Written by: Daniel Venditti
2024
Naturalized areas throughout the golf course span more than 60 acres. Native areas provide numerous benefits, including wildlife habitat, reduced maintenance costs, and water conservation. We mow our native areas twice a year to help control weeds and support consistent wildlife. Minimal chemicals, irrigation water, and cart traffic are used in these areas.
Our native zones also help prevent soil erosion on steep hills and stabilize pond banks. Additionally, we maintain a native buffer around ponds that acts as a natural biofilter—reducing stormwater flow, filtering out sediment from surface water runoff, and preventing nutrients and pesticides in the runoff from reaching surface waters.
Milkweed, ironweed, and other wildflowers thrive in all our native areas, playing a vital role in supporting Monarch butterflies. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants, and their caterpillars consume the leaves to develop toxins that deter predators.
