USTA Southern Cares Facility Initiative helps facilities hit by Hurricane Helene

The Hurricane Relief Grants were part of the USTA Southern Cares Facility Initiative that began several years ago to assist facilities during natural disasters. The purpose of the initiative is to help defray some of the tennis-related costs associated with reopening facilities and programs.

West Lake loses more than 1,000 trees

The level of damage incurred by the West Lake Country Club after the hurricane swept through Augusta, Ga., made it hard to imagine anyone playing on the tennis courts within a reasonable amount of time.

Nearly 1,100 trees were lost across the property and the tennis facility suffered extensive damage, including the destruction of three major perimeter fences and two storage sheds containing all of the facility’s teaching equipment. The club’s clay courts suffered significant erosion, with several tons of material literally washed away.

Unsure where to turn, Seth Redelheim, the club’s Director of Racquet Sports, was handed a lifeline by USTA Southern. The section provided the club with a $16,000 Hurricane Relief Grant.

“This assistance was not only timely, but essential. It allowed us to begin restoring our facility quickly and to a high standard,” Redelheim said. “With these funds, we completed a full top-dressing of our clay courts, adding three tons of new clay per court. We also replaced damaged fencing and installed new windscreens, helping return our courts to top condition.”

The relief assistance provided to West Lake Country Club not only benefited the members of the club, but the surrounding tennis community.

“With two neighboring facilities rendered unplayable well into the spring, we were able to host a record number of matches during the winter 2025 season: 44 ladies’ team matches and 10 Junior Team Tennis matches over a 10-week span,” Redelheim said. “Without USTA Southern’s help, much of the adult and junior competitive season might have been lost entirely.”

In addition to covering the repair costs that insurance didn’t fund, the USTA Southern grant enabled West Lake Country Club to move forward on long-overdue facility improvements. The club is currently repairing and expanding sidewalks and building a new spectator area beside the courts to make the space more welcoming and accessible.

“The impact of USTA Southern’s support has been profound,” Redelheim said. “It went beyond financial relief. It was a show of solidarity and a reminder that, even in the most difficult times, our tennis community looks out for one another. We are sincerely grateful for the trust and investment that USTA Southern placed in us. Thanks to that partnership, we’ve not only restored what was lost—we’ve come back stronger, more connected, and more committed than ever to growing the game in our region.”