LINKS-STYLE BIRDING Results of the 1997 Ryder Cup Birdwatching Championship
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ON COURSE WITH NATURE LINKS-STYLE BIRDING Results of the 1997 Ryder Cup Birdwatching Championship. by RON DODSON Birders gather at the 16th green of Palsterbo Golf Club, in Sweden, to observe the annual migration of many bird species. On a single day, more than a quarter of a million migrating birds can fly overhead. E QUESTION started out as finally selected were members of the May 22 proved to be a tense day as "Where can you see the most Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Sys- birders called, e-mailed, or faxed in TIspecies of birds during one day tem and represented a variety of geo- their previous day's results. At day's in the spring - on golf courses in graphical areas and habitat. end, it was the United States that saw Europe or golf courses in the United Once final site selections were made, the most species, but with the handi- States?" It seemed like a simple ques- the birdwatcher teams had to be cap, the Europeans won the event. The tion at the time and one that might assembled. At first, the U.S. and Europe final count was 239 species for the generate some interesting information decided that there would be one bird- United States and 217 species for the as well. That's how the first Ryder Cup watcher per course. For the sake of Europeans. Birdwatching Championship was cre- companionship and a little bit of fun, it Aside from the enjoyment of every- ated in 1997. was agreed that the official bird- one involved in this lighthearted com- Since 1997 is a Ryder Cup year, David watcher could have up to three assis- petition, the event certainly showed Stubbs, Director of the European Golf tants in the field. that golf courses support a wide Association's Ecology Unit, and I Birdwatchers could spend up to 24 variety of species. For the European thought it would be fun to develop an hours on their assigned course record- count, 70 species were found on informal international wildlife compe- ing all of the species that could be four or more sites. A number of these tition to coincide with the Ryder Cup, identified. They had to see the bird species are listed as species of con- highlighting the relationship between species using only binoculars or iden- servation concern, such as the white golf and wildlife. Besides proving tify the species by their call. Telescopes stork, green woodpecker, and wood- that birds don't acknowledge political weren't permitted, and the bird had to lark. For the-Americans, a significant boundaries, we were interested in be identified while the birdwatcher was percent of the species identified were generating usable wildlife information standing on land that was under the neo-tropical migrants and birds from golf courses in both Europe and management of the superintendent of of prey. More importantly, on just the U.S. With those simple goals, we the gplf course. one day, on 12 golf courses, nearly established some equally simple rules Tne official birdwatching day was 30 percent of the total number of and defined the playing field. May 21, 1997.The sites were chosen; the birds found in the United States were The playing field consisted of 12 teams were ready; the rules were set. seen on the golf course competition United States golf courses and 12 But one final decision had to be made sites. That is an impressive accom- European golf courses chosen by the for this international rivalry between plishment! two team captains (Stubbs for the Europe and America. Since the United The first Ryder Cup Birdwatching European and Dodson for the U.S.). States is home to approximately 800 Championship was a great success. In The final site selections were based on species of birds and Europe has only some cases, it provided golf courses input from a wide variety of sources. In 500 species, the European team captain an opportunity for community involve- the U.S., USGA Green Section regional wanted a handicap. I thought that the ment, it provided additional informa- directors were sent a questionnaire site selection process and the whims of tion for each of the golf courses to announcing the event and given the weather would balance things out, but educate their golfers about golf course opportunity to nominate courses for the Europeans held out until we reluc- habitat, and, at the same time, it con- the competition. The courses that were tantly agreed to an 8-to-5 handicap. tributed to a number of very interesting SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997 17 questions and conclusions about the of what will become a series of inter- tive Sanctuary Program for Golf incidence of birds on golf courses. We national competitions that will benefit Courses. hope competitions iil the future will both wildlife and golf. Many thanks to And congratulations to the 'Euro- help to compile a stronger base of in- all the participants for their time and peans as well. Wait until next year! formation about bird species here and effort, and thanks to the golf course in Europe. superintendents for facilitating the RON DODSON captains another team in On a personal level, given the posi- competition at their golf courses, and Selkirk, New York, where he directs the tive responses from superintendents for their support and continued in- environmental activities and programs of and birders alike, we hope it is the first volvement in the Audubon Coopera- Audubon International. THE BIRDWATCHING RYDER CUP Golf Course Country Birdwatcher Total Species Valderrama Golf Club Spain Martin Jacoby 48 Club de Golf Ulzama. Spain Antonio Rodrigues Arbeloa 101 St. Andrews Links Trust Scotland Les Hatton 54 Golf Club Du Domaine Imperial Switzerland Wendy Strahm 61 Falsterbo Golfklubb Sweden Bjorn Malhagen 94 Golf Course Bled Slovenia Janez Gregori 44 Hensce National Golf Club Hungary Kallay Gyorgy 63 Birdland Golf Club Hungary Tibor Kelemen 63 San Lorenzo Golf Club Portugal Nuno Grade 67 Golf Des Fontenelles France Theophane You 39 Stuttgarter Golf Club Germany Michael Schmolz 58 Sarfvik Golfklubi Finland Jan S6dersved 75 Europe's Score - Species Recorded: 217.With Handicap: 347. UNITED STATES (Captain:Ron Dodson) Golf Course State Superintendent Birdwatcher Total Species Granite Bay California Jim Ferrin, CGCS Ed Whisler 61 Golf Links at Spanish Bay California Ted Horton, CGCS Don Roberson 50 (Roxayne Spruance) Stevinson Ranch Golf Club California George Kelley Jim Gain 67 Arrowhead Golf Course Colorado Ron Sherbert Scott Gillihan 42 Amelia Island Plantation Florida Ron Hill, CGCS Pat Rider (Christina Nelson, 69 Mike Taylor, Carol Wyatt) Prairie Dunes Country Club Kansas Stan George Max Terman 47 The Ivanhoe Club Illinois Peter Leuzinger, CGCS Steve Bailey 81 Eagles Landing Golf Course Maryland Joe Perry Catherine Waterhouse 94 (David Ciekot) Egypt Valley Golf Club Michigan Jeff Holmes, CGCS Gordon Van Woekrom 64 Schuyler Meadows Club New York Peter Salinetti, CGCS Charlie Rouse 67 The Club at Seabrook Island South Carolina Alan Pulaski Joseph E. Stevenot (Martha 73 Stevenot, Tom Hilton) Springhouse Golf Club Tennessee Shelia Finney Nancy Richardson 64 United States' Score - Species Recorded: 239. 18 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD.