HILTON HEAD ISLAND
www.auduboninternational.org 518.767.9051 | Toll-free
Audubon International Headquarters 120 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180
Christine Kane , Chief Executive Officer christine@auduboninternational.org
Elizabeth Ryan, Chief Operating Officer liz@auduboninternational.org
Frank LaVardera, Director, Environmental Programs for Golf frank@auduboninternational.org
Mark O'Mell, Director, Signature Sanctuary Certification mark@auduboninternational.org
Greg Poirier, Director, Green Lodging/Green Hospitality Certifications greg@auduboninternational.org
Fred Realbuto, Environmental Program Manager fred@auduboninternational.org
Scott Turner, Environmental Program Manager scott@auduboninternational.org
Tallis Warren, Member Services Manager tallis@auduboninternational.org
Sarah Honan, Environmental Program Specialist sarah@auduboninternational.org
Kelsey King, Environmental Program Specialist kelsey@auduboninternational.org
Jill Moore, Sustainable, Communities Program Specialist jill@auduboninternational.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Henry DeLozier, Chairman
Rich Katz, Vice Chairman
Marvin Moriarty, Secretary
Henry Wallmeyer, Treasurer
JC Chi
Jennifer Grant, Ph.D.
Jim Pavonetti
Jake Riekstins
David Robinson
James Singerling, CCM
Bryan Stromme
Randy Winegard
STEWARDSHIP NEWS STAFF
Vic Williams, Editor | Alissa Theodor, Designer Stewardship News is published quarterly in digital-only form by Audubon International, 120 Defreest Drive, Troy, New York 12180. Copyright© 2024 Audubon International. No material may be reproduced without written permission. Previous issues available by visiting www.auduboninternational.org/stewardship-news. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Corrections:
In the Spring 2024 issue, please note the following additions and corrections:
On page 10, the news brief on the winter conference circuit should have mentioned that Environmental Specialist Kelsey King also attended the GCSAA show
On page 19, the photo of Environmental Progam Manager Scott Turner holding the flag at Xili Golf is actually with Alex Grengs, Workshop Manager, not the superintendent as shown. The editor apologizes for these errors.
AsCEO CORNER
The Many Layers of A Sustainable Future
we approach midsummer in the Northern Hemisphere, our planet continues to speak to us, loudly and clearly, about runaway global climate change. Every passing month is “the warmest on record.” Every day brings news of a new high temperature set in some U.S. or foreign city, a heat wave that extends weeks rather than days and across larger swaths of territory, the threat of punishing rains or massive wildfires, tornado warnings in unusual places, alphabet-exhausting hurricane seasons, and on and on.
The warning signs are flashing everywhere, but thankfully, many nations are responding to these threats with shared commitment across public and private sectors, from individuals to companies large and small, to the highest levels of government. We’re investing in technologies that can and must stem the tide of climate change’s potentially disastrous effects and working together to alter how we live, work, and play, in the only world we have.
At Audubon International, we partner with golf courses, lodging and hospitality operators, and communities to achieve stewardship success through our suite of proven, vetted, third-party certification programs. From our earliest days more than three decades ago, we have continually updated our certification criteria to incorporate the latest scientific developments in everything from water use and treatment to integrated pest management on golf courses to energy-efficient outputs and recyclable materials in hotel lobbies and rooms, to the latest heating and air conditioning efficiencies in modern business structures, to wildlife habitat development and species support tailored for every temperate zone we encounter. Ours is a multi-level and multidimensional approach to leading our members into the future of sustainable best practices, and every year we continue to welcome new partners in this endeavor.
Just this spring, for instance, one of the golf and lodging industry’s biggest players, the Cabot Collection, chose Audubon International as its exclusive sustainability partner. A key part of that agreement asserts that Cabot will achieve Audubon International’s comprehensive Platinum Signature Sanctuary Certification for every property in its present and future worldclass portfolio, from Canada to the Caribbean and Florida to Scotland. Platinum certification is the ultimate multi-layered approach to sustainable practices, covering golf, lodging, hospitality, and residential development, and Cabot’s participation only adds to this newer program’s power and legitimacy.
Speaking of multi-layered efforts, in this issue of Stewardship News, we take you to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, a truly inspiring example of what happens when an entire community plans and strives together to show the way to a truly sustainable lifestyle in what is easily one of the nation’s most environmentally sensitive and dedicated regions. With a slew of Audubon International Signature Sanctuary golf courses and Green Lodging/Green Hospitality members working in concert with the Town of Hilton Head and other local and regional public stakeholders, the island continues to build its sustainability bona fides while implementing forward-looking environmental measures on many fronts.
You’ll also take a trip a bit inland to north-central Georgia, where Flat Creek Country Club expands its milkweed habitat as a Monarchs in the Rough participant; head north to Keweenaw Resort on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for a peek at how powerful our Green Hospitality Certification Program can be in even the most remote regions of the country; and learn about a West Coast expert’s recommendations for planting and tending native vegetation on golf courses so it will thrive.
Finally, this summer finds the Audubon International team tallying up the scores from our just-completed 8th annual BioBlitz competition, which invites courses across the country to showcase all the wildlife present along their fairways – yet another layer to add to our ever-growing sphere of stewardship influence and achievement. We will report the results in our next issue.
Until then, let’s embark together on our most sustainable summer yet.
CEO, Audubon International
CHAIRMAN’S
CORNER
Sustainable Communities Are a Wise Investment
Sustainable communities are on the minds of most residential developers because their duty to imagine and create safe havens for people is a core priority for consumers. Audubon International’s Signature Sanctuary and Sustainable Communities certifications are important answers for planning future homes and communities.
The Pew Research Center survey of 10,329 U.S. adults, conducted in the early summer of 2023, finds that almost three in four Americans have climate change on their priority lists:
• 74% of Americans say they support the country’s participation in international efforts to reduce the effects of climate change.
