Tips for success in the AudubonCooperative Sanctuary Program.BY PAUL DOTTI

IsYour CourseCertified?

The Audubon Cooperative SanctuaryProgram (ACSP) for golf courseswaslaunched in 1991 by Audubon Internationaland the United States Golf Association topromote environmental stewardship byprotecting wildlife habitat and naturalresources.Of the nearly 16, 000 golf coursesin the United States today, 13.5% aremembers of the ACSP and only 1.9% areCertified Sanctuaries.

Wen Edgewood CountryClub set out to becomecertified in the Audubon

Cooperative Sanctuary Program(ACSP), it was intimidating to think ofwhat lay ahead. I was overwhelmed bywhat seemed like countless hours ofpaperwork associated with this pro-gram. My initial reaction was to put thecertification packet on the shelf andforget about it altogether. We werealready practicing several elements of

the program and I felt that the mem-bership was not going to think anydifferently of the golf course or myselfif Edgewood C. C. became a CertifiedAudubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Afterfurther consideration, I decided tojump right in and start from the begin-ning. This article describes the certifica-tion process and provides helpful hintstoward achieving certification.

GETTING STARTEDThe first step is to become a memberof the ACS:P.New golf courses in thedesign or development phase join theAudubon Signature Program. Tobecome a member golf course, contact:

Audubon Cooperative SanctuaryProgram

Audubon International46 Rarick RoadSelkirk, NY 12158Telephone: 518-767-9051, ext. 12E-Mail: acss@audubonintl.orgWebsite: www.audubonintl.org

Successful environmental projects on the golf course begin with good planning and implementation in the early stages.

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Wildflowers can provide a nice contrast to the golf course turf, and they served as a good selling pointfor the naturalization concept at Edgewood Country Club (New Jersey).

With the ACSP pragranl, we are able ta denlonstrate tothe public and our profession that we are doing the rightthing for our environlnent and our future.

The annual $150.00 membership fee($200.00 for international golf courses)covers the cost of educational materialsand attaining and maintaining certifi-cation. New members receive an infor-mation packet that contains a step-by-step handbook for certification and a"how to" guide for completing variouscomponents of the program. Sometopics include generating environmentalplans, constructing nest boxes, creatinga wildlife inventory, and developingoutreach and education activities.

KEY INGREDIENTSFOR CERTIFICATIONYou will soon discover that your golfcourse is already implementing many ofthe practices required for certification.Regardless, the following tips are veryhelpful for achieving certification.

Delegate ResponsibilityAlthough you may be the personprimarily responsible for coordinating

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the certification program, don't attemptto do everything alone. Assembling aResource Advisory Group (RAG) helpsspread out the workload by tapping theexpertise of several individuals.

Forming a RAG is also one of therequirements for certification in theOutreach/Education component.Wildlife identification and managementare important areas of expertise to haverepresented in the group. Consider anavid bird watcher or someone from alocal nature center who is willing tohelp develop a wildlife inventory ofthe golf course. I recruited a friendof mine who is knowledgeable in theidentification of wildlife and plantmaterials. Examples of other individualsto include on the team are yourassistants or other interested crewmembers, Green Committee members,local school teachers or administrators,and Boy/Girl Scout troop leaders.The more resources available, theeasier the process.

Record KeepingRecord keeping is absolutely essentialfor achieving certification. A 35mmcamera can provide "before" and "after"photos. Written documentation of turfmanagement and Integrated Pest Man-agement (IPM) practices is requiredthroughout the process. A detailed mapof the golf course helps depict variouslandscape features and environmentalmanagement practices.

Training and CommunicationEmployee training is a componentof certification, and both written andverbal communication with staff,customers, stakeholders, and the com-munity is needed to relay informationthroughout the program.

THE CERTIFICATIONPROGRAMThe certification program consists ofsix component areas:• Environmental Planning (must becompleted first).•Wildlife and Habitat Management.• Chemical Use Reduction and Safety.• Water Conservation.• Water Quality and Management.• Outreach and Education.

