Westminster’s Walnut Creek Golf Preserve is celebrating two decades of environmental stewardship. For 20 years, the golf course has maintained certification as an Audubon Signature Sanctuary by Audubon International. The honor recognizes the golf course’s efforts to protect and conserve the natural landscape of the course at 10555 Westmoor Drive, in addition to prioritizing water conservation, wildlife habitat management, outreach, and education.
“We're very proud to count Walnut Creek Golf Preserve among our members," said Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International. "They made environmentally sustainable golf course management an integral part of their operating principles long before it became an accepted option. Their leadership has already brought many benefits to their community over the past 20 years and will continue to do so long into the future."
To reach certification in the Signature Sanctuary Program, golf courses must maintain a high degree of environmental quality in several areas. Westminster’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Libraries Tomás Herrera-Mishler said the golf course is managed in a way that complements the surrounding landscape without disrupting nature.
“Golf is not often associated with the concept of harmony with nature, but that is exactly what we are striving for at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve,” he said. “This beautiful playing experience is nestled into ribbons of Colorado Front Range prairie. The course is tucked into the natural landscape to provide a high-quality playing experience for golfers while providing high-quality habitat for birds, pollinators, and much more.”
Walnut Creek Golf Preserve is one of 96 courses in the world to be designated as a Certified Signature Sanctuary. Through participation in this program, Walnut Creek Golf Preserve has been involved in numerous environmental projects, including conserving energy and reducing water use, utilizing integrated pest management techniques, naturalizing areas, and managing resources in an environmentally responsible manner.
Paul Sibley, Golf Course Superintendent for Walnut Creek, says it takes careful planning and dedication to maintain the course in a sustainable manner. The course is managed using the City’s Natural Resources Management Plan as well as site-specific efforts to lead the way in environmental stewardship of the ecosystem.
“These guidelines offer us the opportunity to manage our facility in an efficient and environmentally sustainable manner using science-based practices, which not only benefit the golf course, but everyone in the community that the golf course serves,” Sibley said.
Audubon International is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to helping create environmentally sustainable environments where people live, work, and play. The organization provides certification programs for golf courses, hotels, businesses, communities, and new developments. Recertification for Walnut Creek’s Signature Sanctuary status occurs every three years, as the course continues to be an example of sustainable recreation.
“The golf course is a model for meeting the recreation needs of our human residents while making sure it remains welcoming and healthy for all,” Herrera-Mishler said.
To learn more about Westminster’s golf courses or to book a tee time, visit https://www.westminsterco.gov/ParksRecreation/GolfWestminster or download the Golf Westy app.