Audubon International press release
Stuttgart Golf Course has retained its designation as a “certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program.
Participation is designed to help course personnel plan, organize, implement, and document a comprehensive environmental management program and receive recognition for their efforts.
To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas including: environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water quality management.
“Stuttgart Golf Course has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property,” said Tara Pepperman, director of Cooperative Sanctuary Programs at Audubon International.
The Stuttgart Golf Course is the only course in Germany and one of 902 courses in the world to receive the honor. Golf courses from the United States, Canada, Africa, Australia, Central America, South America and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.
The golf course was first designated as a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2008. After designation, courses go through a recertification process every three years.
This year the recertification process, coordinated by Chris Konik, the course superintendent, required a visit by a local community representative. Dr. Ottmar Funk of Kornwestheim was given a tour of the course and sent his observations to Audubon International.
“We see the site visit as an important component of a course’s recertification,” Pepperman said. “It provides an objective verification of some of the more visible aspects of the course’s environmental management activities. In addition, it offers an opportunity for golf course representatives to share publicly some of the voluntary actions they have taken to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife and natural resources around them.”
