Mold Remediation in Augusta, GA

Come April, everyone’s eyes are on Augusta for the Masters, the esteemed golf tournament shrouded in lore and tradition that’s been played there since 1934. But few people peel back the layers to see the city beyond its brilliant azaleas and pristine course. In between the mesmerizing green—from those iconic jackets to the well-groomed links—Georgia’s second-biggest and second-oldest city has much more to offer. Authentic Augusta Experiences is a new series of curated happenings that give you the chance to do everything from becoming a bartender for a day to learning about the legendary Black caddies who shaped Augusta National’s golf legacy. With a growing downtown, a scenic riverwalk, and lots of energy, there’s never been a better time to visit the area. Here are six things to do in Augusta, if you're there for the Masters, or just visiting for the weekend.

Admire The Azaleas Around Town

It takes a lucky lottery draw to see the azaleas bloom at Amen Corner on the Masters course, but the rest of the city is peppered with that familiar shade of bubblegum pink. Drive through historic neighborhoods near Augusta National, and you'll notice that several homeowners have drawn inspiration from the iconic course for their at-home landscaping. Another place to find blooms is Pendleton King Park, a 64-acre public sanctuary includes nature trails, playgrounds, and gardens featuring favorite Southern flowers. The Azalea Walk is especially popular in spring when the bushes burst into vibrant color. Note: The park is currently closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene, but they plan to reopen as soon as possible.

pendletonkingpark.com; 1600 Troupe Street, Augusta, GA 30904

Try Legendary Cake At The Boll Weevil Café & Sweetery

Folks seek out this downtown restaurant for classic lunch and dinner fare, but the real draw is its attached bakery, which is famous for serving up colossal pieces of cake. They’re so big that they’re sold in half or whole slices, and they come in varieties like hummingbird, banana-chocolate chip, carrot, and the signature 7th Heaven (it layers dark chocolate cake with rich buttercream icing and white chocolate cheesecake).

thebollweevil.com; 10 James Brown Blvd., Augusta, GA 30901; 706-722-7772

Wander The Phinizy Swamp Nature Park

Bald cypress trees draped in Spanish moss create a whimsical atmosphere in an expansive preserve that’s known for its wetlands, woodlands, and biodiversity. Look for tree frogs, river otters, blue herons, and alligators from a winding boardwalk trail.

phinizycenter.org; 1858 Lock and Dam Road, Augusta, GA 30906; 706-828-2109

Grab An Afternoon Cup At Trellis Coffee Bar

In 2023, four local families came together to open a modern coffee shop that’s painted in the city’s signature shade of emerald. Their brews and fresh pastries are excellent, but the housemade sourdough focaccia is a must. Try it in a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich or by the slice, with the flavors changing every week.

trelliscoffeebar.com; 1902 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904; 706-496-7035

Enjoy Dinner At Frog Hollow Tavern

Chef Sean A. Wight is the mastermind behind six of the city’s most-loved restaurants, but his farm-to-table concept Frog Hollow Tavern was the impetus for it all. The seasonal menu relies on produce from local and regional purveyors. In the spring, expect specials like halibut with lemon-scented cauliflower soubise sauce or pea-and-mushroom gnocchi.

froghollowtavern.com; 1282 Broad St, Augusta, GA 30901; 706-364-6906

Explore The Augusta Riverwalk—And Beyond

A four-block, multilevel brick trail offers beautiful views of the Savannah River, which separates Georgia from South Carolina. The Peach State’s side of the water is a community hub where you can find a market on Saturdays, live music at an amphitheater, boat launches, and a shop at 5th Street Marina. Local outfitters like Two Dudes and a Boat Kayak Rentals are happy to set you up with everything needed for a fun time. You can also take a guided tour or reserve a rental to enjoy the Serene18 Paddle Trail, which includes 18 miles of Clarks Hill Lake, the Savannah River, and the Augusta Canal.

Thunderstorms due to hit Augusta area Sunday night and into Monday

Jacksonville Florida Times-Union

Masters Week hasn’t started and there are already weather issues.

The Augusta National Golf Club announced at 6 p.m. Sunday that patron gates will not open on Monday for the first Masters practice round day until further notice because of expected “inclement weather.”

According to the Weather Underground’s data station nearest the club, there is a 99 percent chance of thunderstorms in Augusta by 8 p.m. on Sunday. Another round of storms is predicted at 9 a.m. on Monday and could continue through 1 p.m., with rain the rest of the day.

The club stopped short of canceling the practice round for patrons entirely but said patron parking lots will be closed until further notice.

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“No patrons should approach Augusta National Golf Club until more details are released,” the club’s statement said.

The club’s next update will be Monday at 8 a.m.

The good news is that the weather will clear up on Tuesday and looks promising for the rest of the week, aside from the possibility of morning showers on Friday. The temperatures will be on the cool side, not rising out of the upper 60s most of the week.

Are Masters tickets refunded for weather reasons?

No. Historically, the club does not issue refunds for practice round or competitive round days lost because of weather.

What is the weather forecast for Augusta?

(From the Weather Underground's data station near the Augusta National Golf Club)

Sunday

8 p.m., 99 percent chance of thunderstorms

Monday

8 a.m.: 48 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms.

9 a.m.: 65 percent chance of thunderstorms.

10 a.m.: 66 percent chance of rain.

11 a.m.: 95 percent chance of thunderstorms.

12 p.m.: 96 percent chance of thunderstorms.

1 p.m.: 87 percent chance of thunderstorms.

2 p.m.: 90 percent chance of rain.

3 p.m. 97 percent chance of rain.

4 p.m.: 92 percent chance of rain.

5 p.m.: 94 percent chance of rain.

