On paper, the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program sounds like a plus for the golf industry. It’s described as a way to preserve and protect the natural aspects of golf courses while displaying to the community the golf industry’s dedication to the environment. But not everyone sees the value, so the program’s directors continue to try to win members.
Participation has been growing steadily each year. About 12 percent of all golf courses in the country registered in the program, says Joellen Zeh, program manager at Audubon International. During the past five years, the number of courses that go on to be certified has increased from 2 percent to about 3.5 percent of all courses in the country.
Still, some of those who don’t participate in the program have reservations about it, which Zeh works to put to rest. Here are the three most common concerns she hears:
It will take too much time to put the practices into place.
Zeh understands that superintendents aren’t sitting around looking for more work to do on the course.
“We put a lot of effort into making the certification process less time consuming,” she says.
Additionally, the information that’s requested is helpful for superintendents to have on file. It can help them make better decisions later.
Also, the completion of the certification process should not be put on one person’s shoulders, Zeh says. The following are the certification process categories:
- Environmental planning: This includes a site assessment and environmental plan. This step primarily involves check boxes and fill-in-the-blanks. It takes about an hour and a half to complete. This is used as a guide for the superintendent to complete the rest of the steps. Once completed, the plan tells the superintendent what he or she needs to work on to become certified.
The rest of the steps can be completed one at a time or all at once:
- Wildlife and habitat management: Maximize out-of-play areas as habitats.
- Chemical use reduction and safety: Participants create a pest management plan and take stock of the maintenance facility.
- Water conservation: Make sure irrigation is put where it needs to be and is used at the best time to maximize turf quality and minimize water use.
- Water quality management: Best management practices should be in place to ensure groundwater and surface water is protected. Water testing is also part of the process.
- Outreach and education: The program isn’t a one-person process; a group of people should be involved in completing the requirements, Zeh says. Superintendents should reach out to employees, club members and community members to help with tasks that superintendents might not have the expertise, time to do. This includes monitoring wildlife and creating signs and brochures to educate others on what is happening on the course.
Once the steps are completed, a volunteer from the community evaluates the golf course as the superintendent leads the volunteer on a tour of the course. This is another way to extend community awareness of the industry’s efforts.
It costs too much.
Some golf courses already meet most of Audubon International’s requirements, so little else will need to be done, Zeh says. Others might have to shell out more money upfront to meet the requirements, but putting the practices in place can help save money later, she says. For instance, certification requires that there’s a containment system where pesticides are being mixed, loaded and stored. This might require a pricey solution, but compared to what it would cost to clean up a spill, it could be considered a savings.
Being safe has other incentives as well.
“We’re working with insurance companies who agreed to provide lower rates for those in the program,” Zeh says.
One of the recommendations, that an average of 22 acres of grass be converted to natural habitat, takes some work off the crew’s maintenance schedule, cutting those costs as well.
“We’re often told that the program saves courses money in the long run,” she says.
The other cost to consider is the $200-per-year membership fee.
Golfers and management won’t support participation in the program.
The key to acceptance is letting people know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, Zeh says. For instance, the requirement of converting grass to a natural habitat might be hard for some managers to swallow at first.
“If a superintendent stopped mowing 22 acres, he’d probably be looking for another job,” she says. “Letting people know what he’s doing and why is vital to the success of the program.”
For the most part, the program asks superintendents do the best they can; it doesn’t dictate exactly how much must be done.
“By being flexible, we find they do more than we ask them to do,” Zeh says.
She gives the example of a superintendent in New York who naturalized 40 acres. He never imagined that would have been possible. Golfers then approached him with other areas they wanted him to consider naturalizing.
Not only do management and golfers get on board, but members of the community often become more educated about – and accepting of – conservation efforts on golf courses, Zeh says.
In a recent Audubon International survey, 99 percent of superintendents who participated said golfer satisfaction improved or remained the same, and 50 percent said golfers were more satisfied with the conditions after the course became certified.
Some courses end up using fewer pesticides, less water and adding 22 acres of natural habitat, yet superintendents and golfers reported the turfgrass quality was the same as it was before the course was certified.
Audubon International is working with organizations like the Club Managers Association of America, PGA America and the Golf Course Owner’s Association of America to educate their members about environmental efforts and encouraging them to support golf course superintendents in the program.
“With outreach and education learning more about what’s going on, golfers are more involved and get more ownership of the golf course,” Zeh says.
Not only do others view the golf course in more positive light, superintendents also have a better outlook. When it came to job satisfaction, all participants in the survey said their job satisfaction improved or remained the same after joining the program. Seventy percent said they were more satisfied.
For more information, visit www.auduboninternational.org.
