Stone Mountain Golf Club has achieved designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS), the educational division of Audubon International. Anthony Williams, director of grounds, has led the effort to obtain sanctuary status on this course and is being recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. Stone Mountain Golf Club is the 12th course in Georgia and the 598th in the world to receive the honor.
“Stone Mountain Golf Club has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property,” says Shawn Williams, staff ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs. “Located within Stone Mountain Park, I enjoy the fact the golf club has taken on the role of protecting and enhancing the natural heritage of the park.
“To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas,” explains Williams. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.
“We are extremely proud to be awarded the Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary designation, by Audubon International,” says G. Steven Hupe, general manager of Stone Mountain Golf Club. “Anthony Williams and his staff have done a tremendous job in a very short period of time, to achieve this award. As golf course operators, we feel it is vital to be the environmental leaders and stewards in our community.”
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources. Audubon certified courses in Cook County also include: The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, The Landings Club: Deer Creek, Marshwood/Magnolia, Oakridge, and Plantation/Palmetto Courses in Savannah, The Reynolds Plantation: Great Waters, National, Oconee, and Plantation Courses in Greensboro, Renaissance PineIsle Resort, and the Tournament Players Club at Sugarloaf in Duluth.
For more information, contact Audubon International, 46 Rarick Rd., Selkirk, NY 12158,518-767-9051, e-mail them at acss@auduboninternational.org, or visit their Web site at www.auduboninternational.org.