Environmental PlanningThe Environmental Planning compo-nent consists of the site assessment andenvironmental plan for the six compo-nent areas.The site assessment is a six-page questionnaire to provide AudubonInternational with general informationabout your golf course, including thenumber of rounds per year and area ofturf surfaces, gardens, natural plantcommunities, and water features.TheEnvironmental Plan is divided into sixsections, one for each component ofthe program. Each section consists of aseries of goals and management prac-tices that are required to achieve certifi-cation. In each section, you need toindicate whether a practice is imple-mented) partially implemented, or not imple-mented. For each management practice

Signage is one way to demonstrate your involvement in environmentalstewardship and the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

marked partially or not implemented, youfill out the last column titled PlannedEifforts.Write down start and expectedcompletion dates, or why the practicemay not be applicable to your golfcourse. Don't worry if you have markedno or partially implemented to manyof the management practices. TheEnvironmental Plan simply serves as achecklist of goals to work toward inobtaining certification.

Wildlife and HabitatManagementThe purpose of thiscomponent is to identifywildlife and enhance orprotect existing habitats orcreate new ones if none exist.While naturalizing the golfcourse is an integral part ofwildlife and habitatmanagement, it is not goingto be readily accepted atevery golf course. Manygolfers who are used to mani-cured turf may not like thelook of naturalized areas, orthey may be concerned aboutslow play, unwanted wildlife,or deer ticks. I was faced withall of these concerns atEdgewood Country Club,and educating themembership through newsletters andthe course bulletin board led to generalacceptance. of naturalization. The use ofwildflowers also helped to garnersupport by adding color and contrast tothe golf course.

If naturalization is not feasible, wild-life enhancement can still be achievedby several other practices, includinginstallation of nesting boxes or birdfeeders on the course, planting nativeplant species that will attract butterfliesor hummingbirds, or by leaving under-story vegetation growing in woodlandareas.

Certification in the Wildlife andHabitat Management componentrequires developing a wildlife inventoryand submitting photos showing

examples of naturalized areas, nestboxes, water features, and signage forhabitats or Environmentally SensitiveZones. Be sure to include "before" and"after" photos of restored habitats,if applicable.

Chemical Use Reduction and SafetyIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) isalready an integral part of many super-

intendents' management programs.With this component, however, the keyis to document everything regardingpest populations, and chemical andcultural control practices. For example,I keep records of past occurrences oflocalized dry spots, crabgrass, Hyperodes,and white grubs. Prior to my involve-ment in the ACS:p, I used to applynearly all pesticides on a preventativebasis. Now, pests are controlled on acurative or as-needed basis, except forsome of the more potentiallydevastating diseases on greens.

Scouting and monitoring pestactivity are important elements in IPM.Pest or damage thresholds should beestablished before making a pesticideapplication. For example, we do not

spray for Hyperodes unless we find atleast 5 to 10 adults per square foot.Choosing pesticides that have low userates, low toxicity, and minimal poten-tial for runoff o~ leaching is anotherpart of environmental stewardship. Weinclude biological control productswhen applicable.

Cultural practices are a big part ofIPM. Controlling thatch is one way to

grow healthier turf andreduce the potential for pestinvasion. Core aeration,verticutting, and topdressingare all beneficial practicesfor managing thatch andultimately reducingpesticide usage.

Certification in ChemicalUse Reduction and Safetyrequires photos of chemicalstorage/ mixing and loadingareas as well as equipmentstorage and wash areas. Alsorequired is documentationof your IPM practices, in-cluding pest scouting,threshold levels, culturalpractices, and choice ofpesticides and fertilizer.

Water ConservationWater conservation beginswith making sure your

irrigation system runs as efficiently aspossible. Repair all leaks as soon as theyare detected and make sure irrigationheads apply proper coverage. Replacefull-circle heads with part circles alonghard-surface areas, woodland edges,naturalized areas, and water features.Make every effort not to irrigate duringthe peak times for evapotranspiration(ET), and install or rely upon quick-coupler valves to hand water chronicdry spots instead of operating irrigationheads. Last, but not least, mulch allflower beds and new plantings to retainsoil moisture and improve plant health.This also will reduce weed growth andpesticide applications.

