Before and after photos of Augusta National show how many trees were lost to Hurricane Helene

[Photo: J.D. Cuban]

For golf fans tuning into the upcoming Masters, the beauty of Augusta National Golf Club remains unrivalled, emerald-green fairways, pink and purple flora and peak-bloom azaleas remaining the riveting eye candy you’ve come to expect.

But for those who make watching the year’s first major each April their own “tradition unlike any other,” there will likely be something amiss when taking in the famed Georgia course, a subtle difference in the landscape that will become more noticeable over time until it finally triggers this response.

There are a fair number of trees missing at Augusta.

When Hurricane Helene stormed through the Augusta, Georgia, area last September—more than 450 kilometres after making landfall in Florida—it caused millions of dollars in destruction throughout the region. Homes were levelled and thousands lost power, many for several days, with the impact still being felt in the community to this day.

In response to the “catastrophic damage” of the storm, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced last October that the club had donated $US5 million toward the local relief fund. “Our goal is to make a difference when it’s needed the most,” Ridley said.

The storm was also felt at Augusta National, where numerous tall pines uprooted throughout the course. Arial images in the days that followed showed trees asunder around Magnolia Lane and lying across the 16th green, causing some to wonder how extensive the damage could be.

The good news for golf fans is that there was no long-term issues to the course, according to Ridley. “I think we had minor damage to the course, the playing surfaces themselves,” he said in January, “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.”

That was true on Saturday when the public got its first look at the course with the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur being played under bright sunny skies. None of the missing trees seemed to be in areas that come into play on the course. For instance, the tree-lined chute off the 18th tee looks just as narrow. (The club did not release any information regarding the number of trees that were lost.)

But connoisseurs of Augusta National will notice more space behind the greens on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th holes. And all around the 16th green, there are noticible gaps where clusters of trees once stood, leading to more expansive views toward the fifth, sixth, and 17th holes.

Here are some pictures that compare various points on the course now (the “above” photos) to what they looked like in previous years (below photos). All 2025 photos taken by J.D. Cuban.

10th hole