THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS – The Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course at The Club at Carlton Woods, located in the gated enclave of Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, has retained its designation of “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, an Audubon International Program. Eric Bauer, Director of Grounds at The Club at Carlton Woods, led the effort to maintain sanctuary status on the course, according to William E. Langley, CCM, Vice President of Club Operations for The Club at Carlton Woods.

“The Nicklaus course at The Club at Carlton Woods first achieved the designation of ‘Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary’ in 2004 after the course had only been in operations for a short time period. The Nicklaus course is one of only 795 courses in the world to receive this honor,” stated Langley. “The Tom Fazio Championship golf course at The Club at Carlton Woods also achieved this same designation in 2009.” The Fazio Championship course is located in the gated community of Carlton Woods Creekside in The Woodlands.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. "The Club at Carlton Woods has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs. "To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas.” These areas include: environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water quality management. Courses go through a recertification process every two years.

The Nicklaus course was named the #3 Best New Private Course in America and the #1 Best New Private Course in Texas by Golf Digest in 2001; Top Private Course in the Greater Houston Area by the Houston Chronicle in 2002; ranked the #2 Best Private Course in Texas by The Dallas Morning News in 2006; and the #44 Best Residential Courses by Golfweek in 2009.

After its opening, the Fazio course was recognized as the #2 Best New Private Course in Texas by the Dallas Morning News in 2006; #3 Best New Private Course in America and the #1 Best New Private Course in Texas by Golf Digest in 2007; and the #73 Best Residential Courses by Golfweek in 2009.

Both the Nicklaus and Fazio course are for play by members of The Club at Carlton Woods. Carlton Woods is one of only two gated communities in the United States to offer a private Nicklaus/Fazio combination.

For more information, contact:
Susan Vreeland-Wendt, (281) 719-6174
svreeland@thewoodlands.com
or
Lorrie Parise, (281) 719-6344
lparise@thewoodlands.com

The Woodlands is a 28,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc

The Woodlands Development Company
(281) 719-6300