Augusta National in spectacular condition after Hurricane Helene damage, Fred Ridley says

The Masters begins in 84 days, and Augusta National Golf Club will be ready.

Chairman Fred Ridley spoke Thursday during a press conference at the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship in Argentina, and he was asked about the course's recovery efforts since Hurricane Helene devastated portions of the southeastern United States, including Augusta, Georgia.

"As far as the impact, the long-term impact, we have not quite as many trees as we did a year ago," Ridley said. "As far as the golf course goes, it's in spectacular condition. I think we had minor damage to the course, the playing surfaces themselves, but we were able to get that back in shape, but I don't think you're going to see any difference in the condition for the Masters this year."

Augusta National Golf Club donated $5 million toward recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene last October.

Aerial photos showed numerous trees down around the property shortly after the storm last year, and there was even video of extensive damage down Magnolia Lane.

“Hurricane Helene was really a devastating event for the Augusta community and for a number of communities in the southeast, particularly in western North Carolina,” Ridley said. “We suffered a fair amount of impact from the hurricane as did the entire community.

“I think what I'm the most proud of is the response of our entire organization to that natural disaster, which is really what it was. And not only what they did to get Augusta National back in shape, but as importantly, how they pitched in with the Augusta community and really helped out because there were many, many people, many of our people were out of their homes for a number of weeks. No electricity. The community didn't have water for a while.

“I'm just really proud of how our entire organization responded to that.”

Following the storm, Augusta National Golf Club and its grounds crew got straight to work to prepare for patrons this April. The 2025 Masters, the 89th edition of the tournament, is set for April 10-13.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Fred Ridley says Augusta National in spectacular shape after Helene