(a) Without limiting the generality of any provision of this part, the general purpose of the authority is declared to be:

(1) Constructing and maintaining a facility and related attractions to house the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame to honor those, living or dead, who by achievement or service have made outstanding and lasting contributions to the sport of golf in this state or elsewhere; and

(2) Operating, advertising, and promoting the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.

(b) The authority shall have the following powers:

(1) To bring actions, complain, and implead in any judicial, administrative, arbitration, or other action or proceeding and, to the extent permitted by law, to have actions brought against it, to be impleaded, and to defend in such proceedings;

(2) To have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure;

(3) To elect, appoint, or hire officers, employees, and other agents of the authority, including experts and fiscal agents, define their duties, and fix their compensation;

(4) To acquire by purchase, gift, lease, or otherwise and to own, hold, improve, and use and to sell, convey, exchange, transfer, lease, sublease, and dispose of all real and personal property of every kind and character or any interest therein for its corporate purposes;

(5) To have custody and control of any real property acquired by the state, through its State Properties Commission, for the benefit of the authority and to construct the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame buildings and facilities on that property;

(6) To make all contracts and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient to its purposes;

(7) To receive and accept loans, gifts, grants, donations, or contributions of property, facilities, or services, with or without consideration, from any person, firm, or corporation or from the State of Georgia or any agency or instrumentality thereof or from any county, municipal corporation, or local government or governing body;

(8) To borrow money for any of its corporate purposes and to provide for the payment of same, as may be permitted under the Constitution and the laws of the State of Georgia;

(9) To hold, use, administer, and expend such sum or sums as may hereafter be received as income, as gifts, or through other means by authority of the General Assembly for any of the purposes of this authority;

(10) To fix, alter, charge, and collect fares, rates, rentals, and other charges for its facilities and for admission to its grounds at reasonable rates, to be determined by the authority; (11) To sell or authorize others to sell, upon obtaining a license from the Department of Revenue, alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises only upon property operated and controlled by the authority;

(12) To contract with the state and its departments or any county, municipal corporation, political subdivision, public corporation, or public authority with respect to activities, services, or facilities the contracting parties are authorized by law to undertake or provide;

(13) To exercise any power usually possessed by private corporations performing similar functions which is not in conflict with the Constitution and the laws of the State of Georgia;

(14) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers and purposes of the authority;

(15) To accept loans or grants, or both, of money, materials, or property of any kind from the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof upon such terms and conditions as the United States of America or such agency or instrumentality may impose;

(16) To contract with the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission for the construction of the project as provided for in Article 2 of Chapter 17 of Title 50; or to contract with other authorities, departments, or agencies of the State of Georgia for the construction of the project;

(17) To invest and reinvest any or all idle funds or moneys, including, but not limited to, funds held in reserve or debt retirement or received through the issuance of revenue certificates or from contributions, gifts, or grants, which cannot be immediately used for the purpose for which received, such investment to be made in any security or securities which are legal investments for executors or trustees; provided, however, that investments in such securities will at all times be held for and, when sold, used for the purposes for which the money was originally received;

(18) To grant, on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, the right to use and occupy streets, roads, sidewalks, and other public places for the purpose of rendering utility services, upon such conditions and for such time as the authority may deem wise; and

(19) To appoint special advisory committees and panels of citizens to advise the authority of certain issues and to reimburse the individuals appointed for actual expenses incurred in performing their tasks.