Best Golf Resorts of the World

Golf is Green: Golf Magazine Awards Eco-Friendly Golf Resorts

Awarded entry in Golf Magazine’s 2012 Eco-friendly Green Hall of Fame are three iconic American golf resorts:

• The Resort at Pelican Hill in Southern California
• Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon
• Kingsmill Resort and Spa in Williamsburg, VA

Chosen from many top notch candidates, these three pay exceptional attention to resource conservation and protection, water management, wildlife habitat and restoration, and other on-going eco-programs.

On 504 acres above the Pacific Ocean in Newport Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill saves more than 50 million gallons of water a year, while protecting and restoring coastal sage scrub and other indigenous flora. 1.2 million gallons of rain and runoff water is captured and held, and the sprinkler system monitors temperature, humidity and other factors to determine watering needs. Reclaimed water is used on the golf courses and landscaping, which is common, these days, on many, if not most, golf courses.

More here about The Resort at Pelican Hill.

A unique 13-hole, par-3 track adjacent to the four Scottish links-style courses that have made Bandon Dunes Golf Resort world famous, the new Bandon Preserve Golf Course (to open May 2012), is a Coore-Crenshaw design. Net proceeds from Preserve will benefit The Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, which supports projects that protect lands and waters of The South Coast of Oregon. The Preserve will also protect and preserve the Silvery Phacelia, an endangered plant species.

Four-diamond-rated Kingsmill Resort & Spa has dedicated 40% of its 2,900 acres overlooking the James River to eco‐friendly initiatives. The Woods, River and Plantation courses are each Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries, wherein the habitatsof bald eagles, hawks, and other endangered birds are protected. Rain water and irrigation runoff is funneled from parking lots, roadways and golf courses into irrigation ponds, from where it is used to water the golf courses and landscaping; and Kingsmill’s marina landscaping is fertilizer- and pesticide-free. Each year, the resort recycles nearly 35 tons of aluminum, 12 tons of cardboard, 4 tons of cooking oil, and 1.25 tons of paper.

More here about Kingsmill Resort.

Founder/editor of BestGolfResortsofTheWorld.com, Karen Misuraca is a travel and golf writer from the California Wine Country. She blogs golf travel here and writes about culture and eco-travel at DeepCultureTravel.com. Check out Karen's new iPhone app, California Coast North.

Riviera Maya Golf Goes Green

Did you see my recent feature in the AirTran inflight magazine about the sustainable/eco features of the resort golf courses on Riviera Maya?

Check it out: Green Tees: Golf courses on the Riviera Maya are working to preserve natural habitats, ancient Mayan ruins, wildlife and waterways.

Scottsdale Courses are Eco-Friendly

Scottsdale's eco-friendly golf courses and golf resorts are carefully preserving the precious Sonoran Desert. Nearly 75% of the courses in the area computerized irrigation systems and weather monitoring to maximize water use. And, many use organic fertilizers and fungicides, and four-stroke rather than two-stroke engines on their maintenance equipment. For instance, TPC Scottsdale has achieved designation again for 12 years in a row as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, and is one of just 138 courses in the world to earn the honor. 

In a former storm water retention area that is now spectacular habitat for native plants and wildlife, the Sanctuary at Westworld was the first golf course in Arizona and the 17th course in the world to attain the coveted Audubon Signature Status.

Scottsdale-based Troon Golf Management, which as many golfers know is the largest upscale course management company in the world, and probably the best, has made the commitment to have its entire portfolio of 190 golf properties worldwide certified through the Audubon initiative.

"Target desert golf" was first developed in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, a design concept for fragile environments that has since become the focus of new course designs around the world. Smaller turf landing zones are islands of green amid natural sandy wastes, stretches of indigenous flora, and wetlands, lakes, creeks, ravines and other natural elements of the landscape.

Think about all of this the next time your ball lands in the arms of a saguaro cactus or in a rattlesnake hole . . . go for the guilt-free solution: take your strokes and move on.

Golf Cart Communities

As a golfer, and as someone with global warming on my mind, I absolutely love the growing trend of "golf cart communities", where residents cruise around on their errands and local activities on "neighborhood vehicles" or "NEVs", which are golf carts and other tiny, energy-efficient, street legal, usually electric vehicles. Many Florida towns and neighborhoods encourage golf cart transport, and it's expanding in California.

Palm Desert allows carts in town for "travel to schools, parks, businesses, shopping centers, and government offices". The town even has a big golf cart parade every year that is attended by 25,000 people.