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 Recreational SportsBy Chris Gay | The Augusta Chronicle
December 24, 2004
For one week a year, all eyes are on Augusta. Players, fans and media travel from all over the world to participate in the grandest golf tournament on the professional level, the Masters Tournament. For residents in the Augusta-Aiken metropolitan area, though, the other 51 weeks are filled with a variety of sports. Beyond the Masters and minor-league sports, Augusta is home to several annual events, including the Augusta Futurity, the National Barrel Horse Association championships, the Nike Peach Jam, the Augusta Arsenal Soccer Shootout, and the Head of the South Regatta. According to data provided by the Greater Augusta Sports Council, more than 25,000 athletes participated in sporting events in the Augusta-Aiken area in 2003. The sports range from fishing and rowing events to boxing tournaments and gymnastics meets. Disc golf also is making waves in the community. Four disc golf courses are sprinkled throughout Aiken, Columbia and Richmond counties. Also, the Professional Disc Golf Association is planning to move its national headquarters to Columbia County in 2005. Augusta State, the University of South Carolina Aiken and Paine College all play collegiate sports on the NCAA Division II level, with the exception of Augusta State's Division I men's and women's golf teams. In 2004, the USC Aiken men's golf team won the Division II championship, while the Augusta State women's basketball team advanced to the Division II Elite Eight. Augusta also is home to some of the finest recreational sports facilities in the southeast, including: • Patriots Park in Columbia County, which boasts one of the state's largest multipurpose athletic complexes • Diamond Lakes in south Richmond County, which draws enthusiasts of America's most popular participatory sport - softball • Riverview Park in North Augusta, which offers an outstanding venue for pickup and recreation league basketball The Savannah River and Thurmond Lake offer anglers about 70,000 acres of water and 1,200 miles of public shoreline. What's more, Augusta offers amateur athletes a good deal of variety. Facilities including the Augusta Aquatics Center for swimming and diving, the Augusta Soccer Park, The Family Y, Newman Tennis Center, the Augusta Ice Sports Center for hockey and figure skating, a skateboard park and BMX bike-racing track also contribute to the local sports scene. - Chris Gay, Staff
It's a Fact
Aiken-Augusta and the surrounding areas have more than three dozen golf courses. Champions Retreat Golf Club, a 27-hole layout designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer, is expected to open in 2005 in Columbia County.
Events Calendar
BASEBALL • The Augusta GreenJackets play at Lake Olmstead Stadium from April to September. For ticket information, call (706) 736-7889. BASKETBALL • Peach Belt Conference Basketball Tournament at Christenberry Fieldhouse, March 1-6. For information, call 860-8499. • Garden City Roundball Classic. For information, call (706) 722-8326. • Nike Peach Jam Invitational at Riverview Park in North Augusta. For information, call (803) 441-4300. DISC GOLF • Hall of Fame Classic, April 22-24. For information, call 736-8537. DRAG BOAT RACING • Augusta Southern Nationals on the Savannah River. For information, call (706) 722-8326. FOOTBALL • CSRA Classic at Lumpkin Road Stadium in October. For information, call 722-4222. GOLF • PGA Tour, The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, April 4-10. For information, call (706) 667-6000. • Augusta State Invitational, April 2-3, Forest Hills Golf Club. For information, call 731-7925. HOCKEY • The Augusta Lynx play at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center from October to April. For ticket information, call (706) 724-4423. HORSE EVENTS • Augusta Futurity at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center, Jan. 20-29. For ticket information, call (706) 823-3417. • Aiken Triple Crown: trials, March 19; steeplechase, March 26; polo, April 2. For ticket information, call the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, (803) 641-1111. • National Barrel Horse Association World Championships at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center in October and November. For ticket information, call (706) 823-3728. MISCELLANEOUS • Greater Augusta Sports Council Gala. For information, call (706) 722-8326. POLO • Aiken Polo Club fall season at Whitney Polo Field or Powderhouse Field. For information, call (803) 643-3611. ROWING • Head of the South Regatta by the Augusta Rowing Club at the Savannah River in November. For information, call (706) 821-2875. • Aiken-Augusta Spring Regatta at Langley Pond. For information, call (803) 642-7559. RUNNING • 29th annual Triple Crown Road Race in March. For ticket information, call (803) 642-7760. • 28th annual Whiskey Road Race in September. For information, call (803) 649-9909. SOCCER • Augusta Arsenal Soccer Shootout at Fort Gordon's Barton Field in February. For information, call (706) 854-0149. SOFTBALL • Peach Belt Conference Tournament, April 15-17, Citizens Park in Aiken. For information, call (706) 860-8499.
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