FROM THE NEWSROOM

Isabel leaves Outer Banks
golf courses in disarray

Carolinas major golf destinations untouched

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2003) - With 1.5 million east coast residents still without power in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel, thoughts of fairways and greens are still days, or even weeks away.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, ground zero for Isabel's landfall last Thursday, sustained record damage from the storm's 105 mph winds and powerful storm surge. Hundreds of homes and buildings were swept away or demolished, and entire highways were washed out to sea.

• Top-notch spots for weekend getaways • Outer Banks golf courses • Isabel tears through Virginia Beach, Ocean City 'back to normal'

Remarkably, the damage to local area golf courses was minimal. As of Tuesday, many courses from Corolla to Nags Head had opened at least nine holes, with the majority reporting they would be fully operational this weekend. Chris Busbee, head professional at Sea Scape Golf Links near Kitty Hawk, said his course was essentially unscathed by Isabel.

"There's no damage to the golf course, really," said Busbee. "Just 20 or 30 trees to clean up. We really didn't get any flooding or rain. We were more worried about the loss of power."

Busbee said that Sea Scape's sister course, Kilmarlic Golf Club, also has nine holes open and should have all 18 holes open for play by this weekend. But "open for play for whom?" has become the question for Busbee and other Outer Banks course operators.

"The entire island is closed to everyone except residents," Busbee said. "It is good for now because we need to clean up and we only have the local members coming out to play. That's something like ten or 12 rounds a day. But after that, we just don't know. The impact is going to be huge."

With hundreds of rental properties in shambles, entire sections of road missing and access limited to residents, fairways throughout the Outer Banks could remain relatively empty for an extended period of time. Busbee said he has already had to cancel two large, revenue-producing tournaments and dozens of advance booked rounds.

"Only time will tell how big a setback this will be," Busbee said. "This isn't our peak season but we still do a lot of business in the fall."

To the south, Isabel forced the closing of courses in Wilmington and the Myrtle Beach region's "North Strand." Blair Higdon of Rivers Edge Golf Club in Shallotte said the Arnold Palmer designed course on the banks of the Shallotte River closed on Thurs. but reopened the next day.

"Most courses around here closed for a day," Higdon said. "There really wasn't any damage. We had to pick up a few downed tree limbs and other debris but that is it."

The 30 plus courses of the North Strand released a collective sigh of relief after the storm's passing. The golf-rich area is entering its peak fall golf season and is already suffering from a rain-soaked spring and summer. Relief is in sight, however. The forecast for the remainder of this week and beginning of next calls for mostly sunny skies with a few isolated showers.