Dogs and the golf course

[Foxglove]

Are you a golfer Maggie?..I really cannot see what the 'problem' is here except maybe for a few disgruntled dog owners. According to Nick the course is within their rights to insist on leads. As for bringing it up on here...well, most people like a bit of gossip and chat about what is happening locally..as long as nobody is personally attacked or offended.

[MsAnnThrope]

What a shame wee Dicky has gone as I hoped such an altruist as him would be interested in a fund raiser for my rhinoplasty.
To get back to the original topic, have no need myself to take my dogs there, plenty of other walks about.
As for trying the race card pretty pathetic as I believe this forum is run by an incomer, race doesn't matter, attitude does.
Keep up the good work Nick!

[MonaLott]

Only thoughtless dog-walkers are the problem. After this discussion, maybe they'll actually appreciate their past thoughtlessness and show more respect for the valuable resource that is our little golf course.
Although we haven't always agreed, I personally would like to thank you, Nick, for running this website so efficiently and fairly. I believe that it is a positive resource for Seil. Even the many stalkers on it obviously find it interesting and occasionally there is a worthwhile exchange of views. The suggestion that tourists would be put off visiting us because of the blogs here is pure drivel, as was most of Tricky's input. I hope that you don't get discouraged!
So there we have it - 2 great things about Seil: the 9-hole golf course & Seil Chat!

[jimcee]

Having read through the lengthy and numerous posts on this subject, I feel obliged to add my tuppenceworth.
Three remarks -
1) Some subjects posted on this forum fizzle out after a couple of entries, while others elicit a huge amount of input - and very quickly too. I would hazard a guess that those subjects which take off in this way are ones which both have public interest and have divided opinions.
2) As editor of the Seileachan, it behoves me to include every contribution from islanders which I receive, regardless of my own personal viewpoint, provided it is not racist, sexist, or sectarian.
The piece about the Golf Course contravened none of these criteria.
3) The surmise that by insisting that contributor numbers to this forum would increase, if proper identity were insisted upon, I find very hard to take seriously - there is nothing presently stopping them from doing so under the present set-up.

[MonaLott]

Vary good, JC, but what about the dog-walkers on the golf course? You're a golfer - your opinion would be interesting to hear.

[parky]

I think it absurd that people here treat the golf course as public land for dog exercise. The problem is is exacerbated by golf club members who continually let their dogs loose and ride bicycles over the golf course on a daily basis. I do not agree that people can use the golf course as their own personal pleasure park but I also do not agree with golf club members who hold this course in such contempt and I am quite appalled by a community which holds their golf course in such a derogatory fashion. Members of the