A vibrant hub for education, conservation, and connection, Denver Botanic Gardens (the Gardens) has long been a cherished destination in Colorado. This month, the Gardens takes on an even more meaningful role for the Colorado golf community as the host site of the CGA Women’s Golf Summit on Saturday, February 28—an annual gathering designed to educate, inspire, and connect women leaders from across the game.
Beyond serving as a stunning and welcoming venue, Denver Botanic Gardens is also a key partner in one of the CGA’s most forward-thinking initiatives: advancing sustainability and environmental stewardship at CommonGround Golf Course.
As urban areas continue to expand, preserving and restoring wildlife habitat has become more important than ever. Golf courses represent some of the largest remaining green spaces within cities—making them uniquely positioned to support conservation efforts. Recognizing this opportunity, Denver Botanic Gardens partnered with the Colorado Golf Association and CommonGround Golf Course in 2022 to help enhance native plant communities and wildlife habitat at CommonGround Golf Course, which spans Denver and Aurora.
Led by Associate Director of Climate Resilience Rebecca Hufft, Ph.D., staff and volunteers from the Gardens began the partnership with a comprehensive floristic survey of the property. Since then, the team has implemented innovative, low-cost restoration techniques that work within the realities of an active golf course.
Using existing golf course equipment to lightly harrow and aerate soil—rather than extensive ground disturbance—the team planted native forb seed mixes with minimal site preparation. The results have been encouraging: several native species have successfully germinated and persisted for three growing seasons, even without aggressive weed removal.
CommonGround is already home to deer, coyotes, hawks, and other wildlife, but the goal of the partnership is to significantly increase native plant diversity—especially flowering plants that support pollinators.
“Pollinator observations showed that even with minimal native forbs introduced, there was a rise in bee and other pollinator visits,” Hufft explains. “Surprisingly, even with the overall low density of plants that emerged from the seeding treatment, there was still a significant increase in pollinators observed relative to the unseeded plots.”
These findings demonstrate that even modest, affordable efforts can make a meaningful environmental impact. The techniques being tested at CommonGround offer a scalable model for other golf courses looking to improve habitat while maintaining playability.
In 2025, the partnership expanded further with the launch of a native prairie project at CommonGround, exploring different turf removal and maintenance strategies to restore native grasslands. Ongoing monitoring will help guide future plantings at CommonGround and beyond, including similar research planned at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms.
This important work makes Denver Botanic Gardens a fitting and inspiring host for the CGA Women’s Golf Summit. Held annually, the Summit brings together women from CGA clubs across the state for education, conversation, and connection.
Event DetailsLocation: Denver Botanic GardensDate: Saturday, February 28Cost: $45/attendee (includes breakfast and lunch)
Tournament Management Software (Golf Genius) – Justin Scott
Rules of Golf – CGA Staff
Club Roundtable Discussion – CGA Staff
Mental Performance Coaching – Janet Ruma Moore
Keynote Speakers
Denver Botanic Gardens overview and partnership insights
Attendees will enjoy a full day of learning in one of Colorado’s most beautiful settings—surrounded by the very conservation work that reflects the future of the game.
The partnership between Denver Botanic Gardens, the CGA, and CommonGround Golf Course highlights what’s possible when golf, science, and community come together with a shared purpose. From pollinator habitat to leadership development, the impact reaches far beyond the course.
Registration is now open. Invite your friends and club representatives to attend.
Together, we’re growing a stronger, more sustainable future for golf—one course, one community, and one conversation at a time.
