Audubon International is recognizing the environmental stewardship efforts of the Colorado Springs, Colo., club. The club obtained the designation by working to maintain wildlife habitats, conserving water, and utilizing pest management programs that withstand disease and weed pressures while reducing chemical inputs.

The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs, Colo., has achieved designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

Mark Beitel, Assistant Superintendent, led the effort to obtain sanctuary designation on the property and is being recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. The Club at Flying Horse is the 38th golf course in Colorado and the 1,014th in the world to receive the honor.

“The Club at Flying Horse has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program,” said Joellen Lampman, Associate Director of Environmental Programs. “They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property.

“To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas,” explained Lampman. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.

“We feel that everything that has been done on this property from the beginning has been with the goal of blending seamlessly into the surrounding environment,” said Dan Hawkins, Director of Agronomy & Facility Operations. “Our environmentally sensitive areas and large native areas help us to maintain wildlife habitats and provide homes for a large variety of wildlife that can be seen and enjoyed by our members. We strive continuously to utilize an agronomic program that incorporates water conservation, integrated pest management and cultural programs that encourage a healthy stand of turf that can withstand disease and weed pressures while reducing chemical inputs.”

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources.

The 18-hole Tom Weiskopf signature golf course is recognized as one of the Top 10 Golf Courses in Colorado by Colorado Golf Magazine. The Learning Center at Flying Horse offers training in physical, nutritional, psychological and bio-mechanical fields in the most comprehensive and technologically advanced golf learning facility in the state. In addition, the clubhouse has been voted Best Clubhouse in the State by Avid Golfer Magazine four years in a row.