Golf course first to meet Audobon International and LEED standards

Are you a LEED AP itching to play golf on a course that behooves your accreditation? Look no further: entertainer Justin Timberlake’s Mirimichi public golf course, near Memphis, Tenn., has earned the first Audobon Classic Sanctuary certification from Audobon International, an environmental education organization. The course will open July 25 and when completed, will have a LEED-certified clubhouse and a fleet of solar-powered golf carts.

The $16 million project was undertaken by Timberlake and his family with the goal of reconstructing the golf course (once known as Big Creek) to be eco-friendly, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal . The course has irrigation and drainage systems to re-use rainwater, a re-circulating stream system to support wildlife and water quality, and a natural resource management center for biodegradable treatment of rinse water.

As part of the Audobon Classic Sanctuary program, the course also restored natural habitats to conserve wildlife and integrate the course into the surrounding environment while minimizing energy, water, and maintenance costs.

In a time when some celebrities find it hip to be green , Timberlake put his money where his mouth was by purchasing the golf course and renovating it to the standards set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council and Audobon International.

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