MNN - Mother Nature Network

Justin Timberlake's Mirimichi golf course in Tennessee may be just under a year old, but the recognition for its sustainable elements is quickly making it the envy of others around the world.

 

The latest honor came just last month when Mirimichi was recognized as the first golf course in the Americas to receive the Golf Environment Organization's "GEO Certified" status. According to the release, the designation signifies that "Mirimichi has met comprehensive and advanced sustainability requirements, and uses them to both drive continual improvement, and communicate the back-story behind their success."

 

Only nine other golf courses in the world carry the certification. Even the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews, has yet to be considered!

 

"Environmental sustainability is about more than what we do at our course," Timberlake said in a statement. "It is about taking a leadership role and encouraging other golf courses, and organizations of all kinds around the country and around the globe to emulate our commitment toward making a positive impact on the world we live in."

 

As MNN reported earlier, Timberlake scooped the golf course up at an auction several years ago; saving the green space from certain development. He then proceeded to invest some $16 million in its revitalization — all the while molding it as a national model of environmental stewardship for the sport.

 

When it was launched last summer, the course became the first in the country to to be designated as a certified Audubon International Classic Sanctuary.

 

To find out more about its green qualities — or to book a day out on the course, jump here.