• 67% of U.S. adults prioritize the development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen power over increasing the production of fossil fuel energy sources.
Homebuilders are mindful of the guidance developed by market analyst Martha Barletta in her book, Marketing to Women: How to Understand, Reach, and Increase Your Share of the World's Largest Market Segment, wherein she observed that women make nine out of ten home purchase decisions. And that datapoint resonates with developers and builders of residential properties because women tend to be highly supportive of environmental consciousness, according to research developed by the National Library of Medicine.
Taking their cue from Marti Barletta, whom The Huffington Post calls “the High Priestess of Marketing to Women” and TIME magazine calls “the Chief Rabbi of the Sheconomy,” the housing industry recognizes the value of communities that are safe havens for families and friends.
Including sustainability in the design of a community is a sensible approach to residential development, observes Audubon International’s CEO, Christine Kane: “Numerous studies show that not only can it significantly reduce construction and operation costs but that buyers are also willing to pay a premium of up to 10%.”
The 2023 Pew Research survey also found that “By sizable margins, Americans support a number of specific policy proposals aimed at reducing the effects of climate change through targeting greenhouse gas emissions and carbon in the atmosphere:
• Overwhelming majorities support planting about a trillion trees around the world to absorb carbon emissions (89%) and requiring oil and gas companies to seal methane gas leaks from oil wells (85%).
• 76% favor providing a tax credit to businesses that develop carbon capture technologies and 70% support taxing corporations based on their carbon emissions.
• 61% favor requiring power plants to eliminate all carbon emissions by the year 2040.”
Kane emphasizes that getting your community involved is easy. “Awareness of environmental issues and sustainability are at an all-time high, but people still don’t know how to get started. With our certifications, we recommend setting up a green team to work on it together; it gets rid of the “one person can do it all” mentality and creates buy-in and mutual goals across the community.”
As a member of Audubon International companies receive:
• The expertise of Audubon International’s staff to create or enhance your business sustainability efforts
• Step-by-step instructions to achieve recognition and third-party certification for your sustain-ability efforts
• Tools for engaging and educating community members about sustainability
• Subscriptions to Stewardship News, the AI quarterly newsletter
• Regular email updates with untapped resources
• Fact sheets on common topics
• Access to a network of businesses facing similar issues
• Assistance with promoting your successes
Developers know the wisdom of creating real value for their most influential buyer segments. With costs starting as low as $1,000 USD, your company can generate valuable return on investment in Audubon International's sustainability certification. The trend in creating residential communities that serve as safe havens makes good business sense. And good sense is good business.
Henry Delozier, Chairman of the Board
continued on page 4
Audubon International Welcomes New Board Members
InJune, Audubon International’s Board of Directors elected three new at-large members, each bringing a deep and impressive resume to the organization’s decision-making body.
Joining an already strong 10-member board are Jim Pavonetti, Certified Golf Course Superintendent & Director of Golf Course and Grounds at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut; David Robinson, Senior Director with Marriott Golf overseeing agronomics for Marriott’s global golf portfolio; and JC Chi, Principal and Co-Founder of Kuo Diedrich Chi Planners & Architects based in Atlanta, Georgia.
“As our organization continues to grow, welcoming these three outstanding people to our board gives us an even broader representation of stakeholders in the industries with which we work most closely to fulfill our mission,” says Christine Kane, CEO. “They will help expand our message to future members who truly want and need to establish a sustainable culture through potent partnerships, best practices, consistent communication and wise investments. We are thrilled to bring their deep experience and new perspectives to bear as our board charts our way forward.”
JIM PAVONETTI
A longtime champion of Audubon International’s mission, Mr. Pavonetti was named to his position at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2008. Active in the field for over three decades, he notably held the same position at the Edison Club and the West Point Golf Course.
Pavonetti led the way for Fairview Country Club to achieve the designation of Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, through Audubon International. His efforts were also recognized by the Metropolitan Golf Association, resulting in Fairview
Country Club receiving the prestigious Arthur P. Weber Environmental Leader in Golf Award in 2019. He also earned the Environmental Leaders in Golf Award from the GCSAA and Golf Digest eight times between 2006 and 2023. In 2021, Mr. Pavonetti was featured in Golf Digest for his environmental conservation contributions to the field.
“I am very honored to be asked to join the Board of Directors for Audubon International,” Pavonetti says. “I hope to promote the programs to turf students entering the industry, assistant superinten-
jim pavonetti
david robinson
jc chi
NEWS BRIEFS
dents, and young golf course superintendents. They are the future, and I think that their participation is important to the golf and turf industry and to the future of the public view on golf course maintenance operations. I would also like to find better ways to promote these programs to the general golfer, from the daily fee player to members of the most prestigious country clubs in the world. If participating in environmental stewardship programs such as Audubon International’s can become important to them, especially when searching for a new superintendent, then it will be important to the superintendent’s career portfolios, as well.”
Pavonetti continues to remain engaged with various environmental projects that enhance wildlife and protect natural resources. Particularly interested in monarch butterflies, he is an active member of Monarchs in the Rough, which is a national program working to establish pollinator habitats on golf courses. He was also a member of the New York State Best Management Practices Project Committee, in conjunction with Cornell University, which establishes best practices for golf courses, and Connecticut’s Best Management Practices Planning and Steering Committee.
DAVID ROBINSON
Mr. Robinson is a Certified Golf Course Superintendent and a Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor. He is a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association, Central Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association, and the Florida Turfgrass Association. He also serves on numerous boards and committees within the golf industry.
Robinson earned a bachelor’s degree in Turfgrass Science from Pennsylvania State University and an associate degree in Golf Course Management along with a Certificate in Turf Equipment Management from Lake City Community College. He served as Superintendent of Golf Grounds at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Naples, Florida.
“I am honored to be elected to the board,” he says. “Audubon International has been Marriott Golf’s foundational sustainability program for nearly 20
years. I look forward to working closely with the organization to help build their presence within the industry and further promote golf sustainability.”
