This Place Has Gone To The Dogs

Taking a dog to work is a privilege that many Superintendents around the world have embraced. Since the game of golf as we know it was forged in St. Andrews, it has always been encouraged to keep dogs on the course.

Greenkeepers and their dog at the Old Course, St. Andrews. 1880's

Dogs provide a number of very beneficial additions to any golf course. Warding off wildlife including geese, deer, marmots and bears; providing protection for the course. A well trained friendly dog provides a happy wagging greeting to golfers who may need a break from the struggles that the game can often present us. Perhaps most importantly from a superintendents perspective is: helping to keep his (or her) sanity. Man's best friend can naturally provide uplifting spirits, through goofyness, respect and courage; I guess that's where the moniker comes from.

Meet Sam, she is a 3 year old Coon Hound/ Boxer mix who I adopted a year and a half ago. Sam is a happy go lucky dog who when at full flight is often confused for a greyhound. Her athleticism is an excellent tool to chase off geese and other wildlife that cause damage to the course or danger to the people on it. She is a golf course dog in training but has already figured out that she is not allowed on greens or in bunkers. Sam responds very well to voice commands, especially if treats are involved. She has learned not to approach golfers unless they approach her or call her over.

In the two weeks Sam has been working at the course the geese have vacated to the farmers field adjacent to the clubs property. She has made friends with many of the golfers who somehow knew to carry doggy treats in their bags. If Sam has one weakness, it is food. Being part Coon Hound does not help as she has a very keen sense of smell and can be drawn to someones bag, looking for a tasty snack

Unfortunately for Sam, it is often the displeased minority and not the pleased majority who speak out. One person recently wrote a complaint, saying a golf course is no place for a dog and that there are bylaws that prevent this. I am fairly certain that there are no such bylaws as they suggest, at least none that I could find on any City or Regional website.

For the past 10 years the former Superintendent and former Assistant have had their dogs on the course here at Kamloops G&CC. There was just recently a front page article published in the Kamloops This Week newspaper about a local colleague and his golf course dog. http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com. I also recently came across an article in the New York Times, yes the New York Times! talking about dogs on the golf course.http://www.nytimes.com Here is a blog by another colleague, entirely dedicated to his golf course dog. http://viewfromthecart.blogspot.ca/

I don't think I need to go any further in providing evidence that Superintendents bringing their well trained dog onto the golf course is common place. But for the time being I have been asked by the powers to be, to leave Sam at home unless the geese return to the course. If you feel that a golf course is a great place for a friendly well trained dog, please take the time to voice this opinion. Whether to the powers to be, or just a discussion amongst your group. I know Sam would certainly appreciate it.


In other news on the course, we are planning to keep the course open up to and including November 11, weather permitting. We have again been blessed with some nice weather, although creating frost delays for both golfers and workers in the mornings, warm sunny afternoons make the Kamloops Golf Club a great place to be. The Turf Care Team has been busy preparing the course for winter and we will only be busier now as our staff has been reduced to 3 people while the leaves are really starting to fall.

While picking up the leaves will carry on, we have just received our fall fungicide and will be spraying the Greens, Tees, and Fairways once the course is closed. Another major year end task is a heavy topdressing of the greens to protect the crowns, (or growing point of the turf) from winter dessication. We are also planning so cover some of our high and dry fairway areas with our old permeable greens tarps, helping to provide protection and give us a head start on keeping these areas healthy in the spring. We will be blowing out our irrigation system next Monday, October 28th. You can expect tee times to be delayed until at least 11am, and watch out for irrigation heads that may still be getting blown out while you play your round. Rescheduling your Monday round would be advisable!

We are excited to see that the Club has signed up over 65 new members and counting so far this year. Our team has worked extremely hard this year, and had some help with some nice weather. We feel humbled to see so many new people wanting to play our product and be a part of the Club. We strive towards continuing this trend, and hope to see more new faces in the coming months. So maybe I am wrong in saying "this place has gone to the dogs."