Eagles Pride Golf Course, a U.S. military course near Tacome, Wash., is the 1000th golf course in the world to receive designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.”
The golf course is located at Washington state’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), the Defense Department’s largest military installation on the West Coast.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP), which is endorsed by the United States Golf Association, is an environmental education and certification program that provides technical assistance and guidance to help courses protect the environment, preserve golf’s natural heritage, and gain recognition for their efforts. Since being established in 1991, ACSP membership (including facilities working towards certification) has grown to more than 2,300 golf courses in the United States and 36 countries worldwide. The program issued its first certification in 1993 and now includes golf courses in North America, Central America, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
“We are very proud to have earned this in recognition of our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, especially since we are the 2nd Army and 5th Department of Defense golf course to be so honored worldwide,” said Joint Base Commander Colonel H. Charles Hodges, Jr. “This certification is a significant honor as a tangible recognition of our commitment at JBLM to sustainability and responsible stewardship. We look forward to working closely with Audubon International in our efforts toward ensuring all future generations have an environmentally friendly place to work and play.”
“Audubon International is excited to partner with the Department of Defense and its many installations to advance sustainability nationally and internationally,” said Ryan Aylesworth, Audubon International’s CEO. “The achievements of Joint Base Lewis-McChord that we are celebrating today serve as evidence that the U.S. military is committed to helping safeguard our environment and natural resources, and it is Audubon International’s goal to help our armed forces build on past accomplishments and ultimately achieve ACSP certification for all golf courses managed by the military.”