will create chaos if you try to close the Municipal Golf Course down," said former Augusta commissioner Calvin Holland. "You have people that was almost raised on that golf course."

"$150,000 is what they're saying," we told Green.

"We can find it," she responded. "We can find it. You're going to be part of it. I'm going to get you out here to play!"

One way the city is looking to raise money is by letting people "adopt" a hole. Signs at each hole say "You can buy this sign."

"We'd have a marker for them and say this hole is sponsored by WRDW Channel 12," Green explained.

"Is this the time to be talking about this, in this economy?" we asked Holland.

"It's time to talk about anything that is going to be profitable for the community and for the city of Augusta," Holland replied.

Some may actually be abusing the course.

"People could just walk right off the street and into the course," we noted.

"Yeah, they could," said , "and there are probably a few that do that."

It's enough to tee Green off, especially when the future is unclear.

"As bad and downtrodden as people get, they need some outlet," she said. "If it is coming out here and chasing this white ball over 18 holes of golf, then that is what we need to do."

Today's committee will meet once each month for the next four months until they can come up with a plan to put before the Commission.

The course consists of 160 acres of land with five people for maintenance.

Besides the hole adoption idea, the city could always raise rates at the course. But with prices like $19 or $20 for 18 holes, leaders say they want to keep it affordable.