by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
In October 2008, in an effort to improve the quality of water discharged from Sanibel’s golf courses, the City Council adopted a list of nutrient management recommendations.
These recommendations provide specific guidance for golf course managers on reducing fertilizer use and improving water quality in their golf course lakes.
Since their adoption, city staff have worked closely with each golf course to provide technical assistance in implementing these recommendations.
A report card is provided annually to each golf course to help track progress and guide implementation of the city’s recommendations. The report card uses a point system to evaluate performance.
On September 28, 2022, Sanibel – and naturally its golf courses – was devastated by Hurricane Ian’s unprecedented storm surge and category 4/5 wind speeds. In 2024, storm surge once again impacted the golf courses during three different storm events: Debby, Helene, and Milton.
To allow golf course staff to focus on their recovery, the city put the Golf Course Report Card program on hold for the last three reporting years (October 2022-September 2025).
However, Natural Resources staff met with each golf course superintendent to discuss the challenges each course has faced and observe the progress they have made during recovery.
Additionally, Natural Resources staff informed the courses that over the next reporting year, the plan is to return to the typical scoring format.
The Dunes, the Sanctuary Golf Club, and the Sanibel Island Golf Club each showed a few minor areas that could use improvement, such as turf loss and high salinity in some lakes, but overall, the reports were good.
Sanibel Island Golf Club changed ownership in September 2025. City staff had the opportunity to meet with the new owners and superintendent and to explain the Golf Course Report Card Program. The meeting was productive, and the new owners were receptive to the program.
Leave a Comment