Concert Golf Partners is expanding its sustainability efforts across its portfolio of more than 40 private clubs through a new partnership with Audubon International, with select properties pursuing environmental certification over the next year.
The partnership will provide Concert Golf agronomists and staff with hands-on education focused on sustainable course management, including water conservation, natural resource use and wildlife habitat protection. Two clubs, Heathrow Legacy Club in Orlando and The Ranch Country Club in Denver, are the first to participate in Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
Audubon International is a non-profit environmental education organization that provides knowledge and technical assistance to help golf courses, country clubs, resorts and other communities to “exercise responsible stewardship of environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety and water conservation quality management.”
Danny Gwyn, senior vice president of agronomy at Concert Golf Partners, said that certification in Audubon’s program expands the culture and vision for the staff at the selected courses.
“They become more aware of the environmental aspects of the course and operations, and they can report back knowledge for the club to utilize,” he said. “This can also help manage our water usage on our courses, steward our use of natural resources and protect the natural habitat of numerous species.”
Through this partnership, Audubon will provide hands-on education to Concert Golf’s agronomists and staff to help them identify and implement best practices for sustainability at every club in Concert’s portfolio. A specific subset of Concert’s clubs will also spend the next year striving to obtain the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf Certification, which guides courses to protect natural resources and enhance the environmental quality of their property through projects that improve wildlife habitats, conserve resources and engage in sustainable practices.
Ken Benoit, interim CEO for Audubon International, noted that their certification programs are not burdensome, but are designed to slot into the existing workflow of the superintendents.
“We find most superintendents are already performing many of our program recommendations as part of good agronomic and land management practice — certification simply gives structure and recognition to their activities,” he said. “Beyond our recommendations, codifying steps to take toward certification is an area [where] Audubon International provides significant value to its members.”
Two Concert Golf clubs are participating in the Cooperative Sanctuary Program at launch: Heathrow Legacy Club in Orlando and The Ranch Country Club in Denver, both of which are known for their natural beauty. Heathrow Legacy provides a habitat on its Fazio and Gael Courses for some 100 species of wildlife, including deer, alligators, bears, fish and exotic birds. The Ranch Country Club hosts panoramic views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, with such native wildlife as bald eagles, wandering elk, mountain lions and more.
Beyond environmental benefits, Concert Golf and Audubon International see certification as a way for clubs to demonstrate quality course management to current and prospective members.
“Golfers increasingly view certification as a signal of quality and responsible management, not just environmental virtue — it suggests the course is well cared for, thoughtfully maintained and run by a superintendent who takes a rigorous, science-based approach to turf and land management,” Benoit said. “That perception builds loyalty among existing members and make the club more attractive to newcomers evaluating where to spend their time and money.”
Concert Golf is already familiar with the certification process. Heathrow Legacy Club received Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Certification last year, becoming one of approximately 100 courses worldwide to earn the distinction.
Gwyn said that Audubon certification also tends to have a positive impact on the larger community around a club.
“Our neighbors in the surrounding communities of our clubs recognize that protecting our courses and the environment around them can be a win-win,” he said. “That’s because our ongoing commitment to beautification and conservation can help support and potentially increase property values for the neighborhoods that surround the 40+ upscale private clubs in our portfolio.”