Despite Augusta National damage, Masters won’t be delayed, chairman says

As the Southeast reels in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene — the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland in nearly two decades — another phase of the wreckage is about to begin.

Some towns were destroyed, others are still inaccessible, others are still without power or running water, and the search and rescue for those still in need of help is ongoing.

In Augusta, Ga., many are struggling to secure the basics of food, water and electricity. Some still lack a proper shelter. The Washington Post recently spent time in Augusta to report on the relief efforts, and on Wednesday U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the city.

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Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters, sent out a statement over the weekend.

“Our Augusta community has suffered catastrophic and historic impact from Hurricane Helene,” Fred Ridley, the chairman of Augusta National, said in the statement. “We currently are assessing the effects at Augusta National Golf Club. In the meantime our focus and efforts are foremost with our staff, neighbors and business owners in Augusta. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as well as everyone throughout 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 provided another update.

“What I really have been most proud of is while everyone certainly is 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 really have been a big part of that, which I think really speaks for them and the culture at the club.”

Ridley added that the golf course was affected just as the rest of the community has been, 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’s scheduled to be held.”

The 2025 Masters is slated for April 10-13.

While Augusta National’s tight-lipped culture and golf course that’s mostly hidden among towering pines means we’ll likely see little visual evidence of the damage, some photos and videos have circulated on social media.

Later on Thursday, Augusta National announced it was partnering with the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area to make a joint $5 million donation toward the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund.

“I was in Augusta in the days immediately after the storm and have seen firsthand its devastating impact,” Ridley said in a video posted by Augusta National. “Our employees, neighbors, friends and business owners need and deserve immediate and meaningful assistance to overcome the hardships being experienced at this moment throughout Augusta. Augusta National and the Community Foundation each take to heart our obligation to care for our community. Our goal is to make a difference when it’s needed the most, and our hope is that our gift may inspire others to assist or ask how they may contribute to this critical mission.”