On June 23 of 2016 devastating rains and resulting floods basically wiped out the Greenbrier Resort and much of the surrounding area of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Along with destruction estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, 23 people lost their lives in what was referred to as a “once in a thousand years event.”
Bubba Watson and wife Angie were right in the middle of it all. They own a home in the Sporting Club section of the Greenbrier and were there when the rains began to fall.
They ended up being a part of the recovery efforts. Angie was there through most of it, Bubba had to head back on tour but they also donated $250,000 to the relief efforts.
Greenbrier owner Jim Justice played a major role in the region’s recovery and committed major resources to restore the course at The Greenbrier, as they are a major employment center for that area of the state.
“I looked at it and said ‘no way it’s gonna be done,'” Bubba said as he looked at the courses under water and eventually covered with millions of pounds of mud.
A lot has changed in a year. All five courses at the Greenbrier are looking great, particularly the Old White where the PGA Tour plays the Greenbrier Classic starting Thursday. The course was not restored — it was totally renovated to return many of the design features of C.B. Macdonald, the original architect of the layout.
Owner Jim Justice’s life has changed as well. He is now the Governor of West Virginia. He took office last January.
This is one of the great comeback stories in golf and while the Greenbrier is looking good, the remainder of the area is still in recovery but progress has been great.
Watson will be one of the tournament’s headliners along with Phil Michelson. The two are Ambassadors for the resort and the Sporting Club property in particular. Mickelson will play for the first time without longtime caddy Jim “Bones” Mackay. In his three previous appearances, Mickelson has yet to make the 36-hole cut.
