Audubon International Certifies 1,000th Golf Course in ACSP Program

June 4, 2013 - PRLog -- JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA – Eagles Pride Golf Course 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.

"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."  

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.

“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.”

About Eagles Pride Golf Course

Eagles Pride Golf Course is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington’s South Puget Sound region. The 27-hole championship course was ranked one of the top ten military golf courses by Travel + Leisure and is open to the public. In addition to providing installation support to more than 40,000 active uniformed members of the armed services and about 15,000 civilian workers, JBLM supports 60,000 family members and nearly 30,000 military retirees living within 50 miles of the base.

About Audubon International
Audubon International is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to delivering high-quality environmental education and helping to implement sustainable natural resource management in all places where people live, work, and play. Through a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs, incentive-based strategies, and public recognition, Audubon International empowers people and organizations to more sustainably manage land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources at levels ranging from individual properties to whole communities.

For more information, contact Joellen Lampman at Audubon International, 120 Defreest Dr., Troy, NY 12180, USA, (518) 767-9051 x114, e-mail at joellen@auduboninternational.org, or visit the website at www.auduboninternational.org.