Dogs on the golf course Cancel The title field is required!

1. Spooner Scott R

   
   6/7/2011 7:06 PM

   Just curious because it came up in a discusion with my boss. How many Superintendents and Assistants take their dogs to work each day?
   
   How many facilites have dogs that are owned by the course to keep geese under control?
   
   My guess is that 30-40% of the courses out there have a dog or two that is there every day. What do you guys think?

   
   
   
   
2. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   6/7/2011 10:06 PM

   I think 60-80 percent of the homeowners dogs crap on the golf course...that's what I think.

   
   
   
   
3. Duncker John C

   
   6/8/2011 5:06 AM

   If I am at the course my cattle dog is also there. She does spend a fair amount of time in the air conditioned office. Some days I wish I was there with her.
   
   John Duncker
   Mount Vernon CC
   Alexandria, VA

   
   
   
   
4. Michael Wallace_4

   

   0 posts
   
   6/8/2011 6:06 AM

   My two labs are with me at least four days of the week. However, my homeowners are not allowed to have dogs on the course so I only take them out early morning. Very rarely do I they go out on the course during the day, sometimes when I am closed for maintenance. Most of my members know I have them here and are okay with it. My GM doesn't mind them being here. I am extremely cautious with them though, I had an accident around my shop a year ago this July that cost the life of one. They don't chase ducks or any of that, they just hang out in my office most of the day, better than them being home all day alone.

   
   
   
   
5. Campbell David

   
   6/8/2011 7:06 AM

   Our previous Superintendent would bring his German Shepard's out quite often. I have three dogs and they stay at home.

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   6/8/2011 8:06 AM

   Our dog stays at home, but if he keeps getting our dinner off the counter when my wife goes to pick up my son at summer school, he might be coming to work with me.
   
   When I lived at the course I worked at NJ, my dalmatian would ride around the course with me in the late afternoon, I let him off to chase geese once and after they flew off, he would go back and eat their poop. So he would just bark at them from his seat in the Mule.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. Spooner Scott R

   
   6/8/2011 10:06 AM

   Thanks for the replies. My question has a more personal note, however. My dog comes to work with me and has for all of her 6 years. I work at a city owned golf course and the word has come down that dogs are not supposed to be on parkland, so at the end of this week, she will have to stay home. We are trying to work out a deal where I will contract my dog to chase the geese (a function she does for free right now). We are thinking about a dollar a year. We were wondering if anyone else had a similar story or experience.
   
   Thanks for any insights.

   
   
   
   
8. Rundstrom Andrew

   
   6/8/2011 10:06 AM

   My mechanic and I both bring our dogs to work. His dog is a bit older and stays at the shop most of the time. However, my boxer/lab mix is always with me on the course (36 holes). The members love her, as she was trained on the course as a puppy. She is a runner so she needs to get out and run every morning, sometimes all 36 or more. I couldn't imagine not bringing her to work. She also motivates me on days I'm not all that motivated because she wants to go run and chase rabbits.
   
   Andy Rundstrom

   
   
   
   
9. Shelia Finney

   

   11 posts
   
   6/8/2011 10:06 AM

   I have a Border Collie, Toby, that has come to work with me everyday for 9 years. I got him for the geese. We don't have any anymore. I take him out in the morning when we are open and then he hangs out in the office the rest of the day. If we are closed for aerification he is out most of the day. I try to limit his contact with golfers just because Toby thinks everyone should play.
   
   The club doesn't pay for him, he is mine. But everyone is so used to him being here that if I leave him at home everyone asks where he is.

   
   
   
   
10. James Smith

    

    113 posts
    
    6/9/2011 10:06 AM

    I have owned Rhodesian Ridgebacks for the last 13 years and had brought my three to the course a lot (mostly at different times). My kids have never been a problem with the members and the youngest (now 10yrs) was very shy and would stay away from the members for the most part but was also trained very well. I could actually tell him to go get in the cart and he would run straight to it no matter how far (this is how I kept him away from the members). All of that pretty much ended when more and more members would bring their dogs to play golf with them, which caused my head pro to start making comments I did not like to hear about dogs being on a golf course so I stopped bringing them in with me. I still bring them in every once and a while but generally when I know I will not need to be on a piece of equipment or when I know it is not too hot for him.
    
