The Pete Dye golf course at Hampton Hall in greater Bluffton has been certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
The certification, granted Jan. 3, is awarded for land dedicated to the conservation of biological diversity, according to a news release. The project at Hampton Hall spanned 50 acres and involved removing exotic and invasive vegetation. It also provided wildlife habitat along water bodies, including more than 80 nesting boxes for wood ducks and Eastern blue birds, the release said.

The release cited Matt Sapochak, golf course superintendent, for achieving the Audubon certification, as well as club members Mike Rambo and Annette and Mike Hausman.