Environmental Initiatives

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf Courses

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf Courses (ACSGC) helps golf courses enhance wildlife habitats and protect natural resources for the benefit of people, wildlife and the game of golf. 

Under this program BGGC strives to implement best management practices in six focus areas;

Environmental Planning

• Completion of a detailed site assessment and the development of an environmental plan. This step is designed to establish baseline data by taking stock of the property and its significant natural resources

Wildlife and Habitat Management:

• Approximately 12 acres of previously manicured turf have been naturalized. The naturalization of these areas allows the development of natural corridors for wildlife protection.
• Various native planting projects including:    
• 560 native trees and shrubs planted in 2007  with 25 volunteers; and
• 405 native trees and shrubs planted in 2008 with 14 volunteers.
• Installation of 60 + nesting boxes through out the course along with a one acre butterfly meadow

Chemical Use, Reduction and Safety:

• Identification and establishment of no spray and low intensity management zones to protect sensitive environments and water bodies.
• Implementation of various sound cultural turf care practices including; regular aerification, top dressing, verticutting and de-thatching.
• Implementation of an organic fertilizer program at the driving range facility in which close to 90% of fertilizer used was nature organic.

Water Conservation:

• Incorporating evapotranspiration rates into irrigation practices, water consumption has been reduced by 20%.  
• Eliminated none target watering through installation of part circle irrigation heads.

Water Quality Management:

• installation of a closed-loop equipment washing system
• Introduced a water quality monitoring program. Water quality testing of all water bodies three times annually to monitor the health of water features

• Increased manicured turf height around water bodies to minimum of 3.5 inches to create a natural buffer zone and vegetated filtration strip.

Outreach Education:

• Engaged local community at Bathurst Glen Golf Course through three separate community planting and monitoring events where a total of 50+ volunteers participated.
• Hosted two interpretive hikes and one focus group discussion on the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, where a total of 75+ local community members and interest groups participated.
• Implementation of an education component to our junior camps based around the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

Achieving certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary demonstrates leadership, commitment and high standards of environmental management.  BGGC is required to demonstrate continued best management efforts in order to maintain certification.