A New Pathway to Nature and Golf

NATURE AND GOLF may seem incongruous, but at Arbor Day Farm a way has been found to link the two for the benefit of all. Last fall a new, innovative trail was completed that connects Lied Lodge & Conference Center to ArborLinks Golf Course. The 1.2-mile footpath has been named the Conservation Trail and takes guests past demonstration areas such as the hazelnut research area, alley cropping, the fuelwood forest, a gorgeous clonal walnut grove, heirloom apple trees, the preservation orchard, and other educational sites.

The trail meanders over the natural lay of the land and is constructed with a material that uses native soil mixed with a small portion of concrete and water, which is rolled smooth. It makes the trail broadly accessible, while its natural color blends nicely with the surroundings. “It opens up the farm to more guests,” says Austin Mackrill, vice president of Arbor Day Farm. “It’s like opening new chapters in a book. The trail connects two world-class properties in a natural way.” Austin also reports that guests have already told him it is their favorite trail. And it’s no wonder. As the trail winds its way along the edge of woodlands, fields and farmland, visitors often spot wildlife such as deer, raccoons, opossums, wild turkeys, and an amazing variety of other songbirds.

The trail ends at ArborLinks, a 300-acre, award-winning golf course privately owned by the Dormie Network. Guests at Lied Lodge have golfing privileges at the course and can even arrange to use an electric golf cart along the trail to go to and from the course. This partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation offers yet another educational opportunity. The Arnold Palmer Signature course showcases the site’s natural landscape and incorporates environmentally friendly practices such as the use of native grasses and trees, bioengineered creek banks, wildlife habitat protections, and other features that have helped make it one of Nebraska’s top 10 golf courses and the country’s first conservation-designed course.

Austin invites visitors to hike, bike, or walk to explore the new trail. He says, “It connects our guests to nature and broadens their outdoor experiences. This has the power to enhance each individual’s quality of life and connect him or her to the Arbor Day Foundation’s mission, which is having a global impact in so many ways.”

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Original article published by Arbor Day Foundation.