As a board member, Robinson looks forward to helping Audubon International increase its number of certified facilities, strengthen programs, and build on overall golf sustainability awareness.
JC CHI
With over 30 years of experience in the club design industry, Mr. Chi has gained expertise in the areas of golf development feasibility, amenity master planning, facility programming, and design implementation of golf and recreational facilities on a global scale. Beyond having served in the role as design visionary and architect for projects throughout the United States, he has led efforts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.
Chi took Board Chair Henry DeLozier’s personal invitation to heart and welcomes the personal and professional challenge. “I wholeheartedly take it seriously,” he says. “On a personal level I have time to devote to outreach and going beyond just the work commitments that I have with my profession. I'm challenging myself to be more proactive and have a positive impact on other people, my projects, and my club clients.”
Over the past two decades, JC has maintained the position as Director of Design or Architectural Review Board Member for a variety of private golf communities throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the country. From the standpoint of client profile, he has acquired a solid balance having worked with developer resort communities, individual ownership groups, and some of the most pedigreed member-owned clubs founded over a century ago. The strength and objective of JC's contribution toward the club design industry regardless of location or scale, is to serve as the complete design visionary whether for the grandest of acclaimed country clubs or the quaintest of golf houses.
“Because of the portfolio of work that my firm possesses with clubs and developers of golf-related projects, I have the platform to meet a lot of people in the building and hospitality industries that stem
from hotels in our resort developments,” he says. "My focus is on architecture and construction so there is another set of industry leaders I can speak to. A lot of our club clients are members of the Audubon International. It makes sense is that I can, and would be happy to, help expand that network.”
To learn more about the Audubon International board of directors, visit https://auduboninternational.org/leadership/
Audubon International, Cabot Collection Begin Exclusive Signature Platinum Partnership
Audubon International is now the exclusive environmental stewardship partner for world-class golf and resort developer The Cabot Collection. Its portfolio includes the award-winning Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Cabot Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Cabot Revelstoke in British Columbia, Florida, Cabot Highlands in Scotland, and the just-announced Cabot Bordeaux in France. In this exclusive, groundbreaking partnership, Toronto-based Cabot becomes the first multi-property brand to enroll every golf course and surrounding built environment into Audubon International’s
comprehensive, all-inclusive Platinum Signature Sanctuary certification program, which was introduced in 2023.
Signature Platinum Certification brings an entire resort or community development under one certification umbrella, including golf courses, clubhouse facilities, lodging, real estate, restaurants and retail. It stands as Audubon International’s most elite certification. To qualify for inclusion, the project needs to include at least two certifications and any golf courses need to meet the the Signature Gold certification level.
Cabot Links, Inverness, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Along with Cabot, several properties in North America, the Caribbean and Europe who are enrolled and are working on their certification; Cabot is the first, however, to commit their entire portfolio to the program.
“Cabot is one of the most respected and trendsetting golf destination companies in the world today, and their exclusive partnership with Audubon International gives our Platinum Signature Sanctuary program the stature it deserves as the certification standard for any property that wants to attain, and surpass, its environmental stewardship goals,” says Christine Kane, CEO of Audubon International. “We look forward to working with Cabot’s development, construction, golf course agronomy, and maintenance teams to reach those goals at every venue.”
Across its portfolio, Cabot currently has eight golf courses open for play, with three courses in development and future growth plans on the horizon.
Both of the acclaimed Cape Breton courses, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, are individually certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP for Golf) and will move under the Platinum Signature Sanctuary umbrella along with its lodging, real estate, retail and restaurant facilities.
As Cabot’s portfolio expands in the near future, those courses and facilities would join in the Platinum partnership as well.
“We pride ourselves on being stewards of the destinations and giving back to the communities in which we’re based. Sustainability has always been at the core of our work, and something we’ve been practicing from the very beginning,” says Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and co-founder of The Cabot Collection. “As the golf and travel industries continue to embrace the market’s demand for demonstrable sustainability practices, we are thrilled to be at the vanguard of this important era. We could not
ask for a more accomplished and respected partner than Audubon International to bring our stewardship plans to fruition.”
Cabot continues to build upon a legacy of excellence in golf, luxury residential offerings and boutique resort lifestyle across each unique property
where owners and guests have exclusive access to destination specific experiences and an unparalleled quality of service.
To learn more about Signature Platinum Certification and Audubon International’s other certification programs, visit www.auduboninternational.org.
California’s Lake Tahoe GC Retains ACSP for Golf Certification
Lake Tahoe Golf Course has retained its designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. Bobby Jaeger, the superintendent, led the effort to maintain sanctuary status on this course. Lake Tahoe Golf Course was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2003 and is one of over 900 courses in the world to hold certification from Audubon International.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, developed with support from the United States Golf Association, provides informa-
tion and guidance to help golf courses preserve and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, Mexico, and Southeast Asia have achieved certification in the program.
“Lake Tahoe Golf Course has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for preserving the natural heritage of the area by protecting the local watershed and providing a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property,” said Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International.
BioBlitz 8th Edition
A Big Success
BioBlitz,
Audubon International’s annual speciescounting competition, enjoyed a 30 percent increase in registrations for the 2024 edition, which ran from May 18 through June 17. Golf courses from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica competed to see who can identify the largest number of species of flora and fauna thriving along their fairways.
Sponsored by earth-friendly pond bioremediation technology company BioBoost Nest along with support from Seed King Enterprises LLC, BioBlitz provided a unique opportunity for golf courses to engage their community members in activities designed to showcase and record the abundance of species thriving on golf landscapes in a wide range of natural settings.
“It’s a terrific way for golf courses to create greater awareness among the general public of their wildlife habitat value, especially in urban locations,” says Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity for community members from all walks of life to meet and learn about nature while getting outside and having fun.”
