| When you think of golf courses, what first comes | | | | "We have an opportunity here at Briar's Creek to |
| to mind? | | | | kind of set a standard for development in the |
| The grass? The golf carts? The numbers? | | | | entire region," Koenig said. |
| What about the birds? Do you think about how | | | | Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort |
| many kinds of flowers line the 18th hole? Do you | | | | Another golf course that became a Certified |
| notice the wildlife that quietly nibbles the rough? | | | | Silver Audubon Signature Sanctuary is Gull Lake |
| Probably not. But a new trend in golf course | | | | View in Augusta, Michigan. When Darl Scott |
| design is starting to change peoples' minds when | | | | purchased 120 acres in the late 1950s, little did he |
| they are looking for a golf club to call their own. | | | | know what his impact would be on Southwest |
| I'm talking about an environmentally friendly golf | | | | Michigan real estate. In 1995, all five golf courses |
| course. Sound far-fetched? You'd be surprised at | | | | gained Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary |
| how many courses are currently involved with | | | | status and they couldn't be happier. The Scott |
| creating a green community. According to | | | | Family views their courses not only as wonderful |
| Audubon International, there are 27 countries, | | | | places for people to enjoy the game of golf, but |
| including the United States, that are protecting and | | | | also as great habitats for all types of wildlife. |
| improving their courses. That's more than 2,110 | | | | And a happy golf course means happy Michigan |
| golf courses. | | | | real estate. Cranes Pond, a neighborhood next to |
| It's more than a fad. It's becoming a standard | | | | Gull Lake View, adopted the natural outlook and |
| practice and statistics have shown that today's | | | | stresses the importance of protecting the |
| consumer is looking for an environmentally friendly | | | | environment. There is a great deal of attention |
| golf community to build their dream home. | | | | being placed on preserving natural resources and |
| What is Audubon Certification? | | | | the habitat on the encompassing land. Considerable |
| The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for | | | | care and planning was done prior to design in |
| Golf Courses provides guidelines that help courses | | | | order to assure that the very qualities that make |
| work to protect precious natural resources, | | | | Crane's such a magnificent place to live, were not |
| habitats and the game of golf. Achieving and | | | | destroyed by the construction of roads and |
| maintaining certification demonstrates a deep | | | | houses. A habitat and biological survey of the |
| commitment to environmental management and | | | | entire property was done for an entire year as |
| protection. A course can achieve certification by | | | | part of the overall design process. |
| implementing environmental practices and | | | | If more communities in the area take the torch |
| documenting the results. This demonstrates | | | | and improve their neighborhoods to meet the |
| leadership as a steward of the environment and | | | | Audubon standards, then Southwest Michigan will |
| publicly recognizes and rewards environmental | | | | become one of the most stunning areas in the |
| achievements. | | | | country and highly-sought after real estate. |
| Let's take a look at two golf communities that | | | | What Can You Do? |
| are Audubon Certified. | | | | If you are a member of a golf course and this |
| The Golf Club at Briar's Creek | | | | program interests you, talk to your general |
| The Lowcountry of South Carolina is known for | | | | manager, ask if they are Audubon Certified and, if |
| its pristine wetlands, beautiful trees and abundance | | | | not, when or if they are looking into becoming |
| of wildlife. When the developers of Briar's Creek | | | | certified. Talk to your fellow club members and |
| were in the beginning stages of designing the | | | | see if they are aware of the benefits of this |
| award-winning golf course, they knew that they | | | | certification. Urge them to talk to the general |
| had something special and felt a need to protect | | | | manager. Odds are that your golf club is aware of |
| the area around the proposed golf course | | | | the program, but it is possible that they have |
| community. | | | | never heard of it and might be very interested in |
| "Briar's Creek has a coveted number of large | | | | becoming certified. |
| oaks; some are spectacular specimens," said | | | | Imagine being able to raise your children in a place |
| Steve Koenig, founder and developer of the | | | | where they can learn to not only appreciate |
| South Carolina golf community. "So we didn't want | | | | nature, but also to understand how the |
| to disturb our canopy of trees." | | | | eco-system works as a whole and to better |
| They contacted Audubon International and | | | | appreciate the game of golf. |
| entered the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary | | | | You win and mother nature wins. |
| Program for Golf Courses (ACSP). By working | | | | More Information |
| closely with the group, Briar's Creek became | | | | If you are interested in finding out more about |
| South Carolina's first Certified Silver Audubon | | | | South Carolina golf, consider contacting the good |
| Signature Sanctuary and continues to this day to | | | | folks at Briar's Creek. They are an exclusive, |
| make sure that they meet the principles put in | | | | private golf club located in Charleston, SC with a |
| place by the society. | | | | limit of 300 members. |
| In Kiawah Island, real estate [ is in high demand | | | | If you like Illinois golf or are looking for a Michigan |
| and because of the high standards placed on the | | | | golf course, contact Gull Lake View, an |
| luxury homes in the area, buyers have become | | | | established, Michigan golf course. Gull lake View |
| very discriminating in where they live. Creating an | | | | has five golf courses and a resort that make a |
| environmentally friendly golf community was a | | | | great vacation destination and also a wonderful |
| good way to give these buyers a reason to want | | | | place to live. |
| to build at Briar's Creek. Not only are the homes | | | | Be sure to also check out the information about |
| extraordinary, but they are surrounded by | | | | the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for |
| carefully protected South Carolina foliage and | | | | Golf Courses. |
| wildlife. | | | | |