Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley at the 2024 Masters.
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As the Southeast reels in the wake of Hurricane Helene — the deadliest storm to hit the continental U.S. in nearly two decades — another phase of devastation is about to begin.
Some towns were destroyed, others are still inaccessible, others are still without power or running water, and search and rescue for those who still need help is ongoing.
In Augusta, Ga., many are struggling to secure food, water and electricity. Some still lack a proper shelter. of Washington Post recently spent time in Augusta to report on relief efforts, and on Wednesday US Vice President Kamala Harris visited the city.
Augusta National gives update after ‘catastrophic and historic’ hurricane
James Colgan
Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, sent out a statement over the weekend.
“Our Augusta community has suffered a catastrophic and historic impact from Hurricane Helene,” said Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National. STATEMENT. “We are currently assessing the effects at Augusta National Golf Club. In the meantime our focus and efforts are above all with our staff, neighbors and business owners in Augusta. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, as well as all across Georgia and the Southeast who have been affected.”
A few days later and across the world at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan – an event run by Augusta National and the R&A – Ridley spoke to the media and gave another update.
“What I’ve been most proud of is that while everyone is certainly focused on getting us up, back and running, our employees have been so focused on the community at large,” Ridley said early Thursday morning, according to Golf Digest. “We’ve been able to take care of our employees, but we’ve also been focused on what the Red Cross and other organizations are doing in Augusta, and our employees have really been a big part of that, which I think it really speaks for them and the culture at the club.”
Ridley added that the golf course was affected as was the rest of the community, and that “there was a lot of damage and we have a lot of people working hard to get us back up and running.”
Ridley also said the club “will be back in business sooner rather than later” and “(the Masters) will be on the dates it is scheduled to be held”.
The 2025 Masters is scheduled for April 10-13.
While the culture of Augusta National’s golf course, which is largely hidden among towering pines, means we’re likely to see little visual evidence of the damage, some photos and videos have circulated on social media.
