Salmon-Safe Golf Course Certification

Protect water quality and provide wildlife habitat through innovative golf course operation

Photo Credit: David Phipps

Co-presented by Stewardship Partners, Salmon-Safe golf course design and management standards represent a new level of environmental certification for Northwest golf courses

Piloted with leading Oregon and Washington golf courses, Salmon-Safe Golf focuses on operation and ongoing management golf courses, but also provide guidance for new facility upgrades within existing golf courses. The project is a collaboration between Salmon-Safe and our Seattle-based implementation partner Stewardship Partners, with significant input from the Northwest golf industry.

Download Golf Standards PDF (5.3 MB)

Qualifying Candidates

  • + Golf course owners and superintendents interested in designing, constructing, operating and managing golf courses in a manner that protects watersheds and enhances fish and wildlife habitat.
  • + Golf sites in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia

Certification Process

1

The Salmon-Safe process for golf courses begins with a day-long site assessment including habitat enhancement, irrigation efficiency, stormwater management, IPM and water quality protection, and stream and wetlands area management.

2

The assessment is conducted by an independent 3- or 4-member team that typically includes an expert in golf course design and operation as well as a university IPM professional, stormwater expert, and a salmon biologist or other restoration ecologist.

3

The Salmon-Safe team also reviews management policies and documents and provides guidance related to environmental management of facilities and grounds.

4

Certification of golf courses is valid for 5 years with annual verification of progress in meeting any recommendations from the Salmon-Safe assessment team.

Interested in Golf Course Certification?

Fill out this form if you’d like to be Salmon-Safe Certified for Golf Courses.

A project lead will reach out to you as soon as possible.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Salmon-Safe Golf is co-led by Seattle-based Stewardship Partners

Featured Projects

Druids Glen Golf Course

Covington, Washington (Puget Sound watershed)

Tumwater Valley Golf Club

Tumwater, Washington (Puget Sound watershed)

Willows Run Golf Course

Redmond, Washington (Sammamish River watershed)