Competition documents large diversity of species living on golf courses
(Troy, New York) – Audubon International – the environmentally focused non-profit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play — invites golf courses of all kinds and sizes to take part in the 10th annual BioBlitz competition open from June 1-July 1, 2026. The friendly competition offers courses the opportunity to identify the diverse species of flora and fauna thriving along their fairways though a one-day event for friends, family, members, and employees. Audubon International will announce the winners later this summer.
With support from Seed King Enterprises LLC, the event provides a unique opportunity for golf courses to engage their community members in activities designed to showcase and record the abundance of wildlife thriving on golf landscapes in a wide range of natural settings. Audubon International provides all participating courses with a detailed handbook about holding a BioBlitz as well as personalized assistance from staff members.
In last year’s BioBlitz, a committed and passionate collection of nature lovers gathered at courses across the United States and beyond, from Canada to Costa Rica. Local participants included club members, golf course employees, community members from surrounding neighborhoods, entire families, school children, and other nature enthusiasts.
The 2025 winners are strong testament to the breadth and variety of participants. Glencoe Golf Club, a Chicagoland course established on the North Shore of Lake Michigan in 1921, won first place in the Community Engagement Award after two third-place finishes in previous years, while central Michigan’s family owned and fully public Ironwood Golf Course took the Biodiversity Award, with participants tallying 409 species on one day. The award for Best Photograph went to Naples Lake Country Club in Naples, Florida, for member Mike Powers’ stunning shot of an Eastern Blue Bird with Golden Polypod on Sabal Palm.
“As we strive to embrace and integrate all of the standards set forth by Audubon International, Outreach and Education is a standard that carries on beyond the golf course grounds,” said Stella Nanos, Glencoe’s General Manager. “Bio Blitz helps to convey the importance of milkweed, pollinator gardens, wildlife trees and other environmental features that support habitat for insects and wildlife. Our goal is to have every patron learn something about the benefits of the golf course to the environment and hopefully carry some of that education back to their own gardens.”
Golf courses can enter the 2026 BioBlitz competition here.
To learn how to expand initiatives through Audubon International’s numerous environmental certifications, visit www.auduboninternational.org or call toll free: 1-844-767-9051
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About Audubon International
An environmentally focused non-profit organization, Audubon International offers members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play. Its certifications are designed to increase environmental awareness, encourage sustainable environmental efforts, and educate both its members and their communities.
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