Marriott Golf announced that Grande Pines Golf Club, in Orlando, Fla., has become Audubon Certified through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses (ACSP). The ACSP is a program that helps golf facilities protect the environment by enhancing precious natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide.
Featuring 18-holes of Championship golf designed by architect Steve Smyers, in collaboration with player consultant Nick Faldo, Grande Pines Golf Club is one of two Marriott Golf operated courses that are Audubon Certified. Stone Mountain Golf Club, in Stone Mountain, Ga., received this eco-friendly recognition in 2006.
As part of its environmental stewardship, Marriott Golf initiates extensive community education and outreach in the Orlando-area to promote its breadth of programs at Grande Pines. In fact, Grande Pines partnered with Boy Scouts of America Troop 996, and the Endeavor Elementary School, to develop a butterfly garden at the school, which serves as an outdoor classroom. As part of the program, the staff at Grande Pines supports the Endeavor Elementary School to educate students on the importance of preserving the environment and assisting with routine maintenance of the garden.
“We are thrilled to announce that another Marriott Golf managed course has become Audubon Certified,” said Robert Waller, Senior Director of Golf Grounds. “Marriott Golf’s overall commitment to protecting and preserving the environment is at the forefront of the golf industry, and moving forward, our goal is to have all of our facilities reach this high level of environmental consciousness.”
Waller adds, “What makes this program even more important, especially in the Orlando-area, is the community outreach that enables us to utilize our environmental programs to benefit kids, such as with the butterfly garden that we created at Endeavor Elementary School. Working with schools, Boy Scouts, and other organizations allows us to educate the community on the important role that golf courses can play in enhancing the environment.”
In order to achieve Audubon Certification, a golf facility is required to demonstrate that it is maintaining the highest degree of environmental quality in several areas including Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. Thus, one of Grande Pines’ first projects was to implement a long range environmental plan encompassing all of these areas, which included improvements to the drainage system, irrigation upgrades, turf renovation, native area enhancements, and facility/clubhouse improvements. As part of the Chemical Use Reduction, the facility implemented an integrated pest management program, which limits the amount of preventative pesticides used on the greens. In addition, enhancements to native areas of the course were made on several holes.