Indian River Club In Vero Beach, FL

Indian River Club’s Golf Course Architecture

Because of its unique proximity to the great Atlantic Coastal Ridge the golf course at Indian River Club's 120 acre Certified Signature Sanctuary also offers a truly rare cross-section of four distinct and natural environments. The western quarter of the golf course features beautiful stands of old-growth pines; the mid-section has a very genuine 'Old Florida' look and feel with white sugar sand, large clear lakes and marshes; the eastern quarter has hammocks of old oaks and towering sand pines; and holes #5 and #6 play along the ancient coastal sand ridge dunes with elevations up to 48 feet.

416 yards, par four, 5th Hole - Indian River Club

Pictured here, the 416 yard par four, 5th hole at Indian River Club takes advantage of the natural high rolling terrain of an ancient coastal sand ridge known as the "Atlantic Coastal Ridge, with elevations up to 50 feet above the nearby seashore. Photo by Ken E. May

Indian River Club celebrates 20 years of Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Certification

In 2015 Indian River Club celebrates 20 years of certification status by Audubon International, only the second certified Signature Sanctuary in the world to reach that goal. Indian River Club maintains its Signature status through an environmentally focused management program that measures efforts in five categories: Habitat Enhancement, Waste Management, Water Conservation, Energy Conservation and Wildlife Conservation. The goal of that management program is to provide a community of lasting value and beauty for its residents and club members in a healthy and sustainable natural environment.

As part of their continuing involvement in the Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Program at Indian River Club the golf course superintendent and his crew continue to maintain many projects including:

• Using reclaimed water from Indian River County and St. Johns River Water Management to irrigate all of Indian River Club's golf course and residential properties.
• Performing regular silt and soil testing for monthly and annual reports; recycle all machine oil and all water used to clean equipment.
• Conserving water by hand treating dry areas as needed. Proper water management also reduces the opportunity for disease development.
• Using only slow-release organic fertilizer on the golf course turfgrass.
• Following an Integrated Pest Management program (IPM), which is the reduction (not elimination) of chemical usage on the golf course.
• Planting and maintaining aquatic plants in the lakes and native grasses that act as buffers around the water perimeters. These provide fish and waterfowl food and nesting cover and act as a filtering buffer system for storm water runoff.
• Maintenance of Indian River Club's 13 acre preserve of Scrub Oak and Hickory that was set aside for the Florida Scrub Jay and resident Gopher Tortoises. This area is maintained with regular trimming regulated by Lake Masters and by using signage and fence to prevent golfers from entering. This special fence has also been designed to allow rabbits and foxes to pass underneath.
• Significant emphasis is placed on allowing for or retaining naturally occurring standing dead trees as an important habitat component within the golf course environment. These standing dead trees provide nesting habitat for primary cavity nesters, such as woodpeckers, which in turn provide nesting and shelter habitats for secondary cavity nesters, such as bluebirds, wood ducks and owls.
• The Pelican Island Audubon Society also conducts a monthly "Bird Walk" at Indian River Club and has done so since the start of construction. Members and residents are encouraged to participate. A spotting guide based on birds actually seen on site, is distributed to participants.

"The members appreciate the steps necessary to maintain Indian River Club's Signature certification status," said superintendent Bobby Wallace. "We're stewards of the environment. We have more than 3,000 species of plants and animals that live at Indian River Club and our membership is proud of what we do."

394-yard, par four, 6th hole - Scrub Jay

While playing this hole with Florida Golf Magazine, Architect, Ron Garl stopped to identify a Gopher Tortoise in front of the tee-box. Also built on the ancient coastal sand ridge known as the "Atlantic Coastal Ridge, the natural setting of the back tees of the 394-yard, par 4, sixth hole, named “Scrub Jay,” is surrounded by Indian River Club's 13 acre preserve of Scrub Oak and Hickory that was set aside for the Florida Scrub Jay and resident Gopher Tortoises. Scrub Jays and Gopher Tortoises are both endangered species. Photo by Ken E. May.

Audubon International

Since 1991, Audubon International has worked with properties and businesses to provide third party verification that those businesses have taken measures to reduce their impact on the environment. When golf course managers agree to and adhere to specific guidelines governing water conservation and quality control, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, and chemical use reduction, courses become eligible for designation as certified facilities.