Fishtales Magazine: A Sailfish Point Publication - Magazine - Page 4
Fishtales
All About Our Bees & Butter昀氀ies
Scott MacPhee, Director of Golf Course Operations, led the e昀昀ort to obtain Audubon Cooperative
Sanctuary Program (ACSP) certi昀椀cation at Sail昀椀sh Point. We started the process in 2016 and by
May 2019 the club certi昀椀cation. This program promotes and recognizes the highest standards
of environmental stewardship by golf courses. Sail昀椀sh Point is one of 113 Golf Courses in Florida
and 898 in the world to hold the title of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary title through the
Audubon International Program.
The ACSP certi昀椀cation process is both rigorous and extensive. Certi昀椀cation requires training
in environmental sustainability and speci昀椀c techniques for ensuring environmental quality.
Practices enhance existing natural habitats and promote wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
For example, out-of-play shorelines are naturalized with emergent aquatic and shoreline plants,
with special attention to shallow water areas since wildlife is most abundant when shallow
water includes such vegetation. Native plants are used for the vast majority of landscaping
trees, shrubs, and 昀氀owers, excluding turfgrass, and landscaping is designed to minimize habitat
disturbance and fragmentation.
One of the key components of ACSP certi昀椀cation is safety. Golf courses can signi昀椀cantly limit
chemical applications by following best maintenance practices. Proper mowing heights, aeration,
irrigation, and related techniques improve nutrient balance, organic content, soil compaction,
and water in昀椀ltration, which in turn reduces the need for chemicals. Diseases and pests are
continuously monitored and managed through mechanical biological, or targeted chemical
