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Prescribed Burns Restore Long Leaf Pine Savannah at The Preserve Golf Club
The Preserve Golf Club is a certified Audubon International Signature Sanctuary located just outside Ocean Springs, Mississippi which provides a unique golfing experience surrounded by 1,800 acres of nature. The Preserve sits amongst a Longleaf Pine Savan-
On course at The Preserve most elite certification track designed
Pine Savannahs thrive on.
for golf course development.
According to Alabama A & M and Au-
Stephen Miles, The Preserve’s Director
burn Universities Extensions, histori-
the United States (USDA and US Forest
of Golf Operations, has been manag-
cally “Long leaf pine was maintained
Service).
ing the course since they achieved
by periodic, low intensity fires. These
their Signature Sanctuary certification
fires started either by lightning strikes
location, the course developers began
in 2007. As part of their certification,
during the growing season or by Na-
their sustainability journey when
Stephen and his crew manage the
tive Americans ignition” prior to its
they enrolled in Signature Sanctuary
health of their native area ecosystems
suppression beginning in the 1900s.
Certification, Audubon International’s
in numerous ways - one of which is
nah, a habitat type whose original range has been reduced by 97% due to changed land use practices across
After recognizing the sensitive
providing fire, something that Longleaf
The Preserve Golf Club completes prescribed burns annually, rotating
View from the tee boxes on course at The Preserve 58
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 1
