Golf: Going For The Green is a look at the relationship between the world of golf and the world of nature and how the two might not only co-exist, but actually enhance each other. This multi-part series will study the nature of the relationship, what steps can be taken to strengthen that relationship, and the risks involved if proactive steps are not taken.

In May of this year, thousands of fans will flock to the Senior PGA Championship at the Ocean Course in Kiawah Island Golf Resort, S.C. with the expectations of seeing a slew of birdies. Though the Ocean Course is renowned for its difficulty, there is a certainty that the fans will see several birdies and possibly some eagles -- as well as more than 250 other types of wildlife that habitat the layout. The host of this year's Senior PGA Championship, as well as the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 PGA Championship, is also renowned as home to one of the nation's top wildlife sanctuaries. And it's not a coincidence or an accident.

"For a great golf experience, people remember the intangibles as well as the layout of a course," explains Roger Warren, the president of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and honorary president of the PGA of America. "Here at the Ocean Course, there is a perfect blend of a championship golf course and a leading wildlife sanctuary. We recognize and promote the importance of having our course co-exist with the beauty of the natural land. We take great pride in that relationship."

It is a far cry from the raging debate of only a few years ago, which asked how much "environment" did a community have to sacrifice in order to have a top-tier golf course? Today, advances in science, agronomy and architecture now mean that there is no longer a choice to be made between the two; but rather, that a top golf layout often includes environmentally sensitive and nature enhancing features.

"Golf is a total sensory experience," states Steve Forrest, president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. "When you see a golf course, you don't just see green grass, but also the animals and wildlife that you encounter, the fauna and the textures and the colors and contrasts - that is part of your golf perception. The sounds of animals, the rush of water, the smell of fresh air, all of those things in abundance augment your round of golf.

Moreover, Forrest states that a marriage of golf needs and environmental concerns is actually a financially beneficial arrangement for golf courses.

"Take for instance a golf course that has a significant portion of it dedicated to being protected lands. Those areas are areas that a golf course doesn't have to mow, or maintain, and can actually still be a promoted as part of the appeal of that design," he explains. "That savings turns into real dollars for the facility."

In fact, advocates of stronger environmental awareness for golf courses stress the financial benefits, which also include public image enhancement, customer satisfaction, reduced insurance premiums, lower maintenance costs, safer working conditions, and improved overall efficiency.

The efforts to promote this awareness seem to be paying dividends. A quick Google search of "golf" and "environment" returns 42.6 million links. There are now several organizations that are dedicating massive resources into studying and enhancing the relationship between golf courses and the land and life that exists within them.

One of the industry leaders is Audubon International, which first designed specific golf and environment programs more than fifteen years ago. Both the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (for existing courses) and Audubon Signature Program (for courses in development) have quickly been adopted as one of the benchmarks for the golf course industry.

"Working with golf is an at-times surprising, unique, and always rewarding way we're working towards our vision of communities becoming more sustainable, one person, one place at a time" says, Kevin A. Fletcher, Ph.D., Executive Director of Audubon International. "We provide people, from all walks of life, with the education and assistance they need to better protect and sustain the environment, including those associated with the game of golf."

But what is the relationship between golf and the protection of the environment? Is it simply an effort by the golf course to limit the excessive use of chemicals or perhaps a promise not to disturb the natural habitat of wildlife any more than necessary?

"Absolutely not," says Dr. Fletcher. "Reducing environmental impacts is one component of our mission, and certainly a major one. Pollution caused by fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals is a great concern, the overuse of water for irrigation, loss of natural areas, health hazards for the surrounding community due to the use of some chemicals, these are all great priorities.

"But even more, we want to promote the opportunities that environmental awareness can create for golf facilities. Providing wildlife sanctuaries, preserving natural areas within urban and suburban environments, protecting water resources, rehabilitating degraded landscapes, improving air quality, all of this can work together to enhance the conservation fabric in any community. The very first community that we began working with in our Sustainable Communities Program, Eufaula, Alabama, came to us for help as a result of a local golf course's participation in our golf program. The lesson is simple: Clearly catalysts for environmental change can come from unlikely places."

A consortium of leading golf and environmental organizations -- including Audubon International, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the United States Golf Association -- have even jointly developed a set of "environmental principles" that should help produce eco-friendly excellence in golf course planning and siting, design, construction, maintenance, and facility operations.

Though the adaptation and adoption of these principles is voluntary, the hope is that the widespread implementation of them will not only set strong standards for how golf courses interact with the environment, but also serve to educate the public and relevant decision-makers about environmental responsibility.

As the former president of the PGA of America, Warren may have a better perspective on the benefits and importance of keeping the golf world "green".

"There is no question that when the golf world and the environmental world work together, there are only winners," Warren asserts. "The players play a great course, the management can reap many benefits, and certainly the surrounding community will enjoy the cleaner resources and the natural wildlife that are by-products of a well-maintained layout."

So as Kiawah Island prepares to crown a champion for the Senior PGA Championship, it's worth noting that everyone there - golfers, residents, fans, and even the animals -- are already part of a great triumph. The immaculate course is at one with a safe-haven for nature, and everyone will enjoy a great golf tournament in a superb setting. Only winners indeed.