OKATIE, South Carolina – Oldfield Club, a private, member-owned club, has retained its designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program.
Oldfield has been an Audubon “Neighborhood for Nature” and a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Golf Course” since 2004, and a “Certified Audubon Sustainable Community” since 2018. After designation, courses go through a recertification process every three years.
Oldfield Club is one of over 900 courses in the world to hold the “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” honor. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Central America, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive our recertification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary,” said Oldfield Club General Manager Gautam Patankar. “Leanna McMillian, Community Naturalist, and Thomas Davis, Director of Agronomy, lead this initiative and ensure that the golf course staff is carefully monitoring the standards set forth by Audubon to maintain the certification.
“Being one of a small handful of golf courses in South Carolina with this distinction is something we are very proud of.”
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program participation is designed to help course personnel plan, organize, implement, and document a comprehensive environmental management program and receive recognition for their efforts.
To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas, including: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. Highlights of Oldfield Club’s ongoing conservation efforts include:
- Wildlife Conservation Activities: Oldfield promotes strong habitats throughout the property to ensure wildlife can survive, thrive, and reproduce. This includes maintaining a bird rookery on site, installing bird nesting structures across various golf holes, and preserving environmentally sensitive areas and vegetation corridors.
- Water for Wildlife: Oldfield practices environmentally sensitive maintenance around all surface water and encourages the growth of littoral and emergent vegetation around golf ponds, which supports aquatic life and bird species.
- Water Conservation & Water Quality Management: Oldfield Club has invested in advanced tools like the Pogo moisture meter and an on-site weather station to guide precise irrigation decisions. The agronomy team also applies wetting agents and growth regulators, performs irrigation audits, and regularly monitors system efficiency.
- Chemical Use Reduction & Safety: Through soil analysis testing, Oldfield’s agronomy team is able to make informed, targeted decisions for pest and disease treatment. They also prioritize healthy turf management with proper mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and compaction practices.
- Education & Outreach: Oldfield proudly displays Audubon signage and offers educational brochures in the pro shop. They’ve also launched a honeybee program and continue to host an annual Golf BioBlitz, encouraging member involvement and environmental awareness.
For more information on Oldfield Club and community, visit www.oldfield1732.com. For more information on Audubon International, visit www.auduboninternational.org.