6 p.m.: 88 percent chance of rain.

7 p.m.: 86 percent chance of rain.

Temperatures throughout Monday will in the low 70s.

Tuesday

Sunny, high 68, low 46.

Wednesday

Partly cloudy, high 68, low 48

Thursday

Sunny, high 76, low 57

Friday

Am showers, clearing, high 65, low 49

Saturday

Partly cloudy, high 67, low 45

Sunday

Sunny, high 70, low 50

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Mother Nature may play a role in how much golf Masters patrons get to see on Monday. Due to expected inclement weather and safety concerns, patron gates will not open as scheduled for Monday's practice round.

"All patron parking lots will remain closed until further notice," stated a Masters weather bulletin announcing the delay Sunday evening. "No patrons should approach Augusta National Golf Club until more details are released."

The forecast for the first practice round day at the 89th Masters is ominous. The official forecast cites 100 percent chance of rain and "embedded thunderstorms." It is expected to be breezy and cooler at Augusta National Golf Club with a high of 71 degrees and low of 60. The rain is expected to fall all day with heavy rainfall at times and between three-quarters of an inch to an inch and a half.

Not just rain but lightning is expected, too

More concerning is the occasional lightning. The threat of electricity in the area is expected to diminish in the afternoon. The last time a Masters practice round was canceled due to weather was in 2022, when the Tuesday practice round was suspended due to inclement weather and safety concerns at about 11 a.m.

Prior to that, storms washed out a practice round when storms moved into the area and the gates at Augusta National were never opened in 2014, marking the first time in 20 years that had happened.

What happens to fans with Monday tickets?

If the gates don't open, Masters.com says it reserves the right to suspend the tournament or close the golf course because of adverse conditions or for other safety reasons. In such situations, no refunds, rain checks, exchanges or replacements will be made. But in 2022, patrons received refunds and were given a chance to buy tickets the following year.

Still, it is causing plenty of angst among ticketholders.

"Officially feeling crushed after remaining optimistic for the past week. Looking like a total washout Monday. Twenty-three years of waiting to hit the lottery and now this," wrote ForeOSU on Redditt. "Complete and absolute gut punch."

Masters Week is about to start. Will the sun shine over Augusta or will you need to buy an umbrella from the Augusta National gift shop?

With it starting so soon, the weather models are now at their most accurate. Below is what to expect, based on data from the Weather Channel and AccuWeather:

What will the weather be like for the Masters practice rounds?

Practice rounds for the Masters are Monday and Tuesday. Here's the forecast:

What will the weather be like for the Par 3 Contest?

The Masters Tournament Par 3 Contest is Wednesday. It's looking like another lovely one with sunny skies and very little (if any) clouds. The morning might be a bit brisk with temperatures below 50 degrees before 10 a.m. warming to 66 degrees by the afternoon. Winds may be up to 9 mph with 16 mph gusts.

What will the weather be like for the Masters Tournament?

The Masters Tournament is Thursday through Sunday. Early reports indicated a very rainy Masters, but luckily, the forecasts have continued to improve as we get closer:

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email atmlegoas@gannett.com.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — For golf fans tuning into the upcoming Masters, the beauty of Augusta National Golf Club remains unrivaled, emerald-green fairways, pink and purple flora and peak-bloom azaleas remaining the riveting eye candy you’ve come to expect.

But for those who make watching the year’s first major each April their own “tradition unlike any other,” there will likely be something amiss when taking in the famed Georgia course, a subtle difference in the landscape that will become more noticeable over time until it finally triggers this response.

There are a fair number of trees missing at Augusta.

When Hurricane Helene stormed through the Augusta, Ga., area last September—more than 300 miles after making landfall in Florida—it caused millions of dollars in destruction throughout the region. Homes were leveled and thousands lost power, many for several days, with the impact still being felt in the community to this day.

In response to the “catastrophic damage” of the storm, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced last October that the club had donated $5 million toward the local relief fund. “Our goal is to make a difference when it’s needed the most,” Ridley said.

The storm was also felt at Augusta National, where numerous tall pines uprooted throughout the course. Arial images in the days that followed showed trees asunder around Magnolia Lane and lying across the 16th green, causing some to wonder how extensive the damage could be.

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The good news for golf fans is that there was no long-term issues to the course, according to Ridley. “I think we had minor damage to the course, the playing surfaces themselves,” he said in January, “but we were able to get that back in shape, but I don't think you're going to see any difference in the condition for the Masters this year.”

That was true on Saturday when the public got its first look at the course with the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur being played under bright sunny skies. None of the missing trees seemed to be in areas that come into play on the course. For instance, the tree-lined chute off the 18th tee looks just as narrow. (The club did not release any information regarding the number of trees that were lost.)

But connoisseurs of Augusta National will notice more space behind the greens on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th holes. And all around the 16th green, there are noticible gaps where clusters of trees once stood, leading to more expansive views toward the fifth, sixth, and 17th holes.

Here are some pictures that compare various points on the course now (the "above" photos) to what they looked like in previous years (below). All 2025 photos taken by J.D. Cuban.

10th hole

12th hole

13th hole

16th hole

1/6 -

2/6 -

View from left side of 16th green (J.D. Cuban)

3/6 -

View of sixth green (left) and 16th green (right) from sixth tee (J.D. Cuban)

4/6 -

View of fifth green with sixth green in background left (J.D. Cuban)

5/6 -

View of the 12th green and 13th tee (J.D. Cuban)

6/6 -

View of trees right on the eighth hole (J.D. Cuban)

1/6 -

View from right side of 16th green (J.D. Cuban)

2/6 -

View from left side of 16th green (J.D. Cuban)