FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- December 2016
CONTACT: Allie Smith, Program Specialist
Olde Florida Golf Club Recognized for Environmental Excellence
NAPLES, FL – Originally certified in 1995, Olde Florida Golf Club has retained its designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. In 1995, Olde Florida was the 4th golf course in Florida to achieve certification and the 50th in the world.
Participation is designed to help course personnel plan, organize, implement, and document a comprehensive environmental management program and receive recognition for their efforts. To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas including: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.
"Olde Florida Golf Club has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Tara Donadio, Director of Cooperative Sanctuary Programs at Audubon International.
Olde Florida Golf Club is one of 110 courses in Florida and 892 courses in the world to hold the honor. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Central America, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program. The golf course was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 1995. After designation, courses go through a recertification process every three years.
This year the recertification process, coordinated by Darren Davis, Golf Course Superintendent, required a visit by a third party representative. Delphine Tseng, Manager of Member Services at Audubon International, was given a tour of the course and sent her observations to Audubon International. “Olde Florida Golf Club has gone above and beyond with Audubon International’s certification program. Mr. Davis uses every opportunity to promote the importance of wildlife habitat management,” Tseng reported.
“We see the site visit as an important component of a course’s recertification,” stated Donadio. “It provides an objective verification of some of the more visible aspects of the course’s environmental management activities. In addition, it offers an opportunity for golf course representatives to share publicly some of the voluntary actions they have taken to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them.”
About Audubon International
Audubon International is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization dedicated to providing people with the education and assistance they need to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for individuals, organizations, properties, new developments, and entire communities.
For more information, contact Audubon International at 120 Defreest Drive, Troy, NY 12180, 1-844-767-9051, e-mail at acsp@auduboninternational.org, or visit the website at www.auduboninternational.org. ###
