The Country Club at Mirasol has retained its designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP), an Audubon International program. To reach certification, course personnel must demonstrate they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality Management.
Mirasol was initially awarded the designation in 2012 and this is the third recertification the community has completed. Audubon International particularly commended the club for preserving the natural heritage of the area by protecting the local watershed and providing a sanctuary for wildlife on their golf course property.
General Manager/COO Matt Lambert said, “Our membership cherishes the natural beauty and abundant wildlife found throughout our community and preserve areas, and we are fortunate to have a dedicated staff, led by Golf Course Maintenance Director Michael Thomas, that takes enormous pride in being great stewards of the environment.”
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP) is an award-winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves an important environmental role worldwide.
For example, since joining the program, members reported that, on average, the percentage of natural shorelines around golf course water features jumped from 30 percent to more than 70 percent, providing more wildlife habitat, filtering runoff, and controlling erosion. Ninety-six percent reported using pesticides with a lower toxicity level since joining the program and more than percent have mitigated risks through the program as a result of improved management practices.
The Country Club at Mirasol is proud to be one of 862 courses in the world to receive the honor, not only because of the environmental achievements of this course but because of the model that it now represents to its surrounding community. It helps tell the story that good environmental stewardship leads to more sustainable communities.
About Audubon International
Audubon International is an environmental organization dedicated to educating, assisting, and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. In addition to golf courses, the Audubon International also provides programs for schools, businesses, communities, and individuals. For more information, contact Audubon International, 46 Rarick Rd., Selkirk, NY 12158, USA, (518) 767-9051, e-mail them at acsp@auduboninternational.org, or visit their website at www.AudubonInternational.org.
About Mirasol
Mirasol is a gated community of 1,170 homes located north of PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens. The Country Club at Mirasol is a member-owned, private country club community whose purpose is to create uniquely satisfying golf, tennis, recreational, and social experiences for residents, their families, and guests in a welcoming atmosphere with outstanding personalized service and fiscally responsible management. Mirasol has been awarded Platinum Club of America and Distinguished Emerald Club of the World status, is a designated Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and hosted the PGA’s Honda Classic from 2003-2006. For more information, visit www.MirasolCC.com.
