Justin Timberlake is gaining some serious eco-cred with his new golf course in Memphis, Tennessee. The course opened on 25th July, the singer has invested $16 million into making it the “greenest” golfing destination in the U.S.
“Originally it was called Woodstock Hills, and it was the first place my dad taught me to hit a ball,” he said in recent interview. “And last year we found out they were going to auction it off and turn it into a development. So we thought it was such a landmark for the community, we’d scoop it and save it. And we did. We were able to before it was auctioned off.”
Though golf courses aren’t known for being especially environmentally-friendly, the 28-year-old artist has turned the newly renamed Mirimichi Golf Course into the “greenest” golfing destination in the US. It recently became the first project in the United States to receive the Audubon International’s Classic Sanctuary certification.
Irrigation and drainage systems reuse and maximize the use of rainwater; native grass areas and waste bunkers reduce the amount of property that must be maintained; more lake areas and recirculating streams support wildlife; and, instead of equipment sheds, a “Natural Resource Management Center” has a biodegradable treatment of rinse water.
Timberlake is also working to add a fleet of electric golf carts powered by solar panels — as well as a future LEED-certified clubhouse and food and beverage operations that use recycled and biodegradable materials. Eventually, Mirimichi hopes to become the world’s first golf course to calculate its own carbon footprint.
“After we had the golf course, we said why don´t we refurbish it and make it even nicer for the community. Then I asked questions about what we could possibly do, and we found out we could actually make it a ´green course,´” Timberlake said.
“So when it´s finished this summer it will be a Platinum LEED certified green course. The first in the United States of America, so that´s pretty exciting that you could take all that land and make it eco-friendly.“
