News Briefs

Audubon International Welcomes New Director of Conservation Initiatives

As the world and the golf and hospitality industries continue to recover from the pandemic and look toward continued growth while treading more lightly on the planet, Audubon International’s new Director of Conservation Initiatives is keen on reengaging with course superintendents and broadening the organization’s conservation efforts in new ways.

Raised in Pulaski, N.Y., and now living and working in the state’s Finger Lakes region, Dr. Bill Brown took on his new post in mid-October, with responsibilities for the Monarchs in the Rough, Raptor Relocation Network, and BioBlitz programs. He brings to Audubon International a deep resume and studying, writing about and teaching about the natural world, and welcomes the opportunity to apply his expertise to those key programs.

“The first thing I want to do is learn about Audubon International itself and their various programs, primarily Monarchs in the Rough,” Dr. Brown says. “Then, moving forward, re-engage folks. I’ll look to enhance the programs and identify new ones.”

Dr. Brown’s experience includes completing bird surveys over much of North America, practicing integrated pest management on large estates, and conducting extensive field research with birds and insects. He taught biology and environmental science courses at the college level for 15 years and has published over 30 research papers in leading journals, many of them with undergraduate students. He earned a BS degree in Natural Resources from Cornell University, and MS and PhD degrees in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology from the University of Delaware.

“I grew up north of Syracuse, near Lake Ontario, and that rural, outside upbringing that I wanted to continue. My initial interest was wildlife, but I realized that’s more than fish and mammals — it includes insects, and wildflowers, and all kinds of stuff. I expanded my rural upbringing to more of an academic perspective.”

Bill enjoys spending time with his family, wildlife photography, and birding when time allows. By joining the Audubon International staff he can put his passion and expertise into action for current and future members.

“It’s the conservation aspect — the Monarchs in the Rough program in particular, but then the other programs as well. That’s what attracted me to the job.”

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort.

Audubon International CEO Leads Golf Inc. Sustainability Panel

In October, Audubon International CEO Christine Kane was joined by two GCSAA Certified superintendents at the Resort at Kiawah Island for a 2022 Golf Inc. Summit presentation titled “Sustainability: How To Promote It While Enhancing the Bottom Line.”

The presentation was attended by golf course and resort owners and developers from across the country. Kane’s wide-ranging discussion included an overview of Audubon International’s mission, the various environmental challenges facing today’s golf course properties, sustainability trends in the marketplace and public opinion, success stories and examples of sustainable design for outdoor and indoor settings, construction and natural resource management practices, communication and outreach and member benefit analysis.

Following Kane’s presentation, two golf course superintendents — Jim Pavonetti of Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut and Mitchell Wilkerson of Moss Creek in Hilton Head, South Carolina, led attendees through slide shows detailing environmentally sound improvements they’ve made to maintain or recertify their courses’ Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program certification status.

Pavonetti led the way for Fairview Country Club to achieve the designation of Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. He was rewarded with the Metropolitan Golf Association Arthur P. Weber Environmental Leader in Golf Award in 2019 and earned the Environmental Leaders in Golf Award by the GCSAA seven times between 2006 and 2021. In 2021 he was featured in Golf Digest for his environmental conservation contributions to the field.

A graduate of Mississippi State in Turfgrass Management, Wilkerson has been a golf course superintendent for 35 years and was president of the Carolina’s GCSAA in 2008.

Moss Creek’s two golf courses became Certified Sanctuary Golf Courses in 2012 under his direction. In 2021 he was awarded the Innovative Conservation Award from GCSAA, a worldwide award for exemplary, long-term commitment to the environment.

Kane will return to Kiawah in January for the PGA Magazine Summit. In addition to attending the conference, Christine will be on a panel session to help share AI’s story as an expert, and AI will also receive editorial spotlights in PGA Magazine and its e-newsletters that reach all PGA of America golf members.

Audubon International, Canadian University Forge Turfgrass Management Partnership

This fall, Audubon International began a new partnership with the Diploma in Turfgrass Management (DTM) program at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada to provide assistance training students in the areas of environmental sustainability, ethical land stewardship and stakeholder communications.

As part of the partnership, Audubon International will provide the University access to its newly released 3rd edition of “A Guide to Environmental Stewardship on the Golf Course” for students enrolled in classes titled “Turf Environmental Management” and “Turf Case Studies” during the fall and winter semesters.

“We are pleased to help train the next generation of golf course superintendents and turfgrass managers,” said Frank LaVardera, Director of Environmental Programs for Golf for Audubon International. “With this training, these individuals will better understand the relationship between turf management and the environment, ensuring best management practices are utilized, which will result in environmental sustainability wherever they may work.”

DTM is a 20-month long program at the University of Guelph that provides students with hands-on learning opportunities and realworld experience for a wide array of career opportunities, including golf course management, lawn care, sports field management, parks management, sod production and related supply and service businesses.

“Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program core philosophies and success stories have proven to be valuable teaching tools in our classroom,” said Cameron Shaw, Manager of University of Guelph’s DTM Program. “We are particularly excited about Audubon International making its newly updated guide accessible to our students as it will not only help them identify key principles in sustainability, but allow them to observe case studies and real-world stories being implemented successfully by current industry leaders.”

DTM requires a minimum 15-week industry co-op/internship and students have historically landed internships at golf courses and other turfgrass-based enterprises across Canada as well as in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Germany and the Caribbean. Graduates of the program are in high demand within the turfgrass industry across Canada and internationally.

Audubon International, WaterIQ Technologies Partner to Fight Algae Bloom

Frank LaVardera, Audubon International’s Director of Environmental Programs for Golf, recently joined Lawrence Field, CEO of WaterIQ Technologies, and Storm Water Solutions Managing Editor Katie Johns on SWS’ “Dropping In” video series to discuss their new partnership to help member golf courses battle blue-green algae infestation in their water features.

WaterIQ utilizes cutting-edge ultrasonic technology to kill and control algae in ponds. AI’s expertise in educating and certifying golf courses in sustainable practices will help spread this technology to current and future members.

“WaterIQ’s technology is certainly a sustainable practice,” LaVardara said in the video. “We look forward to working with their staff and allowing our members to take advantage of these types of technologies.”

Added Lawrence Field, CEO of Water IQ Technologies: “Our mission is to restore water to its original quality, and our partnership with Audubon International will allow us to ensure properties are safe, aesthetically pleasing and welcoming to wildlife. I met Frank last year at the Golf Course Superintendents Show, and asked him how Water IQ Technologies could support the good work Audubon International is performing. We consulted with staff and developed this partnership.”

The longer-term goal of the partnership is to identify and build on blue-green algae-free water sustainability practices not only for courses but for entire communities and municipalities. Johns asked Field what the steps are to achieve that goal.

“The steps are about education and also about providing research to Audubon International, specifically on golf courses. We plan on providing research. For example, we just completed a project with the University of Florida to [test our ultrasonic] units in a double-blind test. We were able to kill 80 percent of the blue-green algae in our units that were turned on. In those that were turned off, the water quality declined by 30 percent. The good news is that there was no harm in the surrounding zoo plankton or bio plankton. We plan to share that research with the Audubon community, and plan to do other research with them.”

LaVardara welcomes the opportunity to integrate WaterIQ’s know-how into AI’s already robust education program. “We have roughly 2,000 course members who we provide certification, but also technical assistance and information about ways they can operate their courses with more sustainable practices,” LaVardara. “We are always looking for entities like Water IQ to provide those sorts of technologies and help our course properties overcome problems. We look forward to doing webinars and technical bulletins that we can email to our members so they can avail themselves of their technology.”

“We think Audubon International is a beacon for the world and we want to support what they’re doing,” Field continued. “By teaming up with Audubon International, we think we can accelerate both of our missions. Knowledge can be power, and we are both here to educate.”

Watch the video.

Five Australian Clubs Put epar Partnership Into Play

In June, Audubon International announced a new partnership with Australian company epar that will extend its worldwide footprint and help influence, build and recognize Australian golf as a sustainable, compliant and climate-smart sport.

Connect 2.0, epar’s innovative RegTech technology, has completely digitized the pathway of the award-winning Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program’s six-part certification. This new cloud-based approach will provide richer and faster sustainability insights into every Australian golf course and recognize and reward their efforts.

As the summer season kicks into gear Down Under, the partnership is producing results. In November, epar announced that five clubs are ready to implement its system: Manly Golf Club, Royal Hobart, Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club, Margaret River Golf Club, and Maleny Golf Club.

“We are happy to see such great enthusiasm around our partnership with epar,” says Christine Kane, Audubon International CEO. “And, we’re honored to have the leadership of these prestigious clubs to start us off.”

Based in Broadmeadow NSW Australia, epar works with like-minded sport sustainability allies to explore and develop innovative netzero approaches, technologies, and naturebased climate change solutions that address the fundamental sustainability challenges facing golf.

“This new alliance is a perfect fit for both sides and Audubon International is beyond excited for the opportunity to extend its reach Down Under and help Australian golf courses develop and execute a plan that will protect the environment and promote sustainability,” said Kane.

“This collaboration will allow us to share golf’s leading certification recognition program with clubs throughout Australia,” said epar Founder and CEO Terry Muir. “This partnership builds on a common shared vision between our organizations, and we are excited to enable all Australian golf clubs access to the latest technology and information in support of golf’s action on sustainability and climate change.”

For 20 years, epar has helped clients build sustainability action strategies into their operations and mitigate the risks that come with managing a golf facility. Along with parent company Environmental Business Solutions, epar works with clients to build capabilities – from identifying and measuring impacts, to scenario planning, to reporting on sustainable achievements, and maintaining a safe environment that will thrive in a low carbon future.