CHICAGO, Ill. – Billy Casper Golf (BCG) and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Ill. (FPD) today announce all 10 FPD golf courses have secured “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” status from the conservation organization Audubon International.
By maintaining and managing the Cook County-owned layouts in an ecologically sensitive fashion while ensuring superior playing conditions, BCG's efforts both document sound stewardship practices in place and further promote the positive environmental impact golf facilities can have for communities. Other important benefits of the sustainable maintenance practices have been enhanced fairway conditions and consistency of putting surfaces, which have been greatly enjoyed by golfers.
“We at the Forest Preserve District are very pleased that our golf courses have achieved this stellar designation,” says Vito Benigno, superintendent of permits and recreation for the FPD. “We applaud our Billy Casper Golf and Forest Preserve Golf teams for collaborating on this important conservation initiative.”
The agronomic criteria adopted by BCG to complete Audubon certification include:
Reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers
Increasing naturalized areas to minimize maintenance costs and enhance habitats for plants and animals
Working with community groups and volunteers - such as a number of local Boy Scout troops - to conduct bird, mammal and ornamental inventories at each facility.
To maintain the Audubon International designations, each FPD course will have scheduled site visits from local naturalists, as well as certified ongoing stewardship practices.
“The Forest Preserve District’s courses are an important part of the fabric of the community, adding to the quality of life for millions of local residents,” says BCG Regional Vice President Bill Rehanek. “Working with Aududon International to certify our ecologically conscious maintenance practices and to promote the intersection of golf and the environment is a wonderful opportunity for Forest Preserve Golf.”
Rehanek adds, “Not only are the courses being maintained in an environmentally-sensitive manner, our layouts are in the best and most consistent shape in years.”
Audubon International is a not-for-profit environmental organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and environment through research, education and conservation assistance. The organization developed the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses - which is endorsed and supported by the United States Golf Association - to provide information and guidance to help facilities preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.
“To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas,” explains Jeremy Taylor, Staff Ecologist for Audubon International. “These categories include Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality Management.”
Since 1914, Cook County government has protected and preserved flora, fauna and many acres of open lands through its Forest Preserve District. With its many botanical gardens and parklands, golf courses and other recreational facilities, Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, Jr. and the board of commissioners have a long history of promoting sustainable communities. In addition to Cook County's commitment, BCG recognizes the many benefits of Audubon International's certification program - including the professional development opportunities for those maintaining course conditions.
“One of the reasons Cook County hired BCG to manage their system of golf courses was our ability and commitment to meet and exceed both the conditioning and environmental benchmarks golfers and citizens expect,” says BCG Vice President and Director of Agronomy Bryan Bielecki. “Forest Preserve Golf's efforts are also a terrific professional development opportunity for our superintendents, each of whom did amazing jobs implementing the sustainable maintenance practices and securing Audubon certification for their courses.”
By maintaining and managing the Cook County-owned layouts in an ecologically sensitive fashion while ensuring superior playing conditions, BCG's efforts both document sound stewardship practices in place and further promote the positive environmental impact golf facilities can have for communities. Other important benefits of the sustainable maintenance practices have been enhanced fairway conditions and consistency of putting surfaces, which have been greatly enjoyed by golfers.
“We at the Forest Preserve District are very pleased that our golf courses have achieved this stellar designation,” says Vito Benigno, superintendent of permits and recreation for the FPD. “We applaud our Billy Casper Golf and Forest Preserve Golf teams for collaborating on this important conservation initiative.”
The agronomic criteria adopted by BCG to complete Audubon certification include:
Reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers
Increasing naturalized areas to minimize maintenance costs and enhance habitats for plants and animals
Working with community groups and volunteers - such as a number of local Boy Scout troops - to conduct bird, mammal and ornamental inventories at each facility.
To maintain the Audubon International designations, each FPD course will have scheduled site visits from local naturalists, as well as certified ongoing stewardship practices.
“The Forest Preserve District’s courses are an important part of the fabric of the community, adding to the quality of life for millions of local residents,” says BCG Regional Vice President Bill Rehanek. “Working with Aududon International to certify our ecologically conscious maintenance practices and to promote the intersection of golf and the environment is a wonderful opportunity for Forest Preserve Golf.”
Rehanek adds, “Not only are the courses being maintained in an environmentally-sensitive manner, our layouts are in the best and most consistent shape in years.”
Audubon International is a not-for-profit environmental organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and environment through research, education and conservation assistance. The organization developed the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses - which is endorsed and supported by the United States Golf Association - to provide information and guidance to help facilities preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.
“To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas,” explains Jeremy Taylor, Staff Ecologist for Audubon International. “These categories include Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality Management.”
Since 1914, Cook County government has protected and preserved flora, fauna and many acres of open lands through its Forest Preserve District. With its many botanical gardens and parklands, golf courses and other recreational facilities, Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, Jr. and the board of commissioners have a long history of promoting sustainable communities. In addition to Cook County's commitment, BCG recognizes the many benefits of Audubon International's certification program - including the professional development opportunities for those maintaining course conditions.
“One of the reasons Cook County hired BCG to manage their system of golf courses was our ability and commitment to meet and exceed both the conditioning and environmental benchmarks golfers and citizens expect,” says BCG Vice President and Director of Agronomy Bryan Bielecki. “Forest Preserve Golf's efforts are also a terrific professional development opportunity for our superintendents, each of whom did amazing jobs implementing the sustainable maintenance practices and securing Audubon certification for their courses.”
