UGA Golf Course one of many courses to go green, operating in a more sustainable way

Erica Van Buren, Athens Banner-Herald
Updated ·3 min read
Scott Griffith, associate director of agronomy at the University of Georgia golf course
Scott Griffith, associate director of agronomy at the University of Georgia golf course

In preparation for the upcoming Masters Tournament, extra care is taken into account for upkeep in an effort to run in an environmentally friendly way.

“It takes a lot to maintain golf courses,” said Scott Griffith, associate director of agronomy at the University of Georgia golf course. “And we have to maintain them on a daily basis. There are a lot of misconceptions regarding fertilizers. If the grass is growing too fast, that creates more work for us. It creates a negative situation not only on our staff and our customers but also our budgets. Slow release fertilizers are used judiciously.”

In spring of 2023, the University of Georgia Golf Course was designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

In spring of 2023 the University of Georgia Golf Course was designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.
In spring of 2023 the University of Georgia Golf Course was designated as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf is a certification program that helps golf courses protect the environment. The goal is to help enhance wildlife habitats and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations. The program serves an important environmental role worldwide.

“I've always been environmentally conscious,” said Griffith. “A lot of the things that were listed in this program we were already doing. For me, it was important, because it represents UGA. Our motto is, ‘Elevate the G’. Anything we can do to elevate the University of Georgia and this is one way for us to do that.”

Frank LaVandera, director of environmental programs for golf with Audubon International, said the organization was founded in 1987 with a clear goal in mind.

Frank LaVandera, director of environmental programs for golf with Audubon International
Frank LaVandera, director of environmental programs for golf with Audubon International

“Initially, we received money from the United States Golf Association,” said LaVandera. “At that time USGA wanted to see if we could change the perspective about golf courses. For many years golf courses may have had a negative connotation. Some people felt that golf courses used a lot of chemicals, water and were bad for the environment.”

LaVandera said the certification process to be designated as a Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses has six components.

The components are as follows:

  • Site Assessment/Environmental Planning

  • Wildlife and Habitat Management

  • Chemical Use Reduction and Safety

  • Water Conservation

  • Water Quality Management

  • Outreach and Education

“As the course goes through the environmental plan, we ask questions about water conservation, things they’re doing for chemical reduction,” said LaVandera. “At the end of the environmental plan, the course identifies the things that need to be completed in each of those categories. Once all the categories are approved, we actually come to the course and we do what's called the certification site visit.”

‘More than just a golf course’

“Our goal is to help people, especially non-golfers, to see the golf course as more than just a golf course. In highly suburbanized and urban areas, golf courses act as a great natural filtration for stormwater that comes onto the course from other areas. A golf course can provide habitat for wildlife.

“A golf course can provide a cooling effect in the summertime. Two blocks away from the golf course is 95 degrees but actually on the golf course because of that turf, it might be six or seven  degrees cooler. A course that doesn’t stay open all year can be available for people out walking and those sorts of things.”

LaVandera said more golf courses are moving to a more sustainable way of operating

“Even if a golf course isn't in our program, generally, the vast majority of golf courses operate in what I would consider to be a sustainable manner,” he said. “Just about every golf course has a best management plan, which, as the name implies, allows us to document and implement best management practices as it relates to managing the golf course. It also has an environmental component to it.”

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Funding Partners.

Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Golf courses leaning more toward sustainability focusing on wildlife