In Golf, Every Day is “Earth Day”

Without a doubt, more has been done in recent years to protect the environment than ever before. And golf courses are no exception. For too long, some believed that golf courses were a burden to the environment because they were large expanses of green space being managed with herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides or required too much land to be built. However, recent non-biased studies have supported what golf course architects and superintendents have known for years–properly managed golf courses actually improve their surrounding ecosystems! And at Watermark Golf, we believe that it all begins with the design and planning of the course, whether it’s a new design or renovations to an existing course.

As a testament to our commitment, Nathan has been awarded two “Environmental Excellence Awards” in recent years for providing creative designs that solve environmental problems on existing courses.

In addition to developing drainage systems to recycle irrigation water back into the course’s lake system and creating natural areas for wildlife habitats (as well as to reduce maintenance needs), other less-conspicuous factors should also be considered. This can include anything from the shaping of lake banks to minimize the potential for runoff and the creation of natural wetland “filters” within the course to the location of the Natural Resource Management Center (a.k.a. the maintenance facility) to minimize fuel used for transportation by turf equipment and the use of skylights in the NRMC to minimize the use of electricity during daylight hours.

But proper environmental care on the golf course begins with proper planning and design. More than just a handful of native areas in out-of-play parts of the course or some wetland flora planted on a lake bank, a proactive approach must be taken to ensure the long-term viability of a course’s natural resource programs. To accomplish this, we believe that–as the golf course architectural firm–our goal is to work with the builders, owners and operators through active involvement in a well-planned strategy that encompasses all areas of the facility’s design and operations. More than just during design and construction, this is precisely why we at Watermark Golf strive to be environmental stewards–subscribing to the theory that not only can golf and nature co-exist, but that they also must do so in a synergy that enables both to thrive and maximize the other’s fullest potential while protecting the integrity of both.

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