Courtesy of Oldfield Club
Oldfield Club, a private, member-owned course in Okatie, South Carolina, has retained its designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through Audubon International. Oldfield has been an Audubon Neighborhood for Nature and a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary golf course since 2004, and a Certified Audubon Sustainable Community since 2018.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive our recertification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary,” general manager Gautam Patankar said. “Leanna McMillian, community naturalist, and Thomas Davis, director of agronomy, lead this initiative and ensure that the golf course staff is carefully monitoring the standards set forth by Audubon to maintain the certification. Being one of a small handful of golf courses in South Carolina with this distinction is something we are very proud of.”
Highlights of Oldfield Club’s ongoing conservation efforts include:
- Wildlife conservation activities: Oldfield promotes strong habitats throughout the property to ensure wildlife can survive, thrive and reproduce. This includes maintaining a bird rookery on site, installing bird nesting structures across various golf holes and preserving environmentally sensitive areas and vegetation corridors.
- Water for wildlife: Oldfield practices environmentally sensitive maintenance around all surface water and encourages the growth of littoral and emergent vegetation around golf ponds, which supports aquatic life and bird species.
- Water conservation and water quality management: Oldfield Club has invested in advanced tools like the Pogo moisture meter and an on-site weather station to guide precise irrigation decisions. The agronomy team also applies wetting agents and growth regulators, performs irrigation audits and regularly monitors system efficiency.
- Chemical use reduction and safety: Through soil analysis testing, Oldfield’s agronomy team can make informed, targeted decisions for pest and disease treatment. They also prioritize healthy turf management with proper mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and compaction practices.
- Education and outreach: Oldfield proudly displays Audubon International signage and offers educational brochures in the pro shop. They’ve also launched a honeybee program and continue to host an annual Golf BioBlitz, encouraging member involvement and environmental awareness.