Bonterra Vineyards, the official wine of The PGA of America and the best-selling wine made from organic grapes in the U.S., is helping golf courses across the country become “greener” through a partnership with Audubon International.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program guides courses in environmentally friendly practices, from increasing wildlife habitat around the golf course to finding natural ways to reduce pesticide and water use.
Through the end of the PGA season in mid-November, Bonterra will cover the $200 registration fee for the first 100 U.S.-based golf courses that join ACSP during the designated time period.
Valhalla Golf Course, home to the 2008 Ryder Cup, is the first course to step up to join Bonterra’s “Greening the Green” effort.
“Partnering with Audubon International was a natural fit for us. Bonterra uses a lot of the same water management and habitat strategies at vineyards that Audubon International recommends for its golf program,” said Don Freytag, global brand director for Bonterra Wines. “What’s good for the Earth is good for the Earth, whether you are producing award-winning wines or playing on an award-winning golf course.”
Roughly 13 percent of the nearly 16,000 golf courses in the U.S. are currently enrolled in the ACSP program, which focuses on six main areas: Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management, Outreach and Education.
“We’re always excited to see new interest in our program and even more excited to see leaders in the industry like Valhalla step up to join,” said Jessica DesLauriers, development manager for Audubon International. “We’ve received a great response from golf courses that are already enrolled in our program and found that benefits like increased wildlife only add to their members’ golf experience.”
