Green Life

Arlington Golf Course Awarded For Going Green

ARLINGTON (CBS 11 News) ― Golf courses generally get a bad rap for using too much water and chemicals to keep the grounds green, but one North Texas golf course is proving to be an exception. Tierra Verde Golf Club in southwest Arlington is now being recognized by the state for its conservation efforts.

Mark Claburn is the course superintendent and the man behind the plan. He explained, "It's important that they understand what we're about here, so they can understand our mission and maybe they'll appreciate it more once we communicate it to them."

The theme at this city-owned course is conservation, from the dense natural habitat and wildlife corridors to composting and water-saving efforts. "It is very quiet," said golfer Lambert Lopez. "So much wildlife out here. You'll see bobcats, coyotes, it's just incredible."

"Also, down the road, it's very sustainable," Claburn said. "We're having a low impact on the environment. We are trying to preserve, for the City of Arlington, this native area. Also, at the same time, be very budget conscious, because this is very cost effective for us, doing what we're doing."

The course uses natural fertilizer, brews their own bio-fungicide to control weeds and saves grass clippings for composting. "It will actually save us money in the long run, because we're not going to buy compost," Claburn said. "We're going to use this compost as it's done."

These techniques are so rarely seen on the golf course that the state has chosen Tierra Verde Golf Club for its prestigious Lone Star Land Steward Award. This is the first time that a golf course has been given this recognition.

"We are doing our part to make Texas a little bit better," Claburn said, "and hopefully by communicating that to everybody, they are making their little part of Texas better, too."

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