Augusta National Property

[Tim_Weiman]

A few months back I had lunch with someone who casually mentioned that his family used to own the property which is now the Augusta National Golf Club.

I say "casually mentioned" because in this gentleman seemed far more interested in his cocktail, a fine private label bourbon, than  something like his family owning the Augusta property.

But, this wasn't just anyone. He was a direct descendant of a former President (of the United States) and also a woman who was  , arguably, one of the most famous women in American history.

Now, I'll come clean and say that I don't know for sure whether his claim was true, but the lineage is definitely true.

So, does anyone know if a former President owned the Augusta property?

[Tim_Cronin]

The Fruitlands nursery was once owned by the Berckman family (Berckman's Rd. runs along the fourth hole). Was Berckman connected to presidential timber?

[Tim_Weiman]

Tim,

This President well proceeds the folks who actually sold the property to the club.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Tim, come clean and then it might be able to be put together. We know it was not Abe Lincoln.

[John Kavanaugh]

Was it Andrew Jackson?  I meant to say Jefferson Davis...I'm so bad with names.

[Mike_Young]

HE COULD MEAN SOME OF THE PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN PURCHASED RECENTLY ACROSS THE ROAD FOR EXPANSION

[Sam Morrow]

By the description I am guessing James and Dolly Madison. I am probably wrong but that would be nothing new. I have never heard that before but it could be true.

[Dan_Callahan]

I thought Anna Nicole was from Texas, not Georgia . . .

[Tim_Weiman]

Sam,

You are pretty close. I'll give folks a bit more time.

[ed_getka]

Tim,
   I have no idea, but it is nice to see you posting here again.

[Tim_Weiman]

Ed,

Thanks. It was a bit amazing to me to have someone casually mention "my family used to own the Augusta National property".

He wasn't joking or bragging, I thought.

[Sean Leary]

Jimmy Carter....

[ed_getka]

Tim,
   Did you ask him any more about it after he mentioned the fact?

Did he know what his family used the property for before they sold it?

[Tim Copeland]

I love guessing games........almost as much as I love changes after irrigation and drainage is installed

[wsmorrison]

Woodrow Wilson lived in Augusta, GA as a boy.  His father was a minister in the town.  

[Tim_Weiman]

Ed,

The amazing thing was that he didn't make a big deal of it. He was into making bourbon and fine dining. His business partner happened to come from a pretty famous family too. He was Robert E. Lee IV.

Wayne:

Honestly I hadn't heard about Wilson living in Augusta, but he came along much too late and then, there is the famous woman criteria.

[paul cowley]

OK, I'll bite.....Thomas Edwin Paul himself.







.....or George Washington Xlll. [road]

[RJ_Daley]

John and Abigail Adams?

[Tim_Weiman]

Dick,

You got it!

[Jim Sweeney]

RJ- it would not be the Adamses- they were New Englanders,

I'll guess George and Martha Washington- and if the story is true, I'd bet the ownership was on Martha's side.

[RJ_Daley]

It was the famous wife hint.

Tim, great to see you posting.  Can you say whether Adams actually ever even laid eyes on the property?  I know that most of the signers of the Declaration, and participants in the Constitutional convention were deeded land in the territories that was barely known or surveyed.  I think anyone can look at their home abstract and find one of the founders.  Maybe Adams is the first granted land holder in that whole part of Georgia... ?

[wsmorrison]

Tim,

I knew Woodrow Wilson wasn't who you were looking for, I just found it interesting that he lived there for a time.  He also lived in Bryn Mawr, PA while President of Bryn Mawr College.

Great to see you back on the site!

[ed_getka]

Dick,
   Good detective work. You still have the touch. I was digging around in the internet, assuming Roosevelt or Adams based on the famous woman clue, but came up empty. Where did you find the info?

[RJ_Daley]

Ed, I already modified my answer above because I just checked the major grantee from my hometown, thinking he was among the signers of the Dec of I., but he was not.  He was a speculator and bought huge parcels of land, just barely surveyed.  Although, in those times, it didn't hurt to know one of the founders... just like it still works today!