St Johns Golf & Country Club - owned by Florida-based developer the St Joe Company and managed by Billy Casper Golf - has been designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

Audubon International says St Johns is one of five courses in the Jacksonville area to achieve certification, one of which is the TPC course at Sawgrass. More than 90 per cent of BCGs 111 courses are enrolled in the Audubon programme

The award certifies St Johns' success in maintaining sound environmental practices in: environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction, water conservation, and water quality management.

“Through our work with Audubon International, our maintenance staff acutely understands the ecological impact of the course on our surroundings,” says St Johns’ superintendent Michael Stevens. “We're providing golfers with healthier playing experiences while preserving wildlife habitats for future generations.”

Opened in 2001 and carved out of pine forest, the 7,236 yard St Johns course was designed by South Carolina-based architect Clyde Johnston.