January 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 58

its renovations from a Department
of Transportation project in downtown Milwaukee, " explains Ritterbusch. " The city needed a place to
dump the excess soil, and the golf
course provided that solution. "

Golf goes green
So how does the sport combat
some of these misperceptions?
Perhaps the easiest win has been to
showcase golf's green side. Steve
Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation, says, " Golf course superintendents are environmentalists and
are in the industry because of their
love of the environment. " He adds
that superintendents need to balance the expectations golfers have for the course, but also how to
make the course friendliest for the environment.
" Over the past years we have been educating
golfers on what good playing conditions really are,
and I think golfers are more accepting of a more
natural look on a course as long as it doesn't affect
their play, " he says.
Evans agrees that golf superintendents naturally have a green streak, and says that sustainable
practices in golf will only continue. " Managers and
superintendents are great land users and professionally trained to manage the land, " he says. " In

(Above, below, and
previous page) With
the actual golf course
taking up just 190 of
the site's 332 acres,
Cranberry Highlands
provides ample wildlife
habitat and even a
nature trail.

reality, it is only the tees and greens that are highly
maintained. Most of the land at a golf course is lowmaintenance areas where managers are actually
preserving wetlands, forests, and streams. "
Another way in which golf courses are conserving resources is through water use. Evans points to
new technology like water sensors that allow irrigation systems to only water when needed. It not only
saves water, but also saves money.
" Sustainability is the buzzword, but at the end of
the day, it's much more than just the planet, " Evans
explains. " It's the 3 Ps-planet, people, and profit.
All three legs of that stool have to be sturdy, so you

The Cranberry Highlands Nature Trail

ground nesting bird area
Cranberry

observation tree stand

Find Sanctuary at

of Golf
the
Explore the Nature
was created to celebrate
Cranberry Highlands

nds
The Cranberry Highla
Audubon Cooperative
Sanctuary

nia's
Right from the start,
of Western Pennsylva
that is the hallmark
Park,
hilly wooded landscape
Architects of College
W. R. Love Golf Course
terrain. Designed by
assortment of sensitive
site which includes an
the
Maryland on a 332-acre
was built to showcase
Cranberry Highlands
environmental features,
topography.
rugged
its
and
ecosystem
area's four-season
Township, Butler County.
is located in Cranberry
north of
Cranberry Highlands
Road, about one mile
Rochester
onto
west
Road. Turn right on
From Route 19, turn
for two miles to Powell
Route 228. Follow Rochester
another two miles. Follow
Freshcorn Road after
Powell, which becomes
to the Cranberry Highlands
half mile until you come
Freshcorn about one
clubhouse.

High lands

deer feeding station

bat house

Old Route 19

received
Highlands Golf Course
January of 2009, Cranberry Planning from the Audubon
ental
certification in Environm
an international program
Program for Golf Courses,
to help golf
Cooperative Sanctuary
International and designed
administered by Audubon environmental quality of their property.
the
enhance
to
owners
course
Cranberry Highlands
six years of work at
Audubon program
That recognition validated
dent David Barber. The
led by Golf Course Superinten guide Barber in developing an effective
helped
offered advice which
enhancement program.
conservation and wildlife
Projects included
sed the entire golf course.
That program encompas
environmentally sensitive
species,
bird
certain
for
nt and conservation,
placing nesting boxes
, water quality manageme
reducing the use of
pest-management techniques
protective cover for wildlife,
maintaining food and
more.
and
al outreach,
chemicals, education
maintains a balanced
Cranberry Highlands
As a result of that work,
and play in harmony.
golfers and wildlife live
homes to
environment in which
is accomplished by providing
Insect control, for example, diet staple. A growing variety of owls,
are a
now
birds for whom insects
s, fish and small animals
amphibian
deer,
butterflies, bats, hawks,
and golfers flourish.
where wildlife thrives
live in a natural ecosystem

of
trail in a wooded area
Barber built a nature
In the spring of 2009,
four, for which guided
between holes three and
Cranberry Highlands,
request.
tours are available upon

Freshcorn Rd

Glen Eden Rd

19
79
Road
5601 Freshcorn
PA 16066
Cranberry Township,
724-776-7372
CranberryHighlands.com
Golf Course is owned
PA.
Cranberry Highlands
Cranberry Township,
and operated by

Powell Rd

butterfly house

Rochester Rd

79
228

Freedom Rd

Cranberry Highlands
5601 Freshcorn Road
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
724.776.7372
www.cranberryhighlands.com
printed on recycled

rtified
Audubon-Ce Golf Experience

bluebird house

paper

bird sanctuary

hawk nest [by hole 14]

56 Parks & Recreation

JANUARY 2011

www.NRPA .ORG

January 2011 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2011 - Parks & Recreation