Audubon International Certification

I am pleased to be invited by Wade Peckham to author a guest blog entry in the Royal Mayfair Turf Notes. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is David Smith, Second Assistant Superintendent in the Turf Care Department. I joined the Royal Mayfair this past summer and it has been a distinct pleasure to be a part of this golf club. Wade and the rest of the management staff strive to provide the members with the best golf experience in Canada and are dedicated to quality and excellence.

This entry is about our current Audubon International certification efforts. Since coming to the Royal Mayfair I have led our department’s environmental efforts. Part of those efforts is seeking certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. What this title would mean is that our golf course has dedicated itself to protecting our natural resources (such as wildlife, plant life and water quality) and has proven its dedication though quantifiable efforts and results. Some of you may recall that this certification was pursued in the past. Due to a loss of information during the leadership transition phase two years ago, we are restarting the process and ensuring accessibility for years to come. For more information on this program, you can go to the Audubon website where it will provide further clarification on their purpose and efforts.

Currently we are in the initial stages of certification. We have sent information to Audubon International such as our environmental policy, wildlife inventory and ecological information and are awaiting further confirmation from them. That doesn’t mean we’re sitting around waiting for them to give us the go ahead. We are working on planning projects for the 2013 season as well as partnering with environmental groups in Edmonton. Wade and I recently presented our efforts and work to the Edmonton Nature Club and are looking to partner with them this coming season. 

The following are some highlights from our current and past environmental efforts:

• Upkeep of birdhouses on the course
• Partnership with University of Alberta studying urban coyote movement and ethical control of Canada Geese
• Inventory of wildlife on the course
• Continued effort to establish pheasants in the river valley
• Reduction of water use through upgrades to the irrigation system
• Careful and judicious use of pesticides to limit adverse impacts on human health and the environment

We will continue to update you on our progress through the certification. We welcome member involvement in this program. If you have any questions or would like to be a part of our efforts, please email me at dsmith@mayfair.ca, or Wade at wpeckham@mayfair.ca.