Drone footage posted on social media has shown the devastating damage Augusta National Golf Club suffered as a result of Hurricane Helene.
The Hurricane that caused havoc across Georgia, among other states, ripped through the home of the Masters at the end of September, leaving the venue in tatters. Photos shared across social media showed that the iconic Augusta tree line had suffered severe damage.
The images taken from above showed a number of the golf course’s trees flattened to the ground, including on the famous par-three 16th where one had collapsed into the water hazard stretching from tee to green.
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Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley released a statement on the damage earlier this month, with the golf club’s first care with those affected in the community ahead of the state of the golf course. “Our Augusta community has suffered catastrophic and historic impact from Hurricane Helene,” he 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. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as well as everyone throughout Georgia and the Southeast who have been affected.”
Ridley was discussing the hurricane whilst making an appearance in Japan for the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, where the winner earns a spot to compete in the Masters the following season. Giving an insight into what work is required to recover the golf course, he said: “As far as the golf course, it really was affected just as the rest of the community was.
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“There was a lot of damage and we have a lot of people working hard to get us back up and running We don’t really know exactly what that’s going to mean, but I can tell you … if it’s humanly possible, we will be back in business sooner rather than later.”
With golf fans no doubt concerned, Ridley confirmed that he expects next year’s Masters to go ahead as planned despite the current course condition. “Back to one of the first questions,” Ridley commented. “The Masters will be held, [and] it will be on the dates it’s scheduled to be held.”
The Masters venue was not the only golf course impacted, with a number of their neighbors left damaged too. Augusta Golf Club has also been left needing serious renovation work, whilst nearby West Lake Country Club has seen an estimated 1,100 trees uprooted on their golf course following the hurricane.
Nine holes of the West Lake track re-opened this week, with the other nine still closed. “Clearing access into and out of the property while addressing direct safety issues were our first priority,” West Lake General Manager Ryan Fahler told Athlon Sports. Soon after, various phases of tree removal and storm clean-up began, including the clubhouse and grounds.