The second -- a par 3 Redan with no mow areas out of play.

Tillinghast's Somerset Hills may be the pure example of "The Course Beautiful." Aside from its great design and classic setting, Somerset Hills in Bernardsville, NJ was one of the first golf courses to be certified by Audubon International as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Some may look at the golf course and see nothing more than the features that make golf -- thetee, fairway bunkers, hazards and greens. Others may see the Course Beautiful as a living thing and asset to the community. For Somerset Hills Country Club, achieving Audubon International Certification was a major accomplishment and a credit to good environmental stewardship.

The certification process was a multi-year process and team effort by the Club's membership, Green Committee, Green Superintendent Bob Dwyer, Assistant Superintendent Rick Krok and Green staff. Somerset Hills first joined the Sanctuary program in 1996 and achieved certification in November of 1997. Through the certification process and the bi-annual recertification process in 2000, 2002 and 2004, this writerserved Somerset Hills as Assistant Green Superintendent and actively participated in the various programs entailed in achieving and maintaining certification.

Blue bird box and tall grass frame this view of the third.

Creating no-mow or corridors of tall grass reduced green maintenance costs and enhanced habitat for wildlife. These areas require little maintenance and no irrigation. They provide corridors for small animals to move throughout the golf course grounds creating habitat and protection from predators. The success of establishing blue bird boxes and other nesting habitats reduces the population of mosquitoes and other insects that dine on golfers and walkers as we try to enjoy the outdoors. This natural insect control reduces or eliminates the use of insecticides on the golf course, which can be very dangerous to non-targeted species, animals and humans alike.

The par 3 twelfth is nestled alongside a pond thriving with wildlife.

The rough is allowed to grow up along select areas of this pond, which provides habitat for birds and animals and filters water runoff reducing pollutants. Maintaining and assessing water quality is a major program in achieving audubon certification.Regular water testing helps in monitoring water quality.

The tall grass adds beauty to a fairway bunker.

Tall grass can be visually pleasing in the right place. It also provides a transition zone for wildlife to access the wooded areas on the property. Although wild shots may lose a golf ball, the beauty of nature adds much more to the playing of the game.

The rough on fifteen fairway transitions to tall grass.

The no-mow areas are strategically placed to be out of play except for the most wild and errant slices, hooks and tops. The contrasting colors and contours created by the tall grass add beauty and framing of Tillinghast's golf holes. In the fall and early winter, the no-mow areas can be cut down to promote new growth in the spring.

 

The view from the 17th tee -- over the quarry and to the fairway.

Legend has it that the old quarry fronting the tee on 17 was filled in the 1950's sometime. It is believed that Tillinghast may have been trying to copy the great quarry holes found on Merion's finishing holes. By naturalizing the quarry on 17, Tillinghast's original design intent may have been restored.

Nesting bird box in woods.

Bird boxes in the woods are well out of sight of the golf course but increase nesting habitat resulting in more varied bird sightings on the golf course.

 

A bat box in the woods.

Wildlife is nocturnal and perhaps spooky to some, but the presence of Bats at night enhances the natural habitat and helps keep the flying insect population down.

Lone Blue bird box in the tall grass on fifteen.

Blue bird boxes are strategically placed in out-of-play areas. They provide nesting habitat primarily for eastern bluebirds, chickadees, wrens and tree swallows. The bird boxes are monitored on a regular basis and a count of the young fledged by species is recorded. A continual monitoring is required to evict house sparrows which are very territorial and aggressive and will push out the more desirable song birds. At the end of each season, the boxes are cleaned in anticipation of the spring return.

Purple martin house within sight of the clubhouse.

One of the most difficult song birds to attract is the purple martin. Each spring the yearling males return early from the south looking for a place to nest. The key is to attract these young males to a new box. The box needs to be strategically placed in an open field close to water. They are not afraid of men and some say that a house can be established close to man made buildings and structures. Once martins take to a new a nesting house, they will establish a new colony that will return every year. The beauty and song of the purple martin is one of nature's splendors.

Fifteen Green is framedby native woodlands and a scenic creek.

The superintendent gives life to the golf course, and the golf course give life to the environment In maintaining a healthy environment on the golf course wildlife returns the favor by maintaining a healthy ecosystem. In balance, the golf course and the ecosystem are a harmonious relationship. When out of kilter, the impact can devastate with species overpopulation, disease, starvation and habitat destruction. Maintaining equilibrium with simple adjustments and sound practices can result in an optimal enviroment for all to enjoy.

A Great Blue Heron on 12 pond.

At the end of a round of golf, the golfer often reflects on his round and the shots of the day or the ones that got away, but another lasting memory may be of the Great Blue Heron hunting on the pond, the red fox dancing across a fairway or the red-tail hawk gliding overhead. In looking back over the course from the terrace at Somerset Hills, one can reflect on the synergy of the golf course and nature beautiful.

About the Author: Doug Paluck is President of Douglas Paluck & Associates a company that provides its clients with the services needed to achieve and maintain the Sanctuary Certification awarded by Audubon International. Doug Paluck can be reached by e-mail at DPaluckAssociate@aol.com