Sun City Hilton Head Golf Courses Recognized for Environmental Excellence
Press release from the issuing company
Monday, July 28th, 2014
Sun City’s Okatie Creek Golf Club and Hidden Cypress Golf Club have retained designation as "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. Rick Barnes, Lead Golf Course Superintendent, led the effort to maintain sanctuary status on the courses and is being recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. The courses were designated as Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries in 2005 and are two of 901 courses in the world to currently be designated as such.
Executive Director Damon Williams said the recertification is great accomplishment: “Sun City’s golf courses are naturally beautiful because of the abundance of wildlife and plant life native to the Lowcountry, and we are playing an active role in preserving this environment for the enjoyment of current and future residents.”
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources.
"Okatie Creek Golf Club and Hidden Cypress Golf Club have shown a strong commitment to their environmental program. They are to be commended for preserving the natural heritage of the area by protecting the local watershed and providing a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Doug Bechtel, Executive Director at Audubon International. "To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas," he explained. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. Courses go through a recertification process every two years.
