Neshanic Valley Earns Environmental Recognition

NESHANIC VALLEY GOLF COURSE RECOGNIZED BY

UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION

FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

NESHANIC STATION, NJ – The Somerset County Park Commission Neshanic Valley Golf Course is the subject of a nationally distributed feature article by the United States Golf Association recognizing the facility for environmental consciousness. The article is available at: http://www.usga.org/news/2010/April/Neshanic-Valley-Making-A-Difference/

Neshanic Valley has earned two significant environmental recognitions, certified as an “Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” by the Audubon International program and recognized as a “River-Friendly Golf Course” by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA).

Neshanic Valley was the 24th course in New Jersey and the 704th in the world to receive the Audubon honor and the second “River-Friendly Golf Course” in the main stem Raritan River area. The Park Commission’s Quail Brook Golf Course in Somerset, New Jersey was the first to receive this recognition.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.

To attain certification, a course must demonstrate a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas including Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.

The Neshanic Valley wildlife sanctuary features bluebird boxes throughout the venue and all the holding ponds have been stocked with bass and grass carp with fishing prohibited. Park Rangers have assisted prospective Eagle Scouts with wildlife projects; one scout built 15 bluebird boxes and another constructed wood duck all along the river. There are also five purple martin boxes and bat houses that the staff created.

The “River-Friendly” designation was based on operational and maintenance practices recommended by the NJWSA “River Friendly” program. Actions at Neshanic Valley resulted in the reduction of the contribution to non-point source pollution and improvement of the wildlife habitat on and near the course.

Green Knoll, Spooky Brook, and Warrenbrook golf courses are also adhering to the tenets of the program with official recognition expected in the near future.

In addition, for the past two years, the course has been formally recognized for Environmental Stewardship by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Native fescue and environmentally sensitive areas encompass a little more than a third of the property. Signs posted throughout the course prevent golfers from entering environmentally sensitive areas (ESA), while carts are forbidden from the non-irrigated fescue areas, which by the middle of the season add a golden touch to the meadowland-style layout.

“Protection of our environment and our natural resources are of primary concern throughout the Park Commission,” stated Darrell Marcinek, Director of Golf Maintenance. “The staff at all five of our golf courses fully understands the importance of these programs and work every day to assure compliance with the responsibilities set forth.”

County-run Neshanic Valley has hosted sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Amateur Public Links and will be a sectional qualifying site in June for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links

Neshanic Valley Golf Course, named the 36^th Best Municipal Golf Course in the United States by Golfweek magazine, is located at 2301 South Branch Road in Neshanic Station and provides an all-inclusive golfing experience with a 27-hole Championship Course, a 9-hole Academy Course, the Learning Center, and the Callaway Golf Performance Center.

The state-of-the-art Learning Center includes a double-ended driving range with grass and mat hitting areas, a 12,000 square foot putting green, a practice facility including bunkers and three chipping greens, and two practice holes.

The Callaway Golf Performance Center at Neshanic Valley, the only facility of its kind on the east coast, offers a state-of-the-art computerized golf club fitting and swing analysis system, operated by Callaway-trained professionals.

Information on this event and other Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org