ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — This week’s warmer weather is usually an invitation for golfers to get out on the course during the winter season. But this year, the problem is that the options are limited after Hurricane Helene.
“It’s honestly depressing to see the destruction and everything that’s happened here,” said Patrick Warren, general manager and pro at Asheville Municipal Golf Course. “We knew the hurricane was coming and that there was going to be flooding, [but] nothing like what we got. Everybody’s concerned about the future of the golf course.”
That is all on the front nine holes at Asheville Municipal Golf Course.
“FEMA’s been out,” Warren added. “The Civil Corps of Engineers is supposed to come out within the next three weeks and start cleaning up. We’re not operable on the front nine. We’ve had to lay some people off, unfortunately. We’ve also reduced operating hours.”
Many other courses are in a similar boat.
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Broadmoor Golf Links in Fletcher is closed indefinitely but the driving range is open. The Black Mountain Golf course is also closed indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Asheville Municipal Golf Course is facing millions of dollars in repairs.
“We’re hoping that the city can find some FEMA money and rebuild it,” Warren said. “It’ll probably be a year or a year-and-a-half – best case scenario – before that gets done. We just have to do what we can to keep it going.”
While it will take years in some cases to rebuild the tee boxes, fairways and greens, the courses most impacted by the storm are optimistic. That is because some holes have been touched up or were never damaged at all.
“It’s amazing to me that they even have the back nine open right now,” local golfer Collin Watt said. “When I drove by for the first time, it took my breath away.”
Locals like Watt spent these warm February days with an iron in their hands.
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“I’ve just been trying to take advantage of the fact that they’re allowing us to be here,” he said. “With the weather at this time of year, you have to take advantage of it.”
“Right now, we’re just trying to operate as a nine-hole golf course,” Warren said. “We’ve definitely seen a lot more foot traffic when we get nice weather.
While holes, staffing and hours are limited, clubs are positive about what they have rather than what they don’t in 2025.
“Spring’s just around the corner,” Warren said. “So, we’re just trying to stay positive. We’re moving forward to get to warmer weather.”
“Coming out and supporting your local golf course or whoever is able to provide the need to play – That’s awesome during this time,” Watt said.
Check the status of some local golf courses post-Helene here:
