Hurricane Helene: Augusta National remains focused on community, not damage to golf course

The remnants of Hurricane Helene blew through Augusta, Georgia, Friday morning with massive, destructive winds, toppling trees and causing damage. Although the extent of the damage at Augusta National Golf Club remains unclear, the club released a statement Saturday keeping the focus on the surrounding community. Several area residents died during the storms, and much of the area remains under curfew through the weekend as crews work to repair damage and restore services.

“Our community of Augusta suffered the catastrophic and historic consequences of Hurricane Helene. We are currently evaluating the effects at Augusta National Golf Club,” ANGC President Fred Ridley said in the release. “In the meantime, our focus and efforts are first and foremost on our staff, neighbors and property owners. of businesses in Augusta. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and all those affected in Georgia and the Southeast.

Wind speed gauges measured a hurricane-level gust of 82 miles per hour at the Augusta Airport at 5:37 a.m. Friday. That’s more than enough to cut down the city’s tall pine trees, which often have shallow root structures. The remnants of the storm, which swept through Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, brought high winds to the region for several hours.

Footage posted on social media following Helen’s arrival in and around Augusta appeared to show images of mowed and broken pine trees, as well as an overflowing Rae’s Creek, the waterway that runs through Amen Corner.

Last year, pines fell at Augusta National during the windy second round of the Masters. No customers were injured and the trees were removed and the damage repaired before the start of the third round.

The Eisenhower Tree, the most famous tree on Augusta National property, was damaged during an ice storm in 2014 and was removed shortly afterward.