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A sizable swath of Florida golf courses took a gut punch not once, but twice as Hurricanes Helene and Milton bullied their way through the state in late September and early October. Courses in Georgia, South Carolina and especially the western part of North Carolina also felt Helene’s wrath.
Asheville Municipal Golf Course, for example, had its front nine devastated, and it will be several weeks before the course can even consider reopening its back nine.
“Our maintenance crew has been working hard to remove debris and trees as well as keeping holes mowed and maintained,” wrote Pat Warren, general manager and head golf professional, in an Oct. 14 update on the course’s website. “However, there are still some trees down and hanging limbs which are a safety concern which need to be removed before we can consider opening the back 9 for play. We have a contractor starting this week to help us with the cleanup.”
In Georgia, even iconic Augusta National Golf Club was not spared from the devastating flooding and winds. Club chairman Fred Ridley said in the immediate aftermath that the club’s main concern was to help the surrounding Augusta community, but that “as far as the golf course, it really was affected just as the rest of the community was … there was a lot of damage and we have a lot of people working hard to get us back up and running.” Ridley said in early October. “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.”
Neighboring Forest Hills Golf Club was also affected by the hurricane. And while the club is working to restore full telephone and internet services, it’s inviting golfers to book tee times in person as the course targets Oct. 19 as its reopening date.
In Florida, Streamsong Resort, which sits 90 minutes from both Tampa and Orlando and 30 minutes south of Lakeland in Bowling Green, reopened its courses for play on Oct. 15. Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, near Tampa, sustained heavy rain and winds with extreme flooding. Club officials put out a statement that said “we are happy to report the club facilities handled the hurricane conditions exceptionally,” and that the course was still on pace to host the LPGA’s The Annika tournament, Nov. 11-17.
RELATED LINKS
> Some big-name Florida courses open, others wait for water to recede in wake of Hurricane Milton | Golfweek
> Bobby Jones Golf Course to Augusta National: Hurricane Helene’s top 5 golf victims, listed | Essentially Sports
> In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, numerous golf courses assess their future | Golfpass