Lush green golf course with sand bunkers, a water fountain, surrounding trees, and buildings in the background under a clear sky.

Wildlife & Green Initiatives

We are proud of our certification as a Florida Green Lodging property, setting the bar for environmental conservation, operating a resort-wide recycling program and continuously evolving eco-friendly initiatives. As you walk, jog or bike along pathways of our eco-friendly Tampa resort, we invite you to take in the tropical landscaping and views that surround us.

Watch for the area’s colorful wildlife, from snowy egrets to alligators. Fragrant flowers complement the swaying palms and stately cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss everywhere you look.

The image shows a peaceful garden area with trees, plants, and a bench, situated between two beige buildings under sunlight, ending the sentence.

    How We Stay Green

    Saddlebrook and its affiliates, including Saddlebrook Preparatory School, the Saddlebrook Golf Academy and the Harry Hopman Tennis Program, offer a comprehensive, resort-wide recycling program that covers an array of materials from aluminum, paper and glass, to electronics and batteries. We are also actively pursuing a green-buying program to create a more hospitable environment for everyone.

    A scenic view of a golf course with a manicured green, surrounded by trees and water, and a clubhouse in the background.
    A person wearing white gloves is neatly stacking a pile of white towels on a table with a blue and gold patterned tablecloth.

    Saving Water on the Course

    Saddlebrook undertook a nearly $2 million renovation on our signature Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, which included the addition of an advanced irrigation system. This computer-controlled system uses only a fraction of the water required by a typical Florida golf course.

    Eco-Friendly Laundry

    The resort’s eco-friendly laundry facility features an extremely high-temperature wash cycle and uses only mild biodegradable detergents.

    A scenic view of a golf course with a manicured green, surrounded by trees and water, and a clubhouse in the background.

    Saving Water on the Course

    Saddlebrook undertook a nearly $2 million renovation on our signature Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, which included the addition of an advanced irrigation system. This computer-controlled system uses only a fraction of the water required by a typical Florida golf course.

    A person wearing white gloves is neatly stacking a pile of white towels on a table with a blue and gold patterned tablecloth.

    Eco-Friendly Laundry

    The resort’s eco-friendly laundry facility features an extremely high-temperature wash cycle and uses only mild biodegradable detergents.

    The image shows a white heron with outstretched wings flying over a body of water, with trees and vegetation in the background.

      Habitat Preservation

      Saddlebrook maintains exceptionally beautiful natural corridors, which not only enhance your experience here, but protect several plant and animal species indigenous to our area. This includes the great egret and the bald cypress tree, two key endangered species of flora and fauna that are fighting for a place in the local wetland ecosystem.

      A cozy bedroom featuring a large bed with white linens, brown accents, a wooden headboard, nightstands, lamps, and window shutters.
      A person is sitting in a golf cart, raising their right hand, with a scenic view of a golf course and a lake in the background.

      Active Climate Control

      With more than 40% of electrical energy consumption associated with climate control, Saddlebrook has installed active climate-control systems in our guest rooms and meeting facilities. Our conference center is computer-controlled to cool only the rooms that need it, at exactly the right levels. Similarly, when guest rooms are unoccupied, thermostats are turned down to a predetermined setting, which keeps the room fresh, but does not cool excessively.

      Electric Carts & Employee Transportation

      When it comes to guest room transportation, resort maintenance and golf course use, the majority of the carts in the Saddlebrook fleet run on rechargeable electric batteries. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also results in less noise pollution and a more peaceful resort experience. By using a model of central parking and providing bus transportation for our team members, we calculate that on average we save about 200 miles per day of cars being driven on the open roads.

      A cozy bedroom featuring a large bed with white linens, brown accents, a wooden headboard, nightstands, lamps, and window shutters.

      Active Climate Control

      With more than 40% of electrical energy consumption associated with climate control, Saddlebrook has installed active climate-control systems in our guest rooms and meeting facilities. Our conference center is computer-controlled to cool only the rooms that need it, at exactly the right levels. Similarly, when guest rooms are unoccupied, thermostats are turned down to a predetermined setting, which keeps the room fresh, but does not cool excessively.

      A person is sitting in a golf cart, raising their right hand, with a scenic view of a golf course and a lake in the background.

      Electric Carts & Employee Transportation

      When it comes to guest room transportation, resort maintenance and golf course use, the majority of the carts in the Saddlebrook fleet run on rechargeable electric batteries. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also results in less noise pollution and a more peaceful resort experience. By using a model of central parking and providing bus transportation for our team members, we calculate that on average we save about 200 miles per day of cars being driven on the open roads.