Turf Valley's Commitment to Sustainability
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses is designed to protect waterways and preserve native plants, animals and the local ecosystems. In 2019, Turf Valley's golf courses were designated as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary," by demonstrating environmental quality in areas such as Wildlife & Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality. Every three years, Turf Valley must complete the recertification process to demonstrate the ability to maintain a high degree of quality in all areas.
Jeff Roeder, Director of Grounds at Turf Valley, has played an integral role in Turf Valley achieving this important certification through upgrades to our irrigation system, grass variety selection and geofencing technology. As Director of Grounds, Jeff is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of both golf courses as well as the main campus. Jeff manages a team of 30 employees in-season focused on horticulture and grounds maintenance.
Jeff shares his insight on the certification and process required to maintain this status.
Why is the Audubon certification important?
The Audubon certification matters for Turf Valley because golf courses often have a negative public image because of the upkeep required to maintain the course and the loss of habitat for animals and plants.
Being part of the Audubon was our decision; it is not a requirement and many golf courses don't participate because of the work it takes to become certified and maintain it. We want to be stewards of the environment to show that we are doing our part to be environmentally friendly and ensure that the golf courses will be here for future generations.
Can you describe what happens during a site visit for recertification?
We've had two site visits since we became certified in 2019. The first recertification, a representative from Audubon came out to the property to check water quality, wildlife, habitat management areas and pesticide records to ensure accordance with all the requirements.
Our recent recertification required us to submit documentation including written reports and photo evidence for the past several years. It is a time-consuming process, but we understand the importance of maintaining and building upon our certification for the future.
What part of the certification is most important to you?
Our horticulturalist, Jason Keppley, has done an extraordinary job with the landscape and the attraction of the pollinators. As I look around, I am very proud of our ability to create naturalized areas that wildlife seeks out. It's very rewarding to come to work every single day and witness the improvements we have made.
Another extremely important area to me is water quality. Our data shows the entry level of pollutants coming into the property and when the water exits it is much cleaner. Having this data solidifies that we're doing the right thing by not allowing chemicals and fertilizers to enter the waterways which eventually lead into Chesapeake Bay, which is our main goal to protect.
What wildlife do you see on the property?
It is common for us to see bald eagles and ospreys almost every day. We also have deer, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and an abundance of black squirrels, which are rare, and all have made Turf Valley their home.
Are there any future recommendations from Audubon that you are excited to implement over the next three years?
One of the categories I want to focus on is community outreach. It is the area we have spent the least amount of time on, and I believe the progress we have made in naturalizing the golf course has been phenomenal. We recently expanded our nature trail to incorporate trail markers and plant ID signs. The end of the trail is our "Monarchs in the Rough" pollinator habitat which is a program established by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) to create habitats for endangered monarch butterflies to pollinate and shelter in out-of-play areas.
We communicate with our members on a regular basis to share recent developments and we plan to involve them in new projects that revolve around wildlife and naturalization. Our team has evolved from cutting grass and fertilizing to focusing on areas that will continue to make the golf course sustainable for years to come.
If you could take on one dream project to improve sustainability, what would it be?
I have two that I would be excited to implement. The first one would be a stream restoration throughout the entire property. We have a lot of meandering creeks that have gotten bigger over the years, so I would stabilize some of the creek banks, and consider stocking the ponds and creeks with fish, trout, primarily.
Another dream project that we are moving forward with in some areas is the grass conversion of our fairways to bermudagrass. The most recent project on the Hialeah involved replacing approximately 2.5 acres of cool season turf with bermudagrass. Over the past two seasons we have converted nearly 6 acres to warm season turf. The bermudagrass thrives in this climate and requires less pesticide use and water to maintain.
Click below to view the interview with Jeff Roeder, Director of Grounds and Jason Keppley, Horticulturalist at Turf Valley.
ABOUT TURF VALLEY
The golf courses at Turf Valley are private and are available to members and hotel guests. A variety of overnight golf packages are available for non-members to experience the golf courses. A virtual tour on Turf Valley's website provides a bird's eye view and details of each hole.