    The big issue I see with bringing a dog to work with you is how he responds to strangers. All it takes is one member getting bit or snapped at to end the dogs world. As long as you dog has never growled or acted funny around strangers I see not problem with it but it is your responsibility as his owner to make sure the opportunity does not present itself.

    
    
    
    
11. McCallum David K

    
    6/9/2011 12:06 PM

    We have two shop dogs. The oldest is 10 yrs old and was adopted as a stray when a puppy a decade ago. About 5 yrs later she had one litter of puppies............13.........we found homes for all but the one that looked just like the mom and she has been around since then. Rotweiller & Lab mixes..........both very large. Members love the dogs...........our new GM not so much. They used to have the run of the course but now confined to the shop area during work days except for early morning runs.
    
    My assistance brings his Vizsla to work Monday-Friday and I bring my two Jack Russells 2-3 days a week. Nothing wrong with dogs at work

    
    
    
    
12. Justin Murray

    

    0 posts
    
    6/10/2011 8:06 AM

    I bring my two labs to the course pretty much everyday I am here. As most have mentioned, our members always ask when they do not see them with me. The youngest is 3 years and has grown up out here since he was 8 weeks old. Well behaved and stays on the cart if he needs to. For the most part they go out with me to do my morning rounds, let them run a bit and back at the shop for 8:00. Then they enjoy the air conditioned office until lunch time, once lunch is over they take naps until its time to go home.

    
    
    
    
13. Trevor Burlingame

    

    0 posts
    
    6/13/2011 1:06 PM

    My two setters come to the course with me every day. The 4 year old gets pretty much free run of the place, although she rarely wanders more than 100yds from me, but the puppy stays in the office unless I can keep an eye on him, which is rarely during the work day.

    
    
    
    
14. James Gubricky

    

    0 posts
    
    6/14/2011 8:06 PM

    My dog started coming to the course with me as a pup during construction. 6 years later, he still comes with me everyday. We don't have a problem with geese here, but he does chase off any of the neighboring dogs who like to pay us a visit.

    
    
    
    
15. Robert Vaughey

    

    0 posts
    
    9/18/2011 8:09 PM

    I have two dogs. One has been with me at four courses now, never a problem. The second I recently got and he is not a problem. Had dogs at private, resort and muni courses. I would say most people know my dogs better than me at this point. I have heard of dogs being on payroll but that has never been the case for me. I think if yo can show they are no issue amongst the golfers and serve a purpose on the course there should not be an issue

    
    
    
    
16. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    9/19/2011 9:09 AM

    My Welsh Corgi will not move a single muscle Monday-Friday, but come Saturday is at me heels in the morning waiting to go with me. I will bring her in if we have nothing major going on and let her ride with me. She has yet to come to work with me during the week as I feel this goes against our policy of no dogs on the course. We don't have water and therefor no Geese, so that excuse can't hold up here. I'm also skiddish of something happening to her around the shop or her accidentally causing trouble with someone.
    
    That being said, if you have a dog that you use to eradicate Geese on the course, she should be treated as any other employee since that is her job. She should also be compensated to a point by the club for her care and well-being. However, ground rules need to be written to prevent any mishaps and to limit interaction with the golfers.

    
    
    
    
17. McCallum David K

    
    9/20/2011 1:09 PM

    Andy I totally agree with a dog that does not mind or misbehaves........a lot like peoples children.....they never notice the actions of bad behaved children or dogs. If your club has no written policy banning dogs I see no reason not to allow them in the shop or on the property with the superintendent.........have had a dog around the shop for most of my 34 yrs in the business.