SCHERERVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- Golfers whose shots go astray at a northwestern Indiana golf course might find it hard to get back on course - and that's exactly how operators want it.

The Briar Ridge Country Club, which straddles Schererville and Dyer, is leaving sections of land alongside its greens unkempt and boosting recycling in an effort to be certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, a level of conservation set for golf courses.

Erwin McKone, Briar Ridge's director of golf operations, said the goal of the designation is for golf courses to be seen as valuable green space.

Steps the course has taken include spreading grass clippings in the rough and leaving tall plant life to surround water hazards. The plants act as filters and deter Canada geese.

The course is also recycling water it uses to wash vehicles, filtering it and then returning it to a nearby ditch.

McKone said he wants to reduce pollutants that spill into the ditches.

"Everything on this property eventually works its way to Lake Michigan, where 10 million people derive their drinking water," he said.

Other steps include cutting back on pesticide use and encouraging staff to "cart-pool" from their work site to the maintenance area for breaks and lunch instead of riding their equipment.

McKone said the course has completed most of the Audubon requirements and is now focusing on outreach and education. He said he hopes students will someday take field trips to Briar Ridge to study the plant life, animal habitats and conservation methods.

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Information from: The Times, http://nwitimes.com

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