Learn about our sustainability initiatives.
The UGA Golf Course works on many fronts to have a low operational impact on the environment and provides many avenues for soil research and biodiversity. A handful of our initiatives are listed below:
- E-Z-Go Golf Carts – Lithium Ion Battery Technology provides maintenance free operation with 95% less harmful waste compared to lead-acid batteries. In addition to the new technology, the overall fleet will grow by five carts to help ensure carts are always available throughout the day. Learn more about golf cart rentals.
- The Golf Course is a member of Audubon International, which is focused on the implementation of environmental management practices that ensure natural resources are sustainably used and conserved.
- We are currently working toward Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Certification Program.
- More than 100 species have been identified on the Golf Course through a partnership with Bio-Blitz, a program where community volunteers visited the course to observe and identify wildlife.
- Storm water run-off retention pond and streams are tested for water quality at least twice a year.
- Vegetative buffer zones are maintained around all bodies of water to aid in water quality.
- Wildlife housing for birds and bats are installed and maintained.
- Natural turtle habitats created by fallen trees in multiple water bodies have been undisturbed.
- A concerted effort has been made to select insecticides that do not affect pollinators.
- We have grown and will grow more pollinator plots of wildflowers in the near future.
- Wildlife corridors are maintained. All wildlife is encouraged to move freely on the property.
- A recycle dumpster is kept and used at the Golf Course maintenance facility.
- There are six recycle locations on the course for golfers to use.
- A Minimum Level of Sustained Nutrient (MLSN) strategy is used to apply only what nutrients the plants need in order to prevent any excess. This is determined by soil testing.
- Hand watering and wetting agents are employed in order to reduce the amount of irrigation water is needed.
- Where applicable, Tif-Tuf Bermudagrass is used versus other varieties of grasses because of its drought tolerance ability that shows reductions of irrigation needs up to 50%. Tif-Tuf Bermudagrass was developed by the UGA turfgrass breeding program.
