Bandon Dunes’ Sheep Ranch gains ACSP for golf certification

The Sheep Ranch at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is now a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf course, according to Audubon International.

Opened during the summer of 2020, Sheep Ranch — a Ben Crenshaw-Bill Coore design with nine green sites hovering on rugged cliffs above the Pacific Ocean — keeps the popular southern Oregon resort’s ACSP for Golf certification streak intact. Beginning with Bandon Trails and the par-3 Preserve course in February 2011, continuing with Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes in June of that same year, Old Macdonald in July 2016, and now Sheep Ranch, the resort’s six courses account for nearly a third of the 19 ACSP for Golf certified venues across the entire state.

“Over the past two decades, Bandon Dunes has not only changed the landscape of American golf, it has also set a high standard for stewardship in its state and across the nation,” Audubon International CEO Christine Kane said. “From Day One, owner-developer Mike Keiser and his incredible crew of superintendents and agronomists have cultivated a culture of environmental awareness and sensitivity that’s second to none. Sheep Ranch’s certification continues an admirable trend at a very high-profile and respected resort.”

To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in six main areas: environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water quality management.

“The certification in our minds brings more awareness around the topic of being environmental stewards and how golf courses can actually work in harmony with the natural environment,” said Ken Nice, the resort’s senior director of agronomy. “It's a great program and we’ve loved working with Audubon International. They have a love and appreciation for nature, something that we feel golf agronomy teams also resonate with.”

More information about how your local golf course, community, or resort can gain recognition for your environmental efforts, as well as about how to expand initiatives through Audubon International’s numerous environmental certifications, is available online.