The Race to Sustainability Is On
GOLF COURSES look eco-friendly (they’re so green!) but traditional design can hamper wildlife habitat while impacting waterways through the overuse of fertilizers. Thankfully, a number of courses are striving to do better. Chambers Bay, in Washington, is a veritable wildlife refuge, while Saucon Valley Country Club, in Pennsylvania, has reduced chemical use so much while restoring its natural streambeds and banks that water is cleaner after passing through the course. Collier’s Reserve, in Naples, FL, uses only wastewater to feed its grass. Meanwhile, several courses are earning carbon neutrality. “Courses are going in the right direction,” says Frank Lavardera, the director of environmental programming for Audubon International, which designates courses as wildlife sanctuaries based on their environmental mitigation practices. “In some instances, a course can actually be a benefit to the environment, improving water quality and providing healthy wildlife habitat.”