Tennessee Golf Trail Courses Recognized
for Environmental Excellence
The Tennessee Golf Trail features three courses that are designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International:
Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Paris Landing State Park
Each of these courses met specific criteria in the areas of environmental planning; wildlife and habitat management; outreach and education; chemical use reduction and safety; water conservation; and water quality management. They have taken positive steps to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat while protecting the integrity of their course’s land and water resources.
Golf courses throughout North and Central America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia have achieved certification through this program, but only 761 golf courses worldwide have been designated as Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. There are only ten Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary courses in Tennessee.
Leading Among State Park Golf Courses
Fall Creek Falls, Paris Landing and Harrison Bay are part of a short list of golf courses located within state parks that have achieved this certification for environmental excellence. Paris Landing was the first park affiliated golf course in the southeastern U.S. to earn this recognition for environmental performance in 2004. “Since then we have encouraged all our courses to generate environmental results that would secure this certification,” said Tennessee Golf Trail Director Jim Webb. “It just makes sense that the Tennessee Golf Trail offers quality playing experiences on courses that are sensitive to the natural beauty surrounding them.”
Paris Landing State Park
Paris Landing Golf Course achieved Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary designation from Audubon International in November 2004 by demonstrating and maintaining a high degree of e
nvironmental quality. Paris Landing successfully met high Aubudon standards in areas such as environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reductions, water conservation and water quality management.
“Achieving Certified Aubudon Cooperative Sanctuary status shows how our golf course puts the department’s stewardship principles into practice,” said Keith Hickman, golf course manager. “Protecting shorelines and improving natural habitat around the course has not only helped our surrounding environment but also provided a more enjoyable experience for all park customers.”
Led by Dwayne Hicks, golf course superintendent, and Jane Burkhart, golf shop assistant, Paris Landing made a range of investments and operational changes to reach Audubon certification. Investments include natural habitat enhancements and the addition of feeders that increased populations of wild turkeys and other animals around the course. Changes in storage and application of chemicals plus adjustments for cart wash procedures were also made.
Paris Landing was only the 3rd park affiliated golf course in nation to receive this honor from Audubon International. The other certified Audubon park golf courses in the United States were the Black, Green and Red Courses at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York. Bethpage Black was home to the 2009 United States Open Championship.
Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park
The Bear Trace Golf Course at Harrison Bay State Park near Chattanooga was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in May 2008.
Paul L. Carter, Certified Golf Course Superintendent, led the effort to obtain sanctuary status for this course. “Achieving Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary status has been a very rewarding process for the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay,” Carter said. “Members, guests and staff have a greater appreciation for the natural beauty of the golf course and better understand how our actions – both direct and indirect – impact wildlife, waterways and other aspects of the environment.”
The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park also received the 2009 Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation. The course has installed 45 nesting houses, created a large plant bed comprised of 218 plants native to Tennessee, and renovated the golf course's chemical storage facility. In addition, 40 acres of the course have been naturalized to minimize maintenance and the turf grass has been changed from "bent grass" to Champion Ultradwarf Bermuda grass - reducing the course's chemical use and budget from $39,000 to $8,000 annually. Click here for more information on the Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards.
The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park has also been designated as a 2009 Groundwater Guardian Green Site by The Groundwater Foundation a result of the groundwater-friendly practices implemented at the golf course. Click here to learn more.
Fall Creek Falls State Park Golf Course achieved designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary on May 2010. The course was commended for using biologicals as alternative pest controls, deploying extensive vegetative buffer plantings, protecting wetland water quality and using required chemicals in a way that protects ground and surface water.
“People come from all over the country to see the land forms and exceptional water features of Fall Creek Falls,” said Head Golf Professional Billy Maxwell. “It’s great that we can enrich their experience by providing a sanctuary for wildlife on the course and manage these landscapes in ways that protect waters as they flow across park to eventually reach one of the highest falls in the United States.”
About Audubon Certification
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS), the educational division of Audubon International, is endorsed by the United States Golf Association and provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Audubon certified courses in Tennessee also include Paris Landing State Park, Fall Creek Falls State Park, the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, President’s Reserve at Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory and the Tournament Players Club at Southwind in Memphis. Click here to learn more.