But Sebonack isn’t a winner just for its beauty. The club also scores for its commitment to the environment.“During course construction, we used a special process of clearing the trees so we wouldn’t disturb the topsoil. That created a healthy growing medium for grass,” explains Mark Hissey, Vice President of Sebonack, which opened in 2006. The club also follows an integrated turf health management plan, whereby the least amount of fertilizers and chemicals are used (and only those meeting Cornell Cooperative Extension’s stringent safety guidelines).

To foster a sustainable environment, Sebonack removed non-native plant species that were taking over the grounds and replaced them with plants native to the East End, thus minimizing water and pesticide use. “It also increased the scenic beauty, because the new plants attract a diverse range of animals and birds,” notes Hissey. To protect Long Island water systems, Sebonack lined its greens with high-density polyethylene, to ensure that any fertilizer runoff is trapped and treated, instead of seeping into the ground water or bay. It’s only the third golf course in the country to adopt this practice.

The club also gave new meaning to driving on the green when owner Michael Pascucci replaced Sebonack’s entire fleet of golf carts with 40 solar-powered ones. “The manufacturer, SolarDrive, said it would reduce electrical consumption from our traditional carts by two-thirds, but it’s been even better,” says Hissey. The move helped Sebonack win the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Club Environment Award in 2008. “We’re proud we’ve taken the lead in showing that golf courses
are great custodians of the environment,” says Hissey. “It’s the
right thing to do for the environment, and it also makes great economic sense.”

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