Tour News

Flooding hits West Virginia, threatens to wash out Greenbrier Classic

Published

10 years ago

Jun 24, 2016

The Greenbrier Classic is slated to get started July 4th from the Greenbrier Resort in West Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Unfortunately, all things tournament related have been put on the back burner as massive flooding rolls through the area in the wake of Thursday’s storms.

Homes and infrastructures have been damaged and deaths have been reported by local news, so the fact that the golf course is flooded is of minor importance in the larger story of the deluge. As resort owner Jim Justice said, “It’s like nothing I’ve seen. But our focus right now isn’t on the property, the golf course or anything else. We’re praying for the people and doing everything we can to get them the help they need.”

Bubba Watson, a resident of the resort, took to Twitter with this video of the flooding.

Hope @The_Greenbrier drys out soon!! #GreenbrierClassic #hole18-17-1 pic.twitter.com/n2HRUTYpw7

— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) June 23, 2016

“Prayers for @The_Greenbrier & surrounding areas,” Watson added on Twitter. “We are without power & it’s still raining. Never seen this much rain!”

As of Thursday night, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin had issued a State of Emergency Thursday night in 44 out of West Virginia’s 55 counties.

More shots of the flooding, per WV MetroNews.

Justice, rightfully, put things in perspective: “The last thing we really need to be worried about right now is the golf course or the Greenbrier Classic. What we need to be worried about is the people’s lives and their homes and their belongings.”

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

8 Comments

Johny Thunder

Jun 25, 2016 at 2:28 am

I know this is a golf site, but the second part of the title has no business in the same place as the first half. Among the serious impact here, including loss of life and likely long-term economic loss for individuals, the fact that a bunch of super-spoiled millionaires won’t be able to smack a little ball around for 6 days matter less than not at all.

If a charity is impacted by the loss of the tournament, those pros and the Tour have enough money lining their pockets to make up for it. H***, Bubba alone could. Get some perspective, for *** sake.

Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Jun 26, 2016 at 12:17 pm
  
  Yes, it does. It’s a website dedicated to golf. You’re acting like the article completely ignored everything non-golf related, which isn’t even close to the truth. If anything, golf was a side story in this piece (rightfully so). God forbid they even mention golf on a golf website.
  
  Reply Report comment
Dean

Jun 24, 2016 at 8:21 pm

Two little kids died in this flood. But hey, don’t let that stop you from making stupid jokes :/

Reply Report comment
- Deen
  
  Jun 26, 2016 at 5:23 am
  
  Pull your head in Dean. Why would anyone joke about that?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dean
    
    Jun 26, 2016 at 2:13 pm
    
    You should ask the idiot who was making jokes. Thankfully his posts were deleted by the mods.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Deen
      
      Jun 26, 2016 at 3:26 pm
      
      Fair enough. That’s poor form.
      
      Reply Report comment
Tom

Jun 24, 2016 at 3:46 pm

flood insurance?

Reply Report comment
- JB
  
  Jun 25, 2016 at 5:48 am
  
  Jim Justice probably didn’t pay the premiums…
  
  Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.