Adds Jody Fitzpatrick, BioBoost Nest CEO, “We are thrilled to sponsor the BioBlitz campaign. Our bioremediation approach to pond care supports biodiversity and environmental health in the green spaces that golf courses provide.”
In last year’s 7th edition of BioBlitz, which returned after a several-year Covid-19 hiatus, a committed and passionate collection of nature lovers gathered at courses from the Southeast to Western Canada and the Northeast to Southern California in the USA–golf league members, scout troops, birding groups, club members, golf course employees, community members from surrounding neighborhoods, entire families, school children, and other nature enthusiasts.
For most participants, BioBlitz is key to keeping a course’s admirable stewardship efforts front and center in their relationship with the surrounding community. At the University of Maryland Golf
Course, for instance, the 2023 edition added a valuable educational dimension for students of all ages and opened new avenues of school outreach. “We are now developing ways to run smaller versions of the BioBlitz for our PGA kids and local high schools,” said Laura Russell, the university’s General Assistant. “We found it to be a fun activity with educational benefits and environmental value.”
Audubon International will announce the winners later this summer, and you can read about them in the Fall edition of Stewardship News.
ASK THE EXPERT
How To Start a Native Planting Project
By Dave Kaplow founder, eco-management natural area consultants
If you are interested in creating or enhancing natural landscapes and wildlife habitat, where do you start? It can seem overwhelming at first. You’d be working with plant species you may or may not understand. At the same time, you’re trying to take care of a natural area when you are not really sure how it works or what’s expected of you.
Let’s start with the typical, but risky solution. Most people begin by clearing a site, then planting or seeding the desirable species. It kind of makes sense. You know what plants you want, and you put them in. If you truly know what you’re doing with natives and have the resources you need, this may work.
The greatest benefit is that you get instant results. For most people, however, starting a project by seeding and planting will only lead to frustration. Too many moving parts and probably too many weeds. There will be a lot of initial maintenance, primarily weed control, while your priorities are elsewhere. These kinds of projects are likely to fall apart.
I owned and operated a native plant restoration business for almost 40 years. The restoration plans we implemented always started with seeding and planting in Year 1. We would take care of it for the next four years and then hand it off to the client.
This is standard industry practice. We usually found ourselves facing massive weed competition. In spite of our years of knowledge and experience, this was a difficult and sometimes losing task.
Even on a golf course, if you’re seeding into an area that had recently been turf, there are still weeds that will emerge, and you will not be able to use many of your familiar herbicides. You could easily find yourself with a weed outbreak. While natives are very weed resistant once established, they are very vulnerable to weeds in Years 1 and 2. Weed competition is the single largest factor that determines whether a project will succeed or not.
To sum it up, seeding and planting in Year 1 has the following problems:
1.There has been no previous weed control, so weed competition is at maximum.
2.There may be years’ worth of deferred maintenance, so the accumulated dead organic matter is at maximum.
3.You have not managed the area for natives before, so you are unsure about the staff, equipment and materials required, not to mention the scheduling and budget.
Native grasses are better for the environment, and they add beauty and definition to golf course.
To start a project by seeding and planting in Year 1 is to do it when the site conditions are the most challenging and when you’re least prepared.
So how do you do it?
You flip the script. Start with management in Year 1, and do the seeding and planting later, when you’re ready.
Manage all natural areas as if they were native, whether they’re native or not. During the growing season, you do this through foliage control. The most common method of foliage and organic matter control is mowing. If grazing is possible at your location, this is a great option. In the dormant season, you control the amount of residual organic matter, with mowing and grazing as your primary tools. The reduced organic matter makes it easier for native seedlings to establish and grow.
Mowing and grazing can suppress weed growth, allowing natives to grow with less competition. You can also suppress or even eliminate weed seed production, which in turn reduces the weed seed reservoir. When you’re ready to seed or plant, you will face less weed germination.
Maintenance first gives you a chance to “learn the moves.” You will learn how much labor is required and when it’s required. You can ensure you have the right equipment to do the job properly and efficiently, which in turn allows you to develop a reliable annual maintenance budget.
In any area that has not been previously graded or sprayed, there are probably some native plants left. They may be currently outnumbered and overpowered by the weeds, but they’re there. With good management, you can uncover the natives and give them a chance to revive. They will even spread on their own. I have taken weedy areas and turned them into weed-free native areas with management alone, without needing any additional seed or plants.
As a side benefit, it immediately makes the area look cared for. A well-managed natural area will not look like a weed patch. Instead, it should have a parklike appearance. Getting the weeds under control is the first step toward that.
When you’re ready, and only if you need it, you can enhance the site with seed and plants. No need to do it all at once. Enhance the site at a rate you can support.
The only downside is that it’s a gradual process; not much in the way of instant gratification. While
the cleanup is immediate, the final native appearance may take five years or more. On the other hand, it’s the most reliable, lowest risk, most cost-efficient way to establish and enhance natives.
Dave Kaplow is a longtime land management and restoration contractor based in Petaluma, Calif. After nearly 30 years as a contractor, much of it working at a native plant nursery, he now gives his full attention to teaching others what he has learned and passing that knowledge along. He is a New Jersey native with a Master’s Degree in Forestry from the University of California, Berkeley. Reach him at dave@eco-management.com or eco-management.com
Maintenance first gives you a chance to ‘learn the moves.’ You will learn how much labor is required and when it’s required.
Native flowers help with pollination of all native species.
Hilton Head’s Deep Sustainable Community Roots
By Vic Williams
Not only is South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island a revered golf mecca, tourism juggernaut and cultural crossroads. It’s also a proven environmental leader in one of America’s most sustainabilityminded regions, with its largest municipality, the Town of Hilton Head, setting a high and admirable stewardship bar for all who live, work, play, and visit there. As the town approaches its second certification as a member of the Audubon International Sustainable Communities program–originally achieved in 2018–its commitment to keeping the island’s infrastructure and development in harmony with nature goes broader and deeper with every passing year.