Certification in Water Conservationrequires documentation of a properly

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functioning irrigation system, use of ETor weather data to schedule irrigation,and quantification of daily, monthly, andannual water use, preferably before andafter your participation In the ACSP

Water Quality ManagementThis is perhaps the most intimidatingcomponent of the certification processbecause water quality testing is re-quired. Although some golf courses maybe sensitive to disclosing test results,testing is necessary to determine waterquality before and after implementationof environmental management prac-tices.Water quality testing is requiredfor representative water featuresthroughout the golf course. Testingparameters include pH, temperature,and concentrations of nitrogen andphosphorus.

Another phase of this component isthe implementation of Best Manage-ment Practices (BMPs) to protect waterquality, such as establishing vegetativebuffer areas adjacent to water features.Vegetative buffers can be created byplanting aquatic plants around pondedges or letting the existing vegetationgrow naturally. Mowing equipment andapplication of pesticides and fertilizershould be kept away from these bufferareas to reduce the risk of surface watercontamination.

Certification in Water Quality Man-agement requires photos showing areaswhere chemicals or fuel are stored orused, and documentation of waterquality test results and management ofwater features, including aquaticweed/pest control records.

Outreach and EducationThis is probably the most rewardingcomponent in the whole program.Here we have the opportunity to getpeople involved in the program andprovide education about the environ-mental benefits of golf courses. I startedspreading the news by writing amonthly newsletter and established abulletin board in the clubhouse. Also,we have adopted two local schools,

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hosted two class field trips to the golfcourse, and installed a butterfly andhummingbird garden, bird boxes, andfeeders for the children to maintain.

Certification in Outreach andEducation requires photos of yourenvironmental sanctuary display andpeople involved in stewardship projects.Also, you will need to provide samplesof written materials such as a news-letter, newspaper article, signs, or lettersthat document your education andoutreach efforts.

ENVIRONMENTALCASE STUDYAnother requirement of the certifica-tion program is that you must completean Environmental Case Study form toprovide more detailed informationabout anyone of the projects thatyou've implemented. Our case study onWildlife and Habitat Management wasfeatured in Audubon International'sStewardship News, and we receivednumerous phone calls from across thecountry. It is rewarding to know thatother people can benefit from yourwork in this program.

ACHIEVING CERTIFICATIONOnce the goals of each program com-ponent are met and documented, youare ready to apply for certification.Youwill receive a CertiflCate of Achieve-ment for each component completedin the program. Upon completion of allsix components, your golf course willbe designated as a Certified AudubonCooperative Sanctuary, and you willreceive an art print for display at yourfacility, a camera-ready logo, and a pressrelease.

Certification lasts for two years. Mterthat time the golf course completes are-certification packet to update theprogress of each component. Obviously,you have worked very hard to becomea certified sanctuary in the program.Don't let all that hard work go by thewayside by not renewing your annualmembership or not maintaining up-to-date records of program components.

SUMMARYHopefully this article will serve as acatalyst for those of you who have notyet joined the ACSP or are new mem-bers who are a bit overwhelmed bywhat lies ahead. Initially, I felt intimi-dated by the amount of work I thoughtmight be involved in this program, but Imanaged to live to tell about it throughhard work and surrounding myself withdedicated resources.

Maybe you're skeptical about thewhole idea of certification. Does havinga certificate on the wall make you anymore of a steward to the environmentthan golf courses without one? Likemost certification programs of its kind,becoming a certified sanctuary canmean as litde or as much as the timeand effort you put into it.

With the ACS:p, we have the oppor-tunity to demonstrate to the public ourcommitment to the environment. Takefull advantage of making your certifi-cates or press releases available to thepublic, or spread the word by hostingtours of the golf course. I know thatstudents and teachers alike were amazedat how different the golf course looksfrom "inside the fence." Not only do Ifeel satisfied seeing the results at ourgolf course, but also at other certifiedgolf courses as well. In some regions ofthe country, golf courses represent someof the last remaining open spaces. Withthe ACSP program, we are able todemonstrate to the public and ourprofession that we are doing the rightthing for our environment and ourfuture.

PAUL DOTTI is the golf coursesuperinten-dent at Edgewood Country Club in Rivervale, New Jersey. His coursewas designatedas a Certified Audubon CooperativeSanctuary in August 2000. He also is amember of the Audubon Steward Network,a group of dedicatedAudubon CooperativeSanctuary members who use their knowledgeand experience within the ACSP to provideinformation and assistance to others who areinterested in the ACSP