The Pusch Ridge Golf Course closed its fifth season of golf on May 17, 2026, since its reopening in 2021.  And each season proved to be more rewarding than the previous, improving rounds of play, league participation, grounds improvements, and financial profitability. 

But something new sparked additional interest in the course during the 2025-2026 season, when it became a member of the Audubon Certified Sanctuary Program (ACSP) for Golf Courses. 

This season’s Audubon efforts focused on protecting the environment, preserving the natural heritage of golf, promoting environmental sustainability, and gaining recognition for those efforts, all goals set by the ACSP.

After hearing about the project work at the season-ending golf tournament on April 17, 2026, Mayor Joe Winfield asked to tour the course on May 15, 2026.  Impressed to learn that a volunteer had completed a full plant inventory of the course, he wanted to know more.  He learned that a wildlife and bird inventory  was continually being updated by another volunteer, along with a record of the birds observed on the course every month. These efforts support the requirements for certification as an ACSP golf course.  The course is well on its way to certification, with several completed projects, and the mayor witnessed them during his tour.

First stop on the tour was the bulletin board and large Audubon banner displayed in the pro shop.  The bulletin board  with photos taken by golfers and neighbors of birds and wildlife spotted on the course, educational materials about butterflies, and materials inviting volunteers to participate in the many projects.

On hole #1 he saw a recently installed cactus garden, labeled with new signage for each cactus for educational purposes.  He saw one of two beautiful wooden signs touting the course’s membership in the ACSP program. The second of these signs is on hole #2, visible to public traffic along El Conquistador Way as well as to golfers.  These signs were donated by ACSP Resource Advisory Group members DeeAnn and Peter Leuzinger and Dan Talsma and his wife Jeannee Yermakoff.  

On holes 2-6 and 8 newly installed Lucy’s Warbler Nest boxes are visible in the trees surrounding the course PHOTO, and Flycatcher and Owl nest boxes are built and ready for installation on the course soon.  These nest boxes are being placed around the course with advice from an expert from the Tucson Bird Alliance and should promote and enhance environmental sustainability by providing new nesting options for birds of many species.  

On hole #5, known affectionately to golfers as that “darned water hole,” new pollinator plantings can be found around the perimeter of the pond. And between the pond and the cart path leading to hole #6 the first of two butterfly gardens have been planted.  There are plans to enhance this butterfly garden with additional landscaping when funds are available.

The second and larger butterfly garden is found on the right side of hole #6 where new plantings are intermingled with already established pollinator plants.  These newly planted areas are cordoned off to protect the plantings and establish new out-of-bounds or free-drop areas for golfers.  

The mayor expressed his pleasure at seeing so many environmental enhancements to the Pusch Ridge course, the ultimate compliment being that he brought his wife along for the tour.

Touring the facility doesn’t perhaps capture all the volunteerism that has been exhibited throughout this past golf season with Audubon certification in mind.  

The Resource Advisory Group (RAG), led by General Manager of El Conquistador Golf Darryl Janisse, has met monthly since its inception in June of 2025.  The RAG’s responsibility is to lead the project work necessary to complete the certification process.  This group, made up of Janisse, Rosalyn Epting, Director of OV Parks and Rec, and members of the board of The Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf, as well as two additional volunteers, didn’t work alone.  Scores of volunteers helped with the plantings, landscape enhancements, plant watering, bird nest box construction, research, and documentation.

Certification has six (6) separate environmental components, and PRGC has successfully submitted documentation for two, with two additional components ready for submission.  

What remains will require additional time and effort by the agronomy team of El Con Golf as chemical use and water treatment are involved. These components are best left to the professionals.   The RAG hopes to reach full certification during the 2026-2027 golf season.

The RAG has set up a website where volunteers and community members can submit questions, photos, and interests. Please email puschaudubon@gmail.com.  And if you care to make a donation towards the project work, press the button below!