It’s been that way since before the town was incorporated in 1983, more than a century after the island was effectively named after William Hilton, a British explorer who first laid eyes and anchor on it in 1663 while scouting territory for sugar cane planters, and three decades after Georgia-born
developer and lawyer Charles Fraser acquired a third of the island from his father. In 1957, Fraser began planning one of the world’s first golf-centric residential developments, the 5,000-acre Sea Pines Plantation and its three golf course, one of which–Harbour Town Golf Links, has hosted the PGA Tour’s Heritage Classic since 1969, and whose red and white lighthouse is Hilton Head’s famous brand.
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE
According to Frazier’s Dec. 19, 2002 obituary, Sea Pines “became one of the first projects…to use covenants and deed restrictions to protect the environment…and enforce good overall planning.” The story continues, “To Mr. Fraser, [Sea Pines’] greater significance was as a model of planned growth for many resort and retirement developments to come, some that he built himself. The homes were built away from the oceanfront and designed to blend in
Above: Another classic beach sunrise on the east shore of Hilton Head Island
Right: Herons are among the “regular residents” of Hilton Head Island’s rich fauna population
with the pine forests. Hundreds of acres of parks and nature preserves were also established.”
Fraser told Southern Living magazine of his original conceit: “I felt you could be economically successful developing this beach either way, ugly or beautiful. There’s no law of economics that says ugliness pays. I selected beauty and set out to make it work economically.” He backed up his words with action, reducing the size of the developments’ yacht basin to save a single oak tree and establishing policies that allowed alligators and humans to safely share the same slice of precious land.
ENDURING EXCELLENCE
Thankfully, Fraser’s philosophy blankets the entire island, on public and private fronts, with the Town of Hilton Head its beating heart.
“There’s been previous efforts through various town staff over the years because sustainability has been at the heart of the development of the island since Charles Fraser came in, which was long before
the establishment of municipality,” says T.J. Jett, the town’s Chief Environmental Officer. “He had set the design standards long ago that have carried over into what was generated land management ordinances for the town. That further set protections on various aspects of the environment for the town, specifically for tree protection.”
Hence the island’s “Tree City USA” designation dating to 2000, with dense stretches of native flora, from stately oaks in the interior to tall grasses and other dune plants–prickly pear cactus, sea oats, Spanish bayonet and hundreds of other species–along the sounds and Atlantic shoreline. All are protected by law, as are long lists of fauna including the Loggerhead sea turtle, the endangered state reptile of South Carolina and the island’s most common shoreline nester. During their May-to-August nesting season, volunteer beach and dune caretakers monitor turtle activity and block off nesting zones with fences and tape, while manmade lighting is eliminated or reduced so hatchlings don’t get disoriented during their all-important journey surf-ward.
Famed Harbour Town Golf Links, anchor of Hilton Head’s original planned golf community.
The Town of Hilton Head website’s list of respected and protected wildlife species goes on: shorebirds like sanderlings, willets and plovers; other birds such as pelicans, gulls, terns and skimmers; burrowing ghost crabs and sand dollars (“carefully check to make sure that shell is empty!”); cottontail rabbits; and many others. There are ordinances regulating tree removal and pruning, eradication of invasive vegetation and promotion of plants that belong, and detailed guidelines for taking care of the island’s critical freshwater and tidal wetlands, making sure there’s ample room for human recreation alongside teeming non-human life.
In fact, water is the nucleus of the island’s sustainability plan. “Water quality is a big item,” Jett says. “We are faced with certain challenges because [department of health officials] evaluate those water quality reports and identify areas of impaired water bodies, especially if they have elevated coliforms. But we have a lot of wildlife. After a storm event, we get run off from the land and all of a sudden you get a big pulse that's associated with that.”
GOOD GOVERNANCE, KEY PARTNERSHIPS
The town copes with those challenges “through our land management ordinance,” he continues. “That's one avenue. Another way is that the town does purchase land in various parts of the island for different purposes. One of those might be for stormwater improvements, capacity to handle additional rainfall, but that also provides critical habitat for a lot of different animals. So one action might have multiple results that are benefits to the community.”
The town’s ongoing commitment to Audubon International Sustainable Communities certification extends that benefit while giving Jett – who was born in Charleston, grew up on the island and recently returned when his job was created after a decade in South Florida – added expertise to make every stewardship effort as effective as possible within and without the town’s governmental structure, in service to a 20-year plan created by the town council and managers. From that they created a strategic action plan with short-term goals to achieve the
A great oyster reef harvest on Hilton Head Island. Courtesy Hilton Head Visitors & Convention Bureau
long-term goal. Each covers a two-year time span.
“Sustainability is covered in just about everything,” Jett says. “They realized they needed to have somebody dedicated to help direct it. All directives come from town council and town manager. I had to be able to create initiatives. I’m trying to play catch up on what initiatives have already been established and agreed upon and voted on.”
Jill Moore, Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Specialist, has worked closely with Jett as he makes his way through the town’s plan. “Hilton Head’s dedication to sustainability highlights one of the many benefits to the sustainable long range plan being a dynamic, working document,” she says. “Entering a new position, T.J. has been able to step in, review what the priorities and goals of the original plan were and, as the town and action items evolve, update the plan accordingly.”
One current focus: solid waste and recycling. “It’s been a challenge for the island and also our resiliency plan. We did essentially two SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis on the solid waste and recycling. Now we’re moving on action items that are generated from that SWOT. There’s probably a two-phase portion of that with presentations, town council for approval for direction, and then action items that come from that. But that is a local and regional and state focus.” That means coordinating with various agencies like
South Carolina Office of Resiliency, county stormwater authorities and mainland communities such as Bluffton and Charleston. “We’ll talk about what we’re doing and see where there’s potential collaboration. Charleston has a significant issue with flooding in the downtown area. They’ve been working aggressively on how to mitigate those issues. We’re all looking at infrastructure and potential future flooding issues.”
