PGA Golf Club Joins Audubon Lifestyles Sustainable Golf Facility Program

PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., was named a member of the Audubon Lifestyles Sustainable Golf Facility Program today. Featuring 54 holes of Championship golf by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, PGA Golf Club is owned and operated by The PGA of America and also includes the nearby PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance golf instruction, practice, technology and fitness park; and the PGA Historical Center golf museum. Audubon Lifestyles is an independent non-profit organization believing that the most natural way to foster sustainability is by working to balance the triple bottom line of people, profit, and planet. Operating with the main purpose of benefiting society, the organization delivers sustainable programming, services and certifications that are cost effective and reduce risk. The Audubon Lifestyles Sustainable Golf Facility Program was created and continues to be modified through a collaborative process from experts in golf facility management, wildlife management, conservation and sustainability. Among others, this includes advisors that represent The PGA of America, USGA, American Society of Golf Course Architects, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and various universities, colleges and businesses nationwide. In addition, participation by pilot members, such as PGA Golf Club, provide real-world insight used to further refine the program, making it the most comprehensive program to measure sustainability on golf courses. Through participation in the Sustainable Golf Facility Program, Audubon Lifestyles staff will assist PGA Golf Club Staff members in completing the program requirements, in order to gain recognition as a local, regional, national and international model of sustainability. "We are excited to welcome PGA Golf Club into the Sustainable Golf Facility Program," said R. Eric Dodson, CEO and Executive Director for Audubon Lifestyles. "The facility has set itself on a path to lead by example, and their commitment and efforts toward sustainable golf course management are commended." "We are honored to join the Audubon Lifestyles program, and look forward to taking the next steps to gain recognition as an Audubon Lifestyles Sustainable Golf Facility," stated Bob Baldassari, PGA General Manager, for PGA Village. Once the facility meets all of the requirements of the Sustainable Golf Facility Program, which includes adopting a Sustainability Charter, and completion of a Sustainability Audit, Audubon Lifestyles will designate PGA Golf Club as an Audubon Lifestyles Sustainable Golf Facility, and will develop an Improvement and Implementation Report specific to the facility. In addition, based upon an evaluation process and the Sustainability Audit, the facility may be awarded between one and five stars, and earn the right to use the International Sustainability Council's Seal of Sustainability.