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Did you know?
Of
the 27 Golf Digest Leaders in Golf Award
winners in 2006, 26 are Audubon International members
and 85% are certified in the
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary or
Audubon Signature Programs. |
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Audubon
Cooperative Sanctuary Program
for Golf Courses (ACSP)
Certification
Overview
Audubon International awards certification to recognize golf courses that
protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and provide wildlife
habitats. Achieving certification demonstrates a course’s leadership,
commitment, and high standards of environmental management.
Who can achieve certification?
Golf courses enrolled in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf
Courses (ACSP) may apply for certification. There are no restrictions on
the types of golf courses that are eligible— nine-hole par 3 courses,
courses with tight layouts, municipal courses, resort courses, tournament
courses, and country clubs are encouraged to become certified.
How long does it take?
Most courses achieve certification within one to three years, depending on
how quickly they plan, organize, implement, and document their environmental
practices.
What does certification cost?
The annual registration fee for the ACSP is $200 ($250 international), which
includes certification materials and review. There are no additional fees
for certification.
What is involved?
ACSP members receive a Certification Handbook to guide certification efforts
and documentation. The golf course begins by completing a Site Assessment
and Environmental Plan form, provided in the handbook. This information
helps golf course personnel to take stock of current environmental management
practices and plan improvements.
The course submits its Site Assessment and Environmental Plan to Audubon
International and receives a Certification Status Report that offers suggestions
to help it proceed toward certification. Staff is also available via phone
and e-mail to assist golf course personnel.
Once the Site Assessment and Environmental Plan is reviewed by Audubon
International, the course implements its plan and documents its efforts and
results in each environmental quality area.
Designation as a
Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary is awarded to a golf course upon meeting
environmental management standards in the following five areas:
Wildlife and
Habitat Management
The golf course enhances existing natural habitats and landscaping to promote
wildlife and biodiversity conservation. Flexibility is essential to
account for each course’s location, size, and layout, as well as special
wildlife species and habitat considerations.
Chemical Use
Reduction and Safety
The golf
course implements best management practices at the maintenance facility and on
the course to ensure that chemicals are stored, handled, applied, and disposed
of safely. In addition, maintenance staff employ integrated pest
management strategies to track and target specific pests and minimize chemical
use.
Water Conservation
The golf course employs conservation management strategies to maximize the
efficient use of water. These include determining proper irrigation;
reducing irrigated acreage where possible; recapturing and re-using water; and
incorporating drought-tolerant plant species.
Water Quality Management
The golf course implements Best Management Practices to eliminate potential
nutrient or pesticide contamination of water sources. The course also
employs environmentally-sensitive management practices in ponds, streams, and
wetlands; proper equipment and chemical storage and handling; and water quality
monitoring to verify results.
Outreach and Education
Golf course personnel build support for their environmental management
program through a variety of communication, education, and outreach activities.
They also form a Resource Advisory Group of people who provide technical advice
and volunteer assistance to help implement the environmental plan. This
helps to ensure the long-term success of environmental management practices,
especially if staff assignments change.
How does Audubon International verify that the golf course
is meeting certification standards?
Written and
photographic documentation is required to achieve certification. If
required information is missing or management practices are not in place,
Audubon International places a “pending” status on the certification request.
This enables the course to provide the needed documentation or further develop
its management strategies.
On-site verification by a qualified third party is required within two years of
the initial certification. Recertification is required every two years to
ensure that courses continue to uphold certification standards. Courses
that do not submit the appropriate documentation or are no longer meeting
program requirements are decertified.
For more information please e-mail Joellen Zeh, at
jzeh@auduboninternational.org or call
(518) 767-9051 x14.
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