Soil is everything

While frequent hurricanes can cause destruction, danger and unending recovery efforts, Florida’s Collier’s Reserve Country Club has learned to adapt to being in such a rainy state. Hurricane Ian in 2018 kickstarted the research into using less fertilizers on the property. This isn’t the first time the team there has been at the forefront of environmental strides — the 18-hole Naples private club was the first course to earn Audubon International Signature Sanctuary certification in 1994. 

Conversations about less inputs started in 2018 but accelerated following a 2021 renovation. “We have experienced a lot of hurricanes down here over the past 10 years, so we’re pretty familiar with how salt from the storms affects the soil,” superintendent Ken Kleinedler says. “Between that and the experience of the renovation, I came out of that with this new appreciation and understanding of our biology and carbon in the soil.”

The saltwater from the hurricanes also revealed which pests thrive in it. As hurricanes became more frequent, the Bermudagrass mite was found on the course. “We started to see pests we’ve never seen before,” Kleinedler says.

From there, the course began steering away from salts, minimizing fertilizer usage and promoting beneficial biological activity in the soils.

Through minimizing fertilizers and increasing carbon inputs to buffer salts, the course also reduced pesticide usage. Mostly natural biological pest control — using things such as compost tea extracts, chitosan and natural wetting agents — have led to minimal unwanted insects and weeds spotted among the property.

Hurricane effects on the soil made a lasting impact on Kleinedler and inspired him to begin Soil Food Web School. He is learning to study the course’s soil by looking under a microscope and creating his own bio-complete compost. “I can make more educated decisions on what’s really going on in my soil,” he says, “encouraging soil balance both nutritionally and biologically with beneficial microorganisms.”

The club has started its own composting, too, allowing the course to condition the soil long term. “Hopefully, year after year, the course becomes stronger and more consistent,” Kleinedler says.

Decreased input usage is one of many steps managers of the Arthur Hills-designed course implemented to promote environmentalism. The efforts are organized alongside the club’s Natural Resource Committee. “It's all about promoting why members came here in the first place,” Kleinedler says. “They can choose a lot of great places to play golf, but there’s not many that can provide great golf while being so ingrained with its natural environment.” 

Wildlife sightings are frequent, and sometimes once in a lifetime. A member once captured a heart-warming video of a black bear mother and her cubs playing in their pool and hot tub after a hurricane. The course houses more than 13 different micro ecosystems on 125 acres of preserves. Bobcats are seen early in the morning and large alligators live on the land. “When you see those up close, they’re pretty amazing," Kleinedler says.

Once endangered, the gopher tortoise has repopulated and identified habitats throughout the course. Collier’s Reserve works with the Naples Conservancy to rehome the species. After a tortoise is rehabilitated, they are brought to the club to live on the 50 acres dedicated to their protection. “We do this multiple times throughout the year,” Kleinedler says, “and it’s just another really cool, unique part of our program.”

More than 20 different bird boxes dot the course, including purple martin boxes and screech owl boxes. Wood duck boxes reside around the waters, and osprey perches are found on the ninth hole and in numerous other areas. 

The course is now working to become a Platinum Signature Series Sanctuary for Audubon International. If successful, Collier’s Reserve would be the first course to achieve this certification.

“The soil is everything for us here,” Kleinedler says. “The environment is what it’s all about. It’s a special property and great membership that supports it.”