While plans are fleshed out and connections are made at the government level, Jett and his team are also working on another key component of every Sustainable Communities certification program: Outreach and Education. Current efforts include revamping the website and showcasing major initiatives, offering easier access for people to check in on what projects are currently underway and updates on those projects. “I’m reaching out to our communications team to see if I can set up a plan for public outreach and showcasing some of these initiatives,” Jett adds. “Facebook is another way to get updates on things like Earth Day or special events or TV interviews that we’ve conducted.”
While there are no formal public-private sustainability partnership agreements between the Town of Hilton Head and the island’s many Audubon International-certified entities, there’s a baked-in balance to everyone’s efforts. All three Sea Island courses are ACSP for Golf certified, along with nine others on or adjacent to the island, including two in Bluffton and three in Okatie. Seven Marriott Vacations
Worldwide properties are Green Lodging/Green Hospitality certified.
Meanwhile, an organization called the Outside Foundation has recycled 150 tons of oyster shells (including 38 tons in 2023) to create living habitats and combat erosion. They have built 20 reefs in five years, and oyster shells are collected in partnership with 24 local restaurants.
Jett appreciates such island-wide commitments to sustainable practices, with the talent and passion in place to contribute to the island’s stewardship culture for the long term. “We all have our lanes to stay in,” he says.
LOWCOUNTRY LEADERSHIP
Along with Amelia Island further down the coast in
far northeastern Florida, Hilton Head is a shining example of modern-day environmental stewardship success and a standard-bearer for Audubon International’s growing Sustainable Communities footprint. As its second recertification approaches in September, other municipalities and developments in the region are jumping on board in preparation for expected climatic shifts. The Lowcountry’s delicate ecosystems, natural beauty, and long history of offering residents, visitors and decision-makers share in its long-term health creates a high bar for other parts of the nation to clear. It also keeps Charles Fraser’s incredible vision in view, with even more success to come, just over the broad island horizon.
Beyond Hilton Head: More Sustainable Communities
Hilton
Head Island is a clear pacesetter, but many entities throughout the Southeast share its commitment by signing on as members of Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities program. A few examples:
• The private residential community of Amelia Island Plantation in northeast Florida just completed their recertification requirements in June. Amelia Island resident volunteers dedicated a Pollinator Pathway along a stretch of A1A as part of their recertification process and to coincide with the town of Amelia Island’s 50th Anniversary. For more on Amelia Island, check out the Spring 2024 issue of Stewardship News
• Another Southeast Coast Sustainable Communities standout is The Landings at Skidaway Island southeast of Savannah, Georgia. This impressive and dedicated community has completed
the requirements for its second recertification as well. For more on The Landings, check out the Fall 2023 issue of Stewardship News.
• Private residential communities make up a large part of the Sustainable Communities membership as well. Two other South Carolina private communities, Seabrook Island and Oldfield, became members alongside Hilton Head in 2018. Both just completed their second recertification as well.
Stay tuned for highlights from a variety of other Sustainable Communities across the country in future editions of Stewardship News and online at www. auduboninternational.org.
Top to bottom: Audubon International’s Jill Moore (second from left) joins Amelia Island Foundation volunteers at a park ribbon cutting, spring 2024; community members gather for an Amelia Island Plantation Foundation event; walking paths through protected Amelia Island forest.
MONARCHS IN THE ROUGH
Georgia’s Flat Creek Bends The Flyway Curve
By Vic Williams
After nearly four decades as Superintendent at Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City, Georgia, Harold Ammons knows the land, water, and sky on, around, and above his private and popular golf course as well as anyone. He has long lived and worked by a solid stewardship philosophy that led to Flat Creek’s first Audubon Certified Sanctuary Program Certification in October 2017, and its recertification every three years since. Ammons himself recently earned an Environmental Leader award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation.
Operated by Invited Clubs–a strong Audubon International partner, with more than 140 ACSP for Golf-certified courses–Flat Creek Country Club initially opened with 18 holes in 1968. Nine more were added in the early 1980s. One of five courses in the Clubs of Peachtree City & Newnan collection, it hosts tens of thousands of rounds a year and treats members not only to a solid Joe Lee-designed layout, but an exemplary “in nature” experience on every hole.
Part of that experience involves setting aside sizeable sections of out-of-play acreage to a natural mix of wildflowers and milkweed, the latter of which is
the only species on which endangered Monarch butterflies will lay their eggs. Flat Creek is a wonderful Monarchs in the Rough example and apt source of pride for Ammons and his crew.
Stewardship News recently spoke with Ammons about his involvement with Monarchs in the Rough, why it’s so important to him, and why it’s a worthwhile endeavor for golf course superintendents across the United States.
How much square footage do you have dedicated to the monarchs, and the milkweed?
Probably about 10,000 square feet at this point, along with a lot of wildflowers. They’re all intermixed together. We took an area that was not heavily treed and just took it out of play. It’s about an acre, and wide so people can see it, just ride over and look. That’s where we have our honeybees, too. They’re in a sunny-shady area and honeybees are just rolling in and out to harvest off those wildflowers as they get larger. Right now they have plenty of space to go. A nearby creek has a lot of blooming plants.
What’s the rationale and goal behind becoming a Monarchs in the Rough participant?
Basically we are a place for them to rejuvenate, rejoice, and maybe lay some eggs and have the next generation fly south, though we aren’t part of their natural flyway.
How are your numbers looking?
We had a pretty good year last year, and the year before that. As far as numbers of butterflies, we saw fewer last year than the prior year, but we saw more caterpillars last year. That means some of them are laying eggs while they’re there, which is good. And then they’re gone. When they come, they’re basically coming back from their visit up north and they’ll come through here for about three or four weeks, six weeks at the most. And then they’ll keep flying south as soon as it gets cold.
