As a leader in the golf industry, we have implemented environmental standards within our golf organization that have helped various of our managed golf clubs throughout North America and the Caribbean to elevate their environmental efforts to new heights by becoming Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, enables golf facilities to protect the environment by enhancing precious natural areas and wildlife habitats. This program is part of a systemwide commitment by Marriott International to promote environmental stewardship. In order to achieve Audubon Certification, each golf facility is required to demonstrate that it is maintaining the highest degree of environmental quality in many areas including Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach & Education, Chemical Use Reduction & Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.
Marriott’s collection of Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries include various golf courses throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, including famed golf destinations such as Doral Golf Resort & Spa, in Miami, Florida; Royal St. Kitts Golf Club in the British West Indies; and Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, California. In fact, Doral, host of the PGA TOUR’s WGC-CA Championship, became the first-ever Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in North America to host a World Golf Championships event in 2008.
For a look behind the scenes at the Audubon Certification process and the vision behind the program, click here.
“Marriott Golf is proud to be part of the company’s broader green initiatives by supporting Audubon Certification, golf’s environmental gold standard,” said Robert Waller, senior director of grounds, Marriott Golf. “Our goal is to engage our guests and associates from around the world in environmental stewardship, furthering our commitment to promote the game of golf in an eco-friendly way.”
Marriott International has been actively involved in energy conservation since the 1980’s, and has launched environmental clean-up projects around the world, replaced 450,000 light bulbs with fluorescent lighting, introduced linen reuse programs, and installed 400,000 low-flow showerheads and toilets at its hotels worldwide. These industry-leading efforts have been recognized by the EPA, who awarded Marriott with its 2008 Sustained Excellence award and placed the ENERGY STAR® label on more than 200 of its hotels (the most of any hotel company).
“We are elated with the level of commitment that Marriott is demonstrating by mandating Audubon Certification across their portfolio of golf courses,” said Kevin Fletcher, executive director of Audubon International. “This program directly enables golf courses to protect the environment by improving the quality of land, water, and air, along with conserving natural resources and protecting wildlife habitats. These proven environmental management practices will help preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf for many generations to come.”
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