Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Course is an award winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf.  By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf operations, the program serves as vital resource for golf courses.

Protecting the nature of the game...

For more information or to join the program, please contact:

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses
Getting involved is easy.  Membership is open to golf courses in the United States and internationally, including private clubs, public and municipal courses, PGA sites, 9-hole facilities, resort courses, and golf residential communities.  After joining the program, your next step is to take stock of environmental resources and potential liabilities, and then develop an environmental plan that fits your unique setting, goals, staff, budget, and time.  Audubon International provides a Site Assessment and Environmental Planning Form to provide guidance, as well as educational information to help you with: 

Based on a site specific report provided by Audubon International, you develop a plan that works for your golf course.  By implementing and documenting environmental management practices in the above areas, a golf course is eligible for designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, improving its stature and reputation.

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Get involved and get results!
Members receive A Guide to Environmental Stewardship, an attractive membership art print, a subscription to our newsletter Stewardship News, and a Certification Handbook to help you plan, organize, and document your environmental efforts.  Membership also includes certification review and Audubon staff support and direct consultation via telephone, written communication, and e-mail.  Site visits are available on a fee-for-service basis.

Most important, ACSP members get results.  They improve environmental performance and community relations, reduce liability, save money, and contribute to the conservation of environmental resources.

Member Benefits
Being a responsible environmental manager is a key part of running a successful golf course, but, if you are like many people, you may not have the time or expertise to investigate and plan environmental strategies suited to your golf course. Audubon International can help. We understand that in order for you to green your golf course it has to be done a way that greens your bottom line. Below are just a few of the ways you can do that:

For more specific examples, please visit the profiles tab at the top of the page or contact us.

Audubon International Steward Network
Members of the Audubon International Steward Network serve as a source of knowledge, good advice, enthusiasm, and encouragement. They provide invaluable, on-the-ground assistance to members of the ACSP and others interested in protecting and improving the environment in their region. Stewards answer questions about getting started, achieving certification, finding resources, and more. Feel free to contact the following Audubon Stewards for assistance or information regarding their participation in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses:

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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does certification take?
Most organizations achieve certification within one to three years, depending on how quickly they plan, organize, implement, and document their environmental practices.

How does Audubon International verify that the member is meeting certification standards?
Written and photographic documentation is required to achieve certification. If required information is missing or management practices are not in place, Audubon International places a “pending” status on the certification request. This enables the member to provide the needed documentation or further develop its management strategies.

Recertification is required every two years to ensure that members continue to uphold certification standards. Members that do not submit the appropriate documentation or are no longer meeting program requirements are decertified.

Who can achieve certification?
Properties enrolled in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses may apply for certification.