We hope to attract them as a stopping point to let ’em refuel with all the nectar and flowers that we
have. Then they’ll lay eggs, those will come up, and then they’ll fly off and we won’t see anybody until the next fall.
When do you see the most Monarch activity?
They come through somewhere around August, and then they’re usually gone by October. They know exactly when they’ve got to start heading south, because our weather’s still warm here in September. Then we’ll have a big cold snap and next thing you know they are gone. They’ll be buzzing everywhere and then they’re gone. You won’t even see one hardly floating around here once they decide to head south.
So is there any plan to increase the acreage or square footage?
We’re trying to figure out where we want to try to build our population up a little bit before we start designating other areas. But once I see a good little
Flat Creek usually sees Monarch stop by in August, and they're on their way south by October.
trend, we have another area that we will [plant]. I’ve got two places with milkweed this year, and one place that’s 10,000 square feet. The other place is about 5,000 square feet and it will be the same way–milkweed along with all the wildflowers. We are going to expand more areas. We are just waiting to see where we want to do it, and what’s the largest area we can do it without affecting play.
So increasing that habitat will, hopefully, spur more activity and help bolster their numbers and make your site even more attractive?
Their instinct is to keep going up north. But if you have the plantings out there, they will try to come–they will sometimes make your course part of their path. We’re not on their main migration trail, which is up through the coasts a couple hundred miles from us. But we do get some out here, which is cool. [On social media] I’ve posted videos of the caterpil-
‘Their instinct is to keep going north. But if you have the plantings they will sometimes make your course part of their path.’
– Harold Ammons
lars while they’re eating the milkweed and enjoying life until they turn into a butterfly. Then they just fly south and hopefully, they’ll come back. You never know. We set the table every year, and each year we get a little bit more.
With the little bit we can do–we’re trying to do–you never know, we may build a population if we keep supplying the milkweed every year.
To learn how to develop a Monarchs in the Rough habitat in partnership with Audubon International, visit www.monarchsintherough.org.
By joining Monarchs in the Rough, your course will become a crucial part of a n etwo rk of courses that are all working together to make the survival of monarchs possible. Join today and our program will support you as you prepare, plant, and maintain habitat for monarchs and other pollinators.
GREEN HOSPITALITY SPOTLIGHT
Keweenaw Lodge Resort Strikes Upper Peninsula ‘Gold’
By Vic Williams
Keweenaw Lodge Resort is one of those classic American places where the environment itself – the forested land in every direction, the vast Great Lake just a short distance away, and the spectacularly dark sky above – tells a story of deep connection to nature coupled with a commitment to a guest experience that can’t be replicated anywhere else.
And now it’s been recognized and awarded for another commitment: To sustainability.
This remote and history-steeped destination in Copper Harbor, MI, has been awarded Gold Certification in Audubon International’s Green Hospitality program.
Built in 1934 as a Depression-era Works Progress Administration project but privately owned since 2018, the resort received its Gold certification on May 15 after working with Audubon International’s team of specialists to increase its commitment to sustainable best practices at all levels, from water quality and conservation to waste minimization,
resource conservation, and energy efficiency. Through this comprehensive and credible method for assessing the extent of the environmental measures undertaken, participating facilities can reduce environment-related costs and gain a marketing advantage.
“Keweenaw Lodge Resort’s team has done an incredible and inspiring job of turning their stated stewardship objectives into action, then reality,” says Christine Kane, CEO of Audubon International. “They truly take their wilderness setting seriously, and this certification shows how truly committed they are to operating in harmony with the environment while inviting their guests to embrace and share their values.”
Keweenaw Lodge Resort’s owners and staff have built a solid sustainable culture around their collection of log cabins, dining hall, education center, international dark sky park, and nature sanctuary. The property also maintains its own water and sewage treatment plants. “We focus on continuous-
ly improving on every element of the experience, from culinary to hospitality,” says Martin Mueller, who works as a barista at the resort and is the son of owner John Mueller (Mueller’s wife, Widad, is the resort’s executive chef). “A big part of that is sustainability. For instance, how much food we’re producing, how much are we able to recycle, how much goes to waste? Audubon International’s guidelines really gave us time to reflect and figure out how can we improve.”
The resort’s website states clearly its goals in creating a sustainable business. “We are committed to fostering the natural environment and minimizing our impact on the natural world. We believe that it is our responsibility to operate in a sustainable manner and to leave a legacy of environmental stewardship for future generations in the Keweenaw and beyond.”
Its ongoing plan includes:
• Complying with all applicable environmental laws and regulations
• Reducing carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption, using renewable energy sources, and implementing energy-efficient practices
• Conserving water by using water-efficient appliances and fixtures, and by recycling and reusing water whenever possible
• Minimizing waste by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials
• Fostering and enhance the natural habitats and ecosystems on our property
• Educating team members and guests about environmental sustainability and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices.
Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is an official international dark skies destination. The resort offers a dark skies park.
Indoors, that includes being more conscious of food sources (the resort’s menus stress “slow dining” and are as locally sourced as possible) and having guests “dine in” as much as possible to limit or eliminate food and packaging waste. And when guests head outdoors for the resort’s myriad seasonal activities, it means just slowing down to truly appreciate the natural world. Says Sustainability Project Leader Jenn Reed, “We maintain our trails very well. The one thing that does set us apart is we have non-motorized trails on the property, so you won't be necessarily hearing the snowmobile traffic in winter, you’ll be noticing the birds. And it’s very surreal when you’re out there on the cross-country trails in the middle of the woods and we hear from the guests, ‘Wow, I have never felt this much at peace.’”
Reed stresses that Audubon International Green Hospitality certification furthers the resort’s goal to create and support a sustainable lifestyle among its staff and guests. “It’s a habit we instill in all our team members, and our guests very quickly pick up on that. We encourage them to just take in the outdoors and just really be involved in nature. The goal is to continue to do better and be better.”
