Hurricanes again hit hard in the Southeast

By |  October 8, 2024 0 Comments

The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has been profound, with a death toll of 227 people, the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina. Helene hit Florida on September 26 and, with a width of 350 miles and 140 mph winds, went on to cause devastation in Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee.

(Photo: SB Stock / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

(Photo: SB Stock / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Of course, many golf courses and their staffs have been severely impacted by this storm. As Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service said on X, “golf is the least of our concerns.” Booth and Chris Neff, USGA agronomist, offered this guide to superintendents and crews preparing to recover from Helene.

The Carolinas GCSA was quick to come to the aid of its members, asking for donations of basic supplies and offering drop-off and pick-up locations for those in need. CGCSA also started a Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund to help provide internet to school kids whose schools have been destroyed.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) also has reminded its members of their disaster relief program. GCSAA members who have been impacted by Helene are encouraged to call or email the association, as they are eligible for financial assistance.

The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle shared photos of damage in Augusta, Ga., in the area around Augusta National Golf Club from Hurricane Helene. Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley announced that Augusta National and the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area would donate $5 million to provide essential services to the Augusta area. Ridley stated that the Masters will be played as scheduled, and the focus of the club is on the welfare of the community.

Supers in the affected areas took to X to share the state of their courses, including:

Meanwhile Hurricane Milton — already being described by news outlets as the strongest storm on the planet this year — is barreling down on Florida. Airports are shutting down and residents are being urged to evacuate.


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About the Author: Seth Jones

Seth Jones, a 25-year veteran of the golf industry media, is Editor-in-Chief of Golfdom magazine and Athletic Turf. A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Jones began working for Golf Course Management in 1999 as an intern. In his professional career he has won numerous awards, including a Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) first place general feature writing award for his profile of World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman and a TOCA first place photography award for his work covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In his career, Jones has accumulated an impressive list of interviews, including such names as George H.W. Bush, Samuel L. Jackson, Lance Armstrong and Charles Barkley. Jones has also done in-depth interviews with such golfing luminaries as Norman, Gary Player, Nick Price and Lorena Ochoa, to name only a few. Jones is a member of both the Golf Writers Association of America and the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association. Jones can be reached at sjones@northcoastmedia.net.


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