Golf Course Spotlight: North Carolina’s Sherwood Forest rings in one year of ACSP Certification

GOLF COURSE SPOTLIGHT

Sherwood Forest Golf Club Nears One Year of ACSP Certification

Sherwood Forest Golf Club in Brevard, North Carolina, is one of Audubon International’s most recent ACSP Certified golf courses. Spend some time there and you’ll soon realize it’s also one of the most unique and inspiring courses in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

Located at the entrance of the Pisgah National Forest, Brevard is famous for its waterfalls, hiking and other outdoor adventures. Let’s add Sherwood Forest to the area’s must-experience conversation.

Wildlife & Habitat Enhancement, Water Conservation

Sherwood Forest is a public 18-hole executive course situated within 500 acres of protected green space. As a result of the restrictive covenants and conservation easements in place, there can be no construction or development in a riparian area along the Little River – protecting water quality while making Sherwood Forest a desirable location for an abundance of wildlife.

While the walks from tee to green may only be

150 yards you will be sure to come across many species of flora and fauna including black bears, river otters, the infamous white squirrel, and North America’s only species of giant salamander, the Hellbender. Sherwood Forest continues to expand their species diversity by enlarging low maintenance areas, installing nesting boxes, planting pollinator habitat and completing ecological restoration projects on site.

While golf courses often receive backlash for having poor environmental footprints, Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program is changing that stereotypical perception by verifying environmental management on golf courses in six focal areas: environmental planning, water conservation, water quality, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use and safety, and outreach and education. Sherwood Forest achieved certification in all six areas of ACSP certification and passed their in-person site visit in December 2020.

But their efforts don’t stop there…the course itself is extremely sustainable and is only utilizing four acres of irrigation — much less than the average 80 irrigated acres on a typical 18-hole golf course as reported by Gregory T. Lyman, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (2012). To continue their water conservation efforts, Sherwood Forest focuses on irrigating only their greens and tees.

“The Sherwood Forest Golf Course embodies our community’s commitment to enjoying and protecting the natural environment of this mountain ecosystem. We strive to live in harmony with our natural surroundings by maintaining a sustainable balance between nature and the human presence. Because the course is located at the headwaters of the Little River, protecting water quality is central to the way the course is managed. We irrigate with rainwater, use chemicals sparingly, and dispose of waste safely,” explains Carolyn Graham, Co-Chair Sherwood Forest Golf Committee.

Llama caddies take a break to graze. Photo credit: Cathy Neil.

Outreach & Education

Evidence grows that Sherwood Forest’s Outreach and Education initiatives are in a class of their own in the region. It all begins at the club’s Robin Hood Center (RHC), which was designed and constructed to host seminars, events and meetings where community members and staff meet regularly to discuss goals, areas of concern and future sustainability projects. In addition to the RHC, Sherwood Forest’s Outreach and Education initiatives include participating in environmental stewardship programs, such as Audubon International’s Monarchs In The Rough and Green Area’s macro-invertebrate study, collaborating with a local Native Plants Committee, and monitoring the property’s nesting boxes.

For several years now, the golf committee and community at Sherwood Forest have looked for ways to incentivize the next generation of

Opposite: The 9th Hole framed by October foliage. Photo credit: Cathy Neil.

Golfers choose clubs from a patient llama caddy. Photo credit: Mark English.

Putting contest. Photo credit: Cathy Neil.

golfers to become involved in the game and their environmental efforts. One initiative, led by club Superintendent Brian Lautenschlager, is offering free lessons and green fees to youth under the age of seventeen.

If that was not already enough incentive, Sherwood Forest also offers llama caddies. While llamas may not assist in reading putts or tallying your score, this creative option works particularly well carrying clubs, in lieu of using a golf cart.

The more one explores the experiences at Sherwood Forest, the sooner you’ll soon realize how special this place truly is. Like the legendary Robin Hood, who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, Sherwood Forest Golf Club is a perfect example of how golf courses can give back to nature and the community.

“Golfers of all ages play here to enjoy the changing landscape in four seasons. Affiliation with Audubon International will help us showcase a golf course that not only offers an enjoyable experience for golfers, but also provides habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife,” commented Terril Nell, former Golf Committee Chair.

To learn more about how your local golf course can gain recognition for your environmental efforts and learn how to expand your initiatives through Audubon International’s numerous environmental certifications, visit www. auduboninternational.org.