Dogs and the golf course

[Foxglove]

I see that the Seilachan states that henceforth dogs are not allowed on the golf course unless on a lead. This is bound to be unpopular with local dog owners as the course is one of the few places a dog can run free without bothering livestock. Does anyone know the legal implications? Can dogs be banned?...

[NickB]

.
According to both the Ramblers Association and the Law Society of Scotland the right to roam only includes the right to cross a golf course, providing you avoid interfering with anyone playing golf and also stay off the greens, and keep dogs on short leads. This suggests that the golf club committee's decree is in accordance with the law. It is a pity that the irresponsible actions of one or two dog owners have caused them to take this stance, but I can't blame them.

[MonaLott]

If they're serious, it'll be a good start if they stop those who maintain the course and greens from having their dogs running wild.

[novus ordo seclorum]

[quote="MonaLott"]If they're serious, it'll be a good start if they stop those who maintain the course and greens from having their dogs running wild.[/quote]
Agree with you on that.
I walked my dog on the course this afternoon and came across a leading member of the golf club (surprisingly not wearing his usual shorts today ) playing by himself as he often does. Guess what; his dog was loose and roaming !
If the greenkeeper and his two dogs, and the most active member and his dog cannot set the example then don't expect anyone else to follow the guidance.
[b]Guidance is all that it is (dogs on short lead); its not law[/b].
The claim is that dogs are damaging the greens......there is no damage on the greens caused by dogs; I checked.
The damage is on the fairways and it is caused by golfers pulling their golf trolleys over the saturated ground and by their footprints. Most golf courses close when conditions are so bad that damage may be caused by playing as now.
.......
At the root of this is one petty minded committee member. He tried to get dogs totally banned a couple of years ago over a mythical faeces problem.
I guess he was told then that you cannot ban a dog, only the owner, and if he tried that then the golf club could face some horrendous legal bill.
He's obviously off on one again (must be what is called the "grumpy weather" which has set him off).
If he continues his wee campaign against dogs and their owners he may well be surprised at the cost of fulfilling the golf courses health and safety legal measures for it is an area accessible to the public.

[MonaLott]

Don't agree, nos, loose dogs on the golf course are a real nuisance (to many human and canine locals) and they do cause damage and foul the place. Keep 'em on a lead and pick up after 'em, I say! Plus there are a few new dog-owners afoot who have no concept of respect for the course.

[Gavin Rae]

Nos

Was never great at Cluedo but have successfully identified the first three out
of four characters in your post !!

Any further clues to satisfy my curiosity !!!

[Foxglove]

Will be interesting to see what transpires..the dog owners will not back down easily I think. I'm sympathetic to the 'poo' situation though, owners should clean up after their dogs, and many around here dont.

[novus ordo seclorum]

[quote="MonaLott"]Don't agree, nos, loose dogs on the golf course are a real nuisance (to many human and canine locals) and they do cause damage and foul the place. Keep 'em on a lead and pick up after 'em, I say! Plus there are a few new dog-owners afoot who have no concept of respect for the course.[/quote]

Mona, agree about the fouling.
However, in my experience, the regular dog walkers are very conscientous about clearing up. How you can see where your dog(s) are pooping when you're driving the grass cutting tractor or concentrating on your putting is a different matter.....its not the dogwalkers who were responsible for not clearing up the messes.
............
As for nuisance. Again, in my experience, the long time walkers are very good at keeping their dogs under control so they don't disturb the glofers. Agree about some recent arrivals though. All that's needed is a quiet word.
.............
Any sensible club committee would have had a quiet word with those people who are, allegedly, allowing their dog to damage the greens, not cause insult to the whole dogwalking community with a blunt statement in the seileachan.
...............
This is down to one retentive bloke who has an anti-dog agenda....a couple of years ago, on the course, he was very rude to me about dog fouling, totally exagerating the problem and claiming a certain area was strewn with poos. We walked over there; there were none! That's tells you a lot about the way his mind works.

[Foxglove]

Who? give us a clue?

[Tony the Toad]

'Poos' and 'pooping'?
What is this? A kindergarten? For heaven's sake people, talk like adults!!!

[Minimum]

Personally, I think that the blighters should have their noses rubbed in it - the faeces, that is. That would sort them out!

[canUsmellthat]

Let's hope their bark's worse than their bite

[Minimum]

A very apt name from the last blogger.

[rubber ducky]

As a dog owner I agree that there are few places around here where dogs can run free especially now that there are forestry operations going on in the forest at Loch Seil but the golf course is not such a place. It is a golf course not a public park and a lot of money and effort have gone into it to improve the fairways and greens. It is an asset to the island both for tourists and locals. Lets keep our dogs under control and on the lead.

[MonaLott]

Who's going to enforce this thing? The club will, at minimum, need to put up notices at all entrance points and the members tasked with at least some policing rota duties. And, of course, the greenkeeper and other senior members will have to change their ways. Rubber Duckie is right - there aren't enough places where a dog-owner can let his/her dog off the lead. Sheep everywhere etc. It's a real irony that country life offers more restrictions on dog-owners than urban life where parks abound. Couldn't some kind land-owner volunteer a field for community dog-walking use? RD is also right in saying that the transformation of some fields into an increasingly decent golf course has been most impressive over the years and that investment of hard work and money should be protected and valued.

[Gavin Rae]

I hope that this can be resolved sensibly !!

After all !

I walked across The Old Course in St Andrews two weeks ago on Sunday - my understanding being the' R and A The Home of Golf '

Guess what - On a Sunday during the winter you can walk over the course - no restrictions - dogs are running around off the lead and doing what dogs do - BUT Responsible owners do respect the course !!

Clearly there is no play but most dog owners in my view are respectful and recognise that they can't take their dogs onto a golf course during normal playing hours and 'will always tidy up'

I have to say that the golf club committee have a difficult task in itself to police the number of non paying 'visitors' who arrive regularly during the summer months and leave another type of 'mess' !!- not to mention the abuse and threats that they get into the bargain !

Come on guys let sort it out !

[windymiller]

This could definetly be resolved sensibly. All it needs is for the club to make a specific place on every fairway, preferably near the hole, for the dogs to crap. This could be a "dirty bunker", an extra hazard. Might make the game more interesting.

[Foxglove]

Mmm, no,windymiller..it's definitely more interesting when you DON'T know where the craps are . As someone said..a field just for dogs would be a good idea, I would pay towards a rent if I had a dog.

[MonaLott]

Yeah, someone lend us a field please, with some doggie bins in the corners. By the way, the only dog to be a paid-up member of the golf club is always on the lead and is always cleared up behind. A model for all non-member dogs!

[Foxglove]

Wouldn't expect something for nothing! There are enough dog owners using the course to pay a fair enough rent for a field just for dogs. Mind you...there would probably be more 'legal implications' with such boring things as a lease etc...