Golf Courses Feel the Fury of Storm Helene
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, chatter about the recent storm, named Helene, is on everyone’s lips with tales of disaster and destruction in the world of golf. As golf enthusiasts know, this area is well-loved for its abundant golf courses, but Helene was a storm that left a life-changing imprint on all in its path. Tim Kreger, executive director of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association, described the storm’s aftermath as, “worse than anything I’ve ever seen or heard.”
The Nature of the Damage
Golf courses across the region experienced the brutal effects of the storm. Imagine this: toppled trees, mountains of debris, overflowing waterways, wrecked bridges, and sod damage all crammed into reports from superintendents after Helene did her worst. Tim Kreger mentioned that some courses are dealing with “entire 9s washed out,” while others are still trying to reach damaged areas to assess the pain caused by the storm.
Take Fort Jackson Golf Club, for instance. General manager and superintendent Jeff Connell said, “We just had trees down. We got lucky,” while adding that places west of Interstate 77 were hit hard. The Mid-Carolina Club near Prosperity is another grim story, with over 100 trees down and fallen power lines making recovery tricky. Meanwhile, John Winterhalter from Forest Lake Club mentioned that they’ve lost around 50 trees but doesn’t expect it to affect the course play too much.
The Fallen Trees Saga
Over in the Aiken area, things took a much worse turn. John Boyette, the executive editor of Aiken Standard, reported that the historic Palmetto Golf Club, dating back to 1892, lost more than 100 trees. The damage didn’t stop there as nearby Aiken Golf Club suffered the loss of over 60 pines, many of which were more than a century old. A new course, Tree Farm, reportedly lost over 400 trees. That’s a staggering number that raises serious concerns about the future of the famous Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, which is assessing the extensive damage via drones.
Show Me the Greens
Musgrove Mill Golf Club near Clinton is another notable course that has felt the wrath of Helene. The Enoree River overflowed, affecting the course’s greens, with at least one needing a complete rebuild. Jeff Tallman, Musgrove Mill’s Director of Golf, admitted, “This isn’t our first rodeo,” acknowledging past storms but labeling this experience as their “second worst.” Can you imagine eight greens being underwater after Helene’s rampage? It will take time for all the affected courses to get back in shape, leaving many players uncertain about when they can return to their favorite spots.
Bright Spots Amid the Storm
While there’s a lot of sadness in the golf community about the impacts of Helene, it’s important to note that not every course was hit hard. The Grand Stand course, known for being a hurricane magnet, managed to escape unscathed. Old Barnwell, despite challenges in Aiken, experienced little impact, with superintendent Chuck Green reporting only a couple of fallen trees. Over at the Spur at Northwoods in Northeast Columbia, there was just one tree down and some debris. In fact, the day after the storm, they “sold out that Saturday!”
Looking Ahead
As the storm’s aftermath continues to unfold, local golf courses are working tirelessly to recover. Everyone’s in a state of guesswork about how long the hardest-hit spots will be closed. Some clubs have alternative plans in place – for instance, Musgrove Mill has a “flood nine” for players. Others, like Forest Lake, are hoping to be back on the greens just in time for their upcoming member-guest tournament.
In the meantime, the South Carolina golf community is banding together, eager to support one another and get back to the game they love. Storms like Helene may shake things up, but they can’t keep golfers down for long!
