Old Collier Golf Club

• Turf areas were limited to 77 acres, 35% less than the 90-130-acre average for golfcourses. Less turf reduces irrigation needs, nutrient run-off and maintenance costs.
• Salt-tolerant native vegetation, including sand pine, cabbage palm, salt meadow grass and wildflowers eliminates the need for irrigation, pesticides and fertilizers.
• Protective berms divert surface runoff away from the mangrove buffer and river.
• The low-pressure computerized irrigation system features 2,700 sprinkler heads (a typical course has 800-1,200), lower sprinkler angles, and soil probe analysis to apply brackish water only on turf grass, leading to a much more efficient use of water.
• Diffusers in lakes and wetlands provide oxygen to prevent fish kills, last longer and use 75% less electricity than fountains.
• Concrete cart paths were installed only in high use areas and on slopes; pervious concrete screenings that blend with the white sand are used elsewhere. Concrete lasts longer than asphalt, is 40-70F degrees cooler and is not petroleum-based.
• Golf course bridge surfaces, benches, trash cans, and water coolers are made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastics.

Challenge

The site is 3/4 mile from the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent to the Cocohatchee River, a designated Outstanding Florida Water. Permits required no degradation in water quality and that habitat for the threatened gopher tortoise be preserved. The area was under intense development pressure and had experienced water restrictions. There was no practical source of fresh water for irrigation.

Solution

Old Collier pioneered the tee-to-green use of two types of Seashore Paspalum, a native salt-tolerant turf grass that can be irrigated with brackish water readily available from the river. The landscape uses native plants that can survive without irrigation and chemicals while providing superior play asthetics. The course design connects habitat patches and edges to create wildlife corridors.

• Lower turf acreage saves $20,000/year in nitrogen application costs and reduces man hours, fuel consumption and machinery for maintenance.
• Irrigating at night saves $1,700/month in peak electrical demand charges and is more efficient with less misting and evaporation from wind and sun.
• State-of-the-art irrigation will last 5-8 years longer than a typical system.

• Proper siting, design, construction and maintenance are all essential.
• The involvement of Audubon International was key. Their approach fostered design and operations that improve the long-term health of the site and surrounding watershed through an integrated resource management plan, which required that each decision have an ecological benefit.

Role of the Landscape Architect

Served as project lead for Fazio. Incorporated sustainable design principles, including use of salt tolerant plants.