An architect consultant who has long worked with Augusta National Golf Club provided an update Friday on the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene to the region.
Tom Fazio, one of the leading figures in modern-day course design, said that Helene, no doubt, caused great — but fixable — damage to the iconic club in Georgia. Helene caused widespread damage across the Southeastern US in late September 2024, causing approximately $81.6 billion of damage and claiming 27 lives.
It was quickly followed by Milton, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone of the year so far, which left 2 million people without power, and claimed 16 lives.
The hurricanes had a profound effect on sports. The NHL canceled Tampa Bay Lightning‘s finale preseason game, and also its season-opener against Carolina Hurricanes on October 12. NFL side Tampa Bay Buccaneers relocated to New Orleans ahead of the Saints fixture on October 13. UFC fighter Chris Barnett also withdrew from a UFC Fight Night event because of “issues” related to the storm.
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But infrastructure within golf, too, may also have been affected. Augusta National is a 7,510-yard, par 72 off the championship tees and renowned as one of the toughest courses in the world thanks to its notoriously fast greens. It hosts one of golf’s prestigious tournaments, commonly called The Masters, and did not escape unscathed from Helene.
Most damage occurred on the par-3 16th hole called Redbud, which is a 170-yard hole, as several trees fell on the green. “Having trees fall on your green, what does that mean?” Fazio said, per Sports Illustrated. “You pick up the trees, you fill in the divots and holes they left. Then you re-sod and you’re ready to go.”
Fazio does not expect there to be any disruption for when The Masters returns, 2025, as he said the staff at Augusta “have the resources and the abilities to adjust to the conditions there. I would imagine you won’t know anything happened by April.” It largely amounts to a “clean up phase,” he said.
Scenic view of No 16 hole before Par 3 Tournament on Wednesday at Augusta National (
Getty Images)
Ultimately, for Fazio, any repairs are merely cosmetic and pale in contrast to the greater wreckage Helene caused. “People have lost their homes and lost their lives,” he said. “Lost their cars and their possessions and that is what is important. A putting green at Augusta or anywhere can always be fixed.”
The reigning Masters champion is Scottie Scheffler, who won the tournament in 2022, too, for a total of two title wins in Augusta. Jack Nicklaus has the record with six championships there, followed by Tiger Woods with five, and Arnold Palmer with four.
The 2025 Masters is scheduled for April 7 to 13.
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