The land occupied by The Golf Club at Newcastle has come a long way. It is hard to imagine that a construction waste landfill once occupied the spot where today the 350-acre Oki Golf property holds forth with sweeping panoramic views of Lake Washington, Mt. Rainier and the city of Seattle.
According to the golf course’s superintendents, Scott Phelps and Trevor Broersma, it is not enough to simply sit back and appreciate the expansive green. Their vision is to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and the surrounding community.
To accomplish this, Phelps and Broersma have begun to take the required steps to complete the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) certification, an award-winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect the environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf.
Boy Scouts of America Troop 499 visited The Golf Club at Newcastle in March to help install 25 bird houses and to learn about the species of birds that will inhabit the wooden dwellings. Hugh Jennings, of the Eastside Audubon, dropped by the golf course with volunteer assistants to conduct a bird count and inventory.
“It’s our goal to show the community we are committed not only to golf, but also to the environment and preserving this beautiful outdoor space,” Broersma said.
The Golf Club at Newcastle features two championship, 18-hole public courses (Coal Creek and China Creek), extensive practice facilities and a 44,000-square-foot clubhouse. The club also stewards 22 acres of native grassland, 12.5 acres of freshwater wetlands, ponds and lakes, and 102 additional acres of undisturbed areas that include shrubs, conifer forests and mixed grassland and treed areas.
“Creating and preserving wildlife areas are on-going efforts we will enrich every year,” said Phelps, who sees himself as a strong advocate for the environment and Boy Scouts of America. “We continue to add wildlife areas, upkeep the established areas and improve upon them with high standards such as those set forth by Audubon International.”
Phelps and Broersma hope to secure the ACSP certification by mid-May.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.
To learn more about The Golf Course at Newcastle, visit www.newcastlegolf.com.
