In Audubon International's BioBlitz, Southwinds Golf Course received the Community Engagement Award (1st place) for the second year in a row, with a total of 225 participants. The golf course team created an interactive bee-themed BioBlitz for kids and BioBlitz themed cocktails for the adults. "Our team is extremely environmentally conscious, and as a result, endeavors to engage all in our golfing community in environmental stewardship," said Sharon Painter, Southwinds Golf Course Manager. "Not only do we try to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility, but we can also empower folks from our youngest junior golfers to the most senior to take meaningful actions that contribute to the health and sustainability of our golf course and planet." Painter added that this year's installation of beehives creating honey from plant sources on the golf course has spurred a "buzz" in the community through positive awareness. Honey sales have gone beyond the reach of the golf course and are also a focal point in Southwinds' summer junior camps and clinics. Now in its eighth year, the Audubon International BioBlitz is a free, annual species-counting competition designed to showcase the environmental value of the natural habitats found on golf courses. Participants such as golfers and their families, youth groups, community members, and local environmental experts gather to enjoy nature while counting plant and animal species located on each property. For more information, visit www.auduboninternational.org/bioblitz. Southwinds Golf Course is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and is located at 19557 Lyons Road in Boca Raton. For more information on county-operated golf courses, visit www.pbcgolf.com.
Audubon International is an environmentally focused non-profit organization that offers members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play. Its certifications are designed to increase environmental awareness, encourage sustainable environmental efforts, and educate both its members and their communities.
