The American Society of Golf Course Architects has announced the honourees for its 2021 Environmental Excellence Awards.

Renovation projects by Forrest Richardson and Jeff Danner at Anchorage Golf Course in Alaska, by A. John Harvey at Crystal Mountain Resort in Michigan and by John Sanford at Sailfish Sands Golf Course in Florida have been recognised for addressing unique environmental challenges.

“It’s great to see the unique projects recognised through the Environmental Excellence program each year,” said the new ASGCA president Jason Straka. “I congratulate these facilities and the cooperative efforts from operators and golf course architects to improve the environmental landscape. The long-term prospects for each to remain sustainable and profitable is increased by this work.”

The projects have produced a wide range of environmental benefits for the various clubs, including less carbon emissions, reduced turf footprint, habitat restoration, healthy forest development, reduced use of chemicals and improved drainage.

On his Sailfish project, Sanford said: “We made sure that the improvements made to the golf course would not only address sustainability from a maintenance standpoint, but also provide a great experience for players of all ages and skill levels.”

The Environmental Excellence Awards program, presented by Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, was introduced in 2019 to recognise innovative work being done at golf facilities to address the needs of the environment, where golf course architects work with course owners and operators to make a positive impact on the game and the host community.

Submissions are reviewed by golf industry and environmental leaders, including representatives of GEO Foundation, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and National Golf Course Owners Association.