What does “better and better” look like? Keweenaw’s plan paints the picture: Reduce energy consumption by 10% over the next five years; increasing use of renewable energy sources to 50% of our total energy consumption over the next ten years; reducing water consumption by 20% over the next five years; and recycling 75% of waste over the next five years.
Greg Poirier, Audubon International’s Director of Green Lodging and Hospitality Certifications, visited the property in May as its certification was finalized. “I visit many sites and meet with many teams, and the Keweenaw Green Team is more mature than many. Kudos to them for their initiatives as a starting point on our sustainable journey together. We look forward to their next steps in the years to come. For an eco-vacation, this property should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit and enjoy.”
‘We focus on continuously improving every element of the experience, from culinary to hospitality.’
— Martin Mueller of Keweenaw Lodge Resort
The resort promotes “slow dining” and uses as much locally sourced food as possible.
RECERTIFICATIONS
ACSP FOR GOLF-INTERNATIONAL
RECERTIFICATIONS
AUSTRALIA
Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club
CANADA
Olds Golf Club, Alberta
Silvertip Resort, Alberta
McCleery Golf Club, British Columbia
Donalda Club, Ontario
Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Ontario
Oakdale Golf and Country Club, Ontario
Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, Limited, Ontario
COSTA RICA
Four Seasons Golf Club at Peninsula de Papagayo - Ocean Course
TAIWAN
Wu Fong Golf Club
UNITED STATES
ARIZONA
The Westin Kierland Golf Club
Troon Country Club
Troon North Golf Club
CALIFORNIA
Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course
Callippe Preserve Golf Course
Crystal Springs Golf Course
La Cumbre Country Club
Las Positas Golf Course
Los Lagos Golf Course
Maderas Golf Club
Riverside Golf Course
COLORADO
Broadmoor Golf Club - East and West Courses
Maroon Creek Club
Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club
TPC Colorado
CONNECTICUT
Litchfield Country Club
Round Hill Club
Shennecossett Golf Course
TPC River Highlands
DELAWARE
Bidermann Golf Course/ Vicmead Hunt Club
Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club: White Clay Creek State Park
FLORIDA
Aquarina Beach & Country Club
Broken Sound Club, The Club Course
Broken Sound Club, The Old Course
Estero Country Club
Hideaway Beach
Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club
IGM @ Sandridge Golf Club
John Prince Golf Learning Center
Kensington Golf & Country Club
Loblolly Golf Club
Moorings Club at Hawk's Nest
Maple Leaf Golf and Country Club
Marsh Creek Country Club
Royal Poinciana Golf Club
The Club at Olde Cypress
The Everglades Club
The Oaks Club
The Venice Golf and Country Club
Vero Beach Country Club
Wilderness Country Club
GEORGIA
Flat Creek Country Club
TPC Sugarloaf
IOWA
Elmcrest Country Club
ILLINOIS
Billy Caldwell Golf Course
Bolingbrook Golf Club
Burnham Woods Golf Course
Canal Shores Golf Course
Chick Evans Golf Course
Countryside Golf Club
Edgebrook Golf Course
George W. Dunne National
Heritage Oaks Golf Club
Highland Woods Golf Course
Indian Boundary Golf Course
Joe Louis "The Champ" Golf Course
Meadowlark Golf Course
Orchard Valley Golf Course
River Oaks Golf Course
Schaumburg Golf Club
White Eagle Golf Club
KENTUCKY
Kearney Hill Golf Links
Lakeside Golf Course
Tates Creek Golf Course
LOUISIANA
TPC Louisiana
MARYLAND
Cattail Creek Country Club
Lakewood Country Club
RECERTIFICATIONS
The Golf Course at Crossvines
TPC Potomac
MICHIGAN
Radrick Farms Golf Course University of Michigan
MINNESOTA
The Wilderness Golf Course at Fortune Bay Resort
Town & Country Club
Woodhill Country Club
MISSOURI
The National Golf Club of Kansas City
NORTH CAROLINA
Cypress Landing Golf Course
Highlands Country Club
TPC Piper Glen
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Eastman Golf Links
NEW JERSEY
Quail Brook Golf Course
Ridgewood Country Club
NEW YORK
Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club
Schuyler Meadows Club
The Whippoorwill Club
NEVADA
TPC Summerlin
Wildhorse Golf Club
NEW MEXICO
The Club at Las Campanas
OREGON
Columbia Edgewater Country Club
Tualatin Country Club
PENNSYLVANIA
Cranberry Highlands Golf Course
SOUTH CAROLINA
Belfair POA, Inc.
Callawassie Island POA
Cougar Point at Kiawah Island
Dataw Island Club
Old Tabby Links at Spring Island
SOUTH DAKOTA
Minnehaha Country Club
TENNESSEE
Buford Ellington Golf Course at Henry Horton State Park
Montgomery Bell State Park Golf Course
Tellico Village - The Links at Kahite
Tellico Village - Tanasi Golf Course
Tellico Village - Toqua Golf Course
TPC Southwind
TEXAS
Meadowbrook Park Golf Course
Texas Rangers Golf Club (Formerly Chester W. Ditto Golf Course)
The Retreat
TPC San Antonio
VIRGINIA
Hermitage Country Club
Pohick Bay Golf Course
Willow Oaks Country Club
WEST VIRGINIA
Bellevue Golf Course
Overlake Golf & Country Club
Sun Willows Golf Course
Useless Bay Golf & Country Club
WISCONSIN
Ozaukee Country Club
SIGNATURE SANCTUARY
RECERTIFICATIONS
CALIFORNIA
Granite Bay Golf Club
HAWAII
Kohanaiki Club, Inc.
MISSOURI
Buffalo Ridge
Mountain Top
Ozarks National
Payne's Valley
The National Golf Club of Kansas City
Top of the Rock
