Augusta National gives update after ‘catastrophic and historic’ hurricane

Augusta National said it is “assessing the effects” of Hurricane Helene but that the club is focused on the local community less than a day after the Category 4 storm battered much of the South, including Augusta, Ga.

The club’s chairman, Fred Ridley, released a short statement on social media addressing the “catastrophic and historic” storm on Saturday morning after Helene tore through the region, bringing strong winds and severe coastal flooding and leaving 225,000 Augustans without power.

“Our Augusta community has suffered catastrophic and historic impact from Hurricane Helene,” Ridley said in a statement. “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 said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them as well as everyone throughout Georgia and the Southeast who have been affected.”

The Masters host is just one of thousands of businesses and homes across the eastern seaboard that fell within Helene’s path on Thursday and Friday. The Category 4 storm is the most powerful hurricane to strike the United States in some time, bringing sustained winds upwards of 140 mph and killing at least 44 people throughout the South. Augusta, Ga. was in the center of the storm’s path, leaving many within the golf world to speculate on the club and surrounding area’s safety and well-being.

A photo posted to the popular aerial imaging site Eureka Earth on Friday afternoon appeared to show damage to dozens of trees in one of the club’s many perimeter parking lots, used for tournament patrons. No information has been shared about damages sustained within club gates, or to its golf course.

Augusta National is no stranger to the wrath of Mother Nature. A powerful ice storm struck down the club’s famed Eisenhower Tree in the winter of 2015, and a subsequent thunderstorm during the 2023 Masters sent a pair of trees tumbling over the 17th tee. No injuries were sustained in either event.

The 89th Masters Tournament will be played from April 9-13, 2025.

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF, writing stories for the website and magazine. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms. Prior to joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, where he is from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.

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