Okatie, South Carolina (May 5, 2025) – Oldfield Club, a private, member-owned club in Okatie, South Carolina, has retained its designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. Oldfield has been an Audubon "Neighborhood for Nature" and a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Golf Course” since 2004, and a “Certified Audubon Sustainable Community” since 2018. After designation, courses go through a recertification process every three years.
Oldfield Club is one of over 900 courses in the world to hold the "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” honor. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Central America, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive our recertification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary,” said Oldfield Club General Manager Gautam Patankar. “Leanna McMillian, Community Naturalist, and Thomas Davis, Director of Agronomy, lead this initiative and ensure that the golf course staff is carefully monitoring the standards set forth by Audubon to maintain the certification. Being one of a small handful of golf courses in South Carolina with this distinction is something we are very proud of.”
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program participation is designed to help course personnel plan, organize, implement, and document a comprehensive environmental management program and receive recognition for their efforts. To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas, including: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. Highlights of Oldfield Club’s ongoing conservation efforts include:
- Wildlife Conservation Activities: Oldfield promotes strong habitats throughout the property to ensure wildlife can survive, thrive, and reproduce. This includes maintaining a bird rookery on site, installing bird nesting structures across various golf holes, and preserving environmentally sensitive areas and vegetation corridors.
- Water for Wildlife: Oldfield practices environmentally sensitive maintenance around all surface water and encourages the growth of littoral and emergent vegetation around golf ponds, which supports aquatic life and bird species.
- Water Conservation & Water Quality Management: Oldfield Club has invested in advanced tools like the Pogo moisture meter and an on-site weather station to guide precise irrigation decisions. The agronomy team also applies wetting agents and growth regulators, performs irrigation audits, and regularly monitors system efficiency.
- Chemical Use Reduction & Safety: Through soil analysis testing, Oldfield’s agronomy team is able to make informed, targeted decisions for pest and disease treatment. They also prioritize healthy turf management with proper mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and compaction practices.
- Education & Outreach: Oldfield proudly displays Audubon signage and offers educational brochures in the pro shop. They’ve also launched a honeybee program and continue to host an annual Golf BioBlitz, encouraging member involvement and environmental awareness.
For more information on Oldfield Club and community, visit www.oldfield1732.com. For more information on Audubon International, visit www.auduboninternational.org.
About Oldfield
Located along the banks of the Okatie River, Oldfield is “Lowcountry Living. Perfected.” Oldfield, an Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community, offers an array of amenities for residents and members, including an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course; Sports Club with cardio and strength training equipment, heated lap pool, large outdoor pool, wellness and nutrition clinics, and tennis and pickleball courts; and an Equestrian Center. Oldfield’s Outfitters Center provides a comprehensive offering of outdoor activities including fishing, boating and boat storage, shooting sports, kayaking, and nature programming, which capitalize on the community’s outdoor lifestyle. The River Club is the community’s centerpiece for dining, relaxing and conversation, affording members and guests with panoramic views of the marsh and river. T
About Audubon International
Audubon International is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization dedicated to providing people with the education and assistance they need to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for individuals, organizations, properties, new developments, and entire communities.
About Troon
Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon, manages Oldfield’s golf operations and agronomy, the Equestrian Center, Sports Club, Outfitters Center, food & beverage, and membership marketing, as well as Oldfield’s community association. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 940-plus locations in 45-plus states and 40-plus countries, including operational responsibility for 575-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports,CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com