How badly did Hurricane Helene damage the Augusta National golf course?
While the extent of the damage remains unclear, the iconic course is certainly among many businesses and homes that felt the full effects of the storm.
While it’s clear that home and health are the most important things to consider after a natural disaster, there’s no doubt that the golf community received a blow with news that one of the most prestigious courses in the game has been significantly damaged by the passing of Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Helene dealt Augusta National a blow
With Hurricane Helene having made landfall on Thursday in Florida, it is now clear that its passing will be felt far and wide and that also includes the home of the Masters, Augusta National Golf Club. Indeed, Masters chairman, Fred Riley issued a brief statement on Saturday, explaining in part the damage sustained by the course and the surrounding community in the wake of the Category 4 storm which decimated much of the South, including Augusta, Georgia.
“Our Augusta community has suffered catastrophic and historic impact from Hurricane Helene,” Ridley said. “We currently are assessing the effects at Augusta National Golf Club. In the meantime our focus and efforts are foremost with our staff, neighbors, and business owners in Augusta,” Ridley continued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them as well as everyone throughout Georgia and the Southeast who have been affected.” Where context is concerned, the club has been closed since late May and is currently scheduled to reopen in mid-October.
Of course, as saddening as the news is, there are many things that were lost that are more important than a golf course. To that end, Augusta National made it clear that it remains focused on the wider community at this time. Do consider that the home of The Masters is just one of countless businesses and homes across the eastern seaboard that felt the wrath of Helene between Thursday and Friday. Helene was in fact the strongest storm to hit the United States in many years, with sustained winds exceeding 140 mph and a death toll that currently stands at 44.
Incidentally, this is not the first time that Augusta National has experienced the effects of major storms. Fans will remember an ice storm during the winter of 2015 which was strong enough to blow down the club’s famous Eisenhower Tree. There was also 2023′s major storm front which saw trees hurtling over the 17th. Thankfully, in neither case were injuries sustained but both serve as examples of the fact that the course is located in an area that is not out of Mother Nature’s gaze.