Club Management - March/April 2008 - (Page 34)

“We have members who bring their children out here because they figure they’ll see more wildlife on the course t than on the nature preserve.” It was Sweet who came up with the slogan for The Sanctuary: Where Paradise is Preserved. And he means it. The club shares a symbiotic relationship with the island and with the birds, animals and plants that are not only a part of the island, but a part of a golfer’s 18-hole experience. “I think we have been good stewards and good neighbors,” said Sweet, who has been working the land for 14 years. Keeping a world-class golf course in shape and preserving the balance surrounding the course doesn’t come without challenges. There are restrictions concerning pesticide use and stringent water guidelines one wouldn’t see at a lot of courses. “There are some restrictions on what we can and can’t use,” Sweet said. “One of the restrictions is that we can’t use many popular insect control products that have residuals. We need to be more reactive than proactive. “We almost have to wait until the trouble is there to do anything so that it limits the exposure to the non-target animals. We had a big problem last summer with the tropical sod webworms, a big one, but we couldn’t do anything until it cropped up. That can be challenging. It sets us back. But it allows us to stress to our members that this is a perfect example of our restrictions and the way we need to manage the golf course.” Be on the Lookout When so many golf courses are receiving criticism for gutting nature’s plan, The Sanctuary staff goes to the next level to make sure wildlife thrives in its environment. Whether it’s tracking and protecting gopher tortoise burrows or planting wildﬂowers, the staff goes out of their way to not only comply with restrictions but make the course as much a wildlife tour as a place to play golf. 34 • CLUB MANAGEMENT “We have members who bring their children out here because they ﬁgure they’ll see more wildlife on the course than on the nature preserve,” Kouril said. “People understand what’s out there and come for the wildlife.” Over 18 holes, a golfer might see several alligators, a majestic bobcat, otters frolicking on the banks, raccoons and tortoises. And birds. “We’re not talking about your average, everyday birds here,” Sweet said. “It’s a great migratory spot.” At dusk, it’s not unusual to see a large population of white ibis ﬂoat past the back veranda of the club. Spectacular roseate spoonbills can be seen on the course along with scissortail ﬂycatchers, wood storks and white pelicans. As many as 250 species of birds have been sighted on Sanibel Island, and The Sanctuary is the home for most of them. So it’s not unusual to be lining up a putt and see a bald eagle in the distance or hear the call of a red-shouldered hawk. Isn’t that the way golf is supposed to be? It’s not just about putting the ball in the cup or keeping it out of the rough. There is no sport like golf with a playing ﬁeld that not only changes from course to course but from hole to hole. It is the ultimate outdoor sport in terms of the senses – the smell of freshly cut grass, the beauty of perfect white sand against thick green grass. The Sanctuary takes it to the extreme. Where else can you play a course surrounded by a nature preserve that leaks its beauty onto 18 holes meticulously designed by Arthur Hills? He calls the course “my island masterpiece.” But it doesn’t just happen by accident. Building Relationships The staff at The Sanctuary has developed a relationship with the National Wildlife Refuge as well as the Sanibel Island city government, a relationship so strong that the city sometimes turns to Sweet to battle issues like Ken Kouril, CCM, CAM COO, The Sanctuary Golf Club the recent scourge of red algae on the beach. He has taken his role as superintendent of a golf course and changed the job description. Whether it’s going out with members for a bird count or following the movement of gopher turtles using a GPS system, Sweet has gone the extra mile. “We had some scientists from all over the world vacationing here recently, and they loved the golf course,” Sweet said. “The showstopper was taking them to see all the wildﬂowers. There are very few areas where you don’t see wildﬂowers.” Sweet and his staff have become licensed with the city in knowing all of the native plants, obtaining vegetation competency certiﬁcates. He is also a licensed professional mangrove trimmer. “I’m the steward of The Sanctuary,” he said. And the members understand – in fact, they embrace – the fact that this is no ordinary golf course or piece of property. You hit it way left, it’s gone. No wandering in the wildﬂowers or the preserve looking for your Titleist. “You walk off the edge of the rough, and you are on federal property managed by biologists,” Sweet said. “When I say they are next door, they are next door.” Which makes the preserve, which covers two-thirds of the island, a part of the course and a part of every round of golf. It’s a unique place with unique challenges. Those challenges are met every day. The result? Paradise. Preserved. ❚❘ About the author Pat Dooley, an award-winning columnist for The Gainesville Sun, in Gainesville, Florida, has covered nine Masters and more than a dozen Players Championships as well as other major tournaments around the country during his 30 years as a sportswriter. He also has done extensive radio and television work and recently had his ﬁrst book published — “Game of My Life: Memorable Stories of Florida Football.”

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Club Management - March/April 2008

Club Management - March/April 2008 Contents President’s Message Board Governance Technology Human & Professional Resources 2008 CMAA President Peter Homberg: A Profile in Courage, Perserverance Welcome, CMAA 2008 Board of Directors Club Events: Bring Magic to Your Members Club Adopts 'Dependent Parent' Membership Policy Paving a Path to Success Groundbreaking Project Measures Environmental Data for Golf Courses Paradise Preserved HFTP Insight New Directions Global Outreach Products and Services Marketplace Advertiser Index/Advertisers.com Club Wrap

Club Management - March/April 2008

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