In a recent Q&A with Dean Miller, Director of Agronomy at La Quinta Resort and PGA WEST, we inquired about the recent efforts being undertaken to achieve Audubon International Certification. The following is an excerpt from our discussion:
Describe how the project originated and the reason(s) for its implementation.
Here at La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST, we are working towards certification with Audubon International for all nine of our golf courses. Their program focuses on environmental stewardship in the areas of environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, water quality management and outreach and education. This program clearly outlines and reinforces proactive solutions to becoming more efficient which is something we have been striving towards for years. Most recently, with the cost of water, fertilizer and chemicals continuing to rise, it became necessary to put a more aggressive plan into action that would help us become more efficient and in turn, more eco-friendly.
What was the time frame for implementation? Was it a one-time effort or is it an ongoing program?
Becoming a better environmental steward has been and will continue to be an ongoing project. We were the first golf course in the Palm Springs area to achieve Audubon International certification and will continue those efforts by obtaining certification for our remaining eight courses by the end of next year. As a prominent icon in our area, we hope to raise the bar and encourage environmental stewardship in other courses around the valley. In addition to working closely with our local water and power authorities to make sure that our usage of these resources is and continues to be as efficient as possible, we are also working closely with a professor from the local community college to encourage community awareness of the wildlife here on the golf courses. One of the exciting things we’ve working on this summer is the installation of owl nesting boxes to house some of the local owl population.
How did you go about implementing the effort?
A major expense towards more efficient use of resources was the installation of new and improved irrigation systems and new pump stations on several of our courses, reducing both water and power usage. We have also chosen to ‘selectively’ brown out areas to further reduce water usage. Through IPM (Integrated Pest Management) programs we have not only been able to reduce our chemical usages, but are using chemicals that do not require the use of a respirator, making it safer both for our team members and the environment. In addition to recycling our greens waste, this past year we worked with the local recycling agency to implement recycling programs at each of our golf maintenance facilities. This effort has reduced our standard waste by more than 50%, helping to lower our waste bills. This spring we started a microbial project that will naturally reduce and control algae, allowing us to further reduce introduction of chemicals into our water systems. We are also starting to focus on our community outreach and exploring ways that we can involve our guests and members in our stewardship efforts, such as the Green Golfer Pledge that was offered on one of our private courses.
Has the project met it’s goals?
The project has definitely moved us towards our goal of becoming better environmental stewards through better efficiency. Not only have we seen a reduction in our waste bills, but better planned chemical usage and reduction has allowed us to cut costs in this area as well. With the recent upgrades to our irrigation systems and pump stations, we have seen a significant savings on our water and power bills and have received rebates from our local power company because of our efforts with these new and more energy efficient pump stations. With a project like this, you are never truly done because there are always going to be new ideas or ways to become even more efficient. We believe though, that we can continue to reach our goals every time the bar is raised.
How has the project contributed to the overall environmental sustainability of the golf industry?
We believe that the Audubon International project we have taken on is a powerful tool that can be used to encourage and guide the golf industry towards better environmental stewardship. By meeting the program requirements, courses will make great strides towards becoming more eco-friendly. Water conservation, chemical use reduction, water quality management and outreach-these are all areas that lower costs, raise awareness, promote good will within the community and benefit our local wildlife population; a win-win for everyone. Looking at the overall goal can be overwhelming. Every small effort needs to be recognized and celebrated. When you are able to break it down into small steps and take it one project at a time, environmental stewardship is a much more obtainable goal. For some golf courses it will only take a few months; for others it will take years. The overall benefit to our environment as each effort is made though is priceless.
Dean Miller
Director of Agronomy
