Creatures Great and Small find A Safe haven At LaPlaya Golf Club

Birdies. Eagles. When playing golf, these terms often refer to golf strokes but at LaPlaya Golf Club they refer to a few of the course's hundreds of wildlife species co-existing with the daily bustle of golf members. LaPlaya Golf Club takes measures above and beyond the typical golf club to ensure these creatures flourish in their natural environment while maintaining an award-winningcaliber golf course.

Brian Beckner, a Class-A Golf Course Superintendent at LaPlaya Golf Club, was recently touted for his life-saving efforts of a baby Red-tailed hawk causing local and national media to take notice. This was not Beckner's nor his staff's first time saving a fledgling's life; in fact, he has been just as focused on harnessing the golf course's indigenous animals as much as he has been aerating the greens.

"We've hosted the same family of Red-tailed hawks for five years now," comments Beckner. "The seventh hole at LaPlaya has been home to many generations of the same family and they have chosen to keep the same nest for the past four years, they keep rebuilding it. Just this past week we witnessed this year's fledglings learn to fly. That is not something you see every day as you're lining up a putt."

During Beckner's past 11 years at LaPlaya Golf Club he has witnessed a venerable sanctuary of birds including Wood ducks, Bald Eagles, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Osprey, Bluebirds, Screech and Great Horned owls, Purple Martins, and Nuthatch. In addition, the course is home to many Box turtles, Gopher tortoises, Soft shell turtles, fox, bobcat, and of course, the popular alligator. LaPlaya has worked with a local agency, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, to assess injuries and evaluate the animals' potential for recovery. Local rental agency, United Rental, has often provided the lifts in order for Beckner and staff to rescue animals from high tree limbs.

"Our course is a great example of how one of man's long-standing sport traditions can co-exist with nature, and when cared for properly, through best management practices for the golf course and environment, can even serve to further the lives and corridors for those animals," adds Beckner. LaPlaya posts sixteen cedar bird houses throughout the course, with different species-specific styles, allowing the animals a place to nest and burrow. "We have learned that good landscape encourages good wildlife habitat. We're just trying to do our best to make everyone feel right at home, whether it be a golfer, indigenous wildlife species or migrant bird."

LaPlaya Golf Club is an exclusive private golf club featuring an 18-hole links golf course designed by Robert Cupp. The course is a 6,900 yard, par 72 golf course with five sets of tees to meet every golfer's ability. LaPlaya Golf Club was recently rated #1 top Florida Golf Resort by Conde' Nast Traveler April 2011 and 2012.