BUMBLEBEE
That initiative, spearheaded by the
national Golf Course Superintendents
Association of America, is working to
customize best management practices for
every state by 2020—an ambitious effort
to make stewardship as much a part of
what superintendents do on a daily basis
as grooming turf for the golfers who play
their courses.
“Golfers and club members are start-
ing to know the superintendents at their
courses and appreciate the things that
they do,” added Norman. “Now, when
new people are hired to oversee courses,
they are asked about their background in
environmental stewardship.”
Of course, golf is big business in Vir-
ginia, said Norman. Nearly 37,000 acres
of land is devoted to golf courses here
with about 30,000 individuals in Virginia
MONARCH BUTTERFLY
earning a living in golf. Golf also has a
nearly $2.5 billion economic impact in the
state, bringing members, vacationers and
the general public to courses with more
expectations than ever.
“Our profession is at a turning point
where the public is starting to realize
what the environment means to us,”
said Tim Doran, head superintendent at
Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg. “The
better we can maintain and promote the
wildlife on our properties, the better our
properties are received as a whole. It’s
something we can be really proud of in
our industry.”
Kingsmill’s high-profile Plantation
and River courses renewed certifica-
tion this spring as Audubon Coopera-
tive Sanctuary Program courses. That
means Kingsmill, like 28 other Virginia
IN VIRGINIA...
ABOUT 30,000
INDIVIDUALS earn a
living in the golf industry.
NEARLY 37,000 ACRES
of land is devoted to golf courses.
vsga.org
Golf also has a nearly
$2.5 BILLION economic
impact in the state.
“Our profession is at a turning point where
the public is starting to realize what the
environment means to us,” Kingsmill
superintendent Tim Doran said.
courses, have met the rigorous standards
established by Audubon International to
demonstrate environmental leadership
in the golf industry.
Audubon-certified courses must meet
specific standards in environmental plan-
ning, wildlife and habitat management,
outreach and education, chemical use
reduction and safety, water conservation
and water-quality management. Courses
are reevaluated and must undergo periodic
recertification to assure that standards
remain intact.
“To get the Audubon certification is the
best thing I’ve done since I’ve been in this
business,” said Lentz Wheeler, superin-
tendent at Springfield Golf & Country
Club, who has been a superintendent for
nearly 40 years. “We work with the envi-
ronment and our membership recognizes
that, embraces it and are very proud of
our Audubon certification.”
Wheeler’s course has 19 bluebird boxes,
two working beehives and a half-acre
wildflower garden adjacent to one hole
on his course. Springfield has been home
to nesting red-tail hawks for seven of the
last eight years.
His club also participates in the national
“Monarchs In The Rough” program
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