Volunteers of all ages gather on golf courses for species-counting competition

Nearly 1,000 volunteers visited golf courses worldwide to participate in Audubon International’s 5th annual BioBlitz. This event, sponsored by the United States Golf Association (USGA), provides a unique opportunity for golf courses to engage their community members in activities designed to showcase and record the abundance of wildlife found on their course landscapes.

Participating courses went above and beyond in their outreach and environmental stewardship efforts. Participants also competed for awards in community engagement, biodiversity and best photograph.

Photograph from Applewood Golf Course’s 2019 BioBlitz Event. (Photo: Brit Stueven)

Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International, said, “Audubon International’s annual BioBlitz is a great way for golf courses to create an awareness among society of their wildlife habitat value, especially in urban locations. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for community members from all walks of life to meet and learn about nature while getting outside and having fun.”

Individuals volunteering to take part in the search for plant and wildlife species at their local golf course included a remarkable combination of men’s, women’s and junior golf league members, scout troops, local birding groups, club members, golf course employees, community members from surrounding neighborhoods, entire families, school children and other nature enthusiasts. Over 5,400 species were recorded during this year’s BioBlitz.

Southwinds Golf Course in Boca Raton, Fla., received the community engagement award with a total of 271 participants. Key to its success was both a lady’s night out and a junior BioBlitz session that included crafting animal masks and birdhouses along with the hunt for wildlife. The Southwinds club house joined in by featuring a wildlife-themed drink menu throughout the week of the event.

Park Ridge Golf Course in Florida and Arrowhead Country Club in Illinois came in second and third place, respectively, for community engagement.

Winning photograph of the red fox from Southwinds Golf Course, in Boca Raton, Fla. (Photo: Cheryl Glick)

The award for best photograph also went to Southwinds Golf Course, for a photograph of a red fox on the course. Sharon Painter, Southwinds’ general manager, said, “We make it a priority to educate our golfers of all ages about the habitat our golf course provides to the diversity of species that call Southwinds Golf Course home.”

Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston received this year’s biodiversity award with 576 species identified on the course. Deborah Repasz, BioBlitz volunteer coordinator from Bay Oaks, stated, “We could not have had this number without the help of my fellow Galveston Bay-Area Texas Master Naturalists. We participate in BioBlitz to track the increase and decrease of species in the area while also hosting a fun event. Some were surprised to see what a golf course can support in flora and fauna. It isn’t all mown grass, sand, trees and water.”

A close second and third place for biodiversity go to Naples Lakes Country Club in Naples, Fla., with 508 species sighted and Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club, in Palm City, Fla., reporting 456 species.