The Penn State Golf Courses has recently partnered with Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant and Sustainability Institute to remove 300 to 400 trees from the courses while keeping sustainability a top priority.

The golf courses hired a tree removal company that began work this spring, and the Sustainability Institute will work closely with the golf courses to begin a phased replanting process, which is all part of Penn State Athletics’ Facilities Master Plan.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will also help Penn State to restore those spaces left by torn down trees by potentially installing pollinator gardens or using the spaces as natural habitats for wildlife.

“We started working with [the Sustainability Institute] a while back when we were looking at our own recycling efforts in the clubhouse and around the golf courses,” general manager of Penn State Golf Courses Joseph Hughes said in an interview with Penn State. “This is just a partnership that is continuing to grow.”

Hughes mentioned that the golf courses are going to continue thinking about how these decisions to potentially alter the courses would impact the environment. His staff will consider more opportunities to implement other sustainability initiatives, too.

Both the Blue and White Courses are now open for play this spring. More information on rates and tee times can be found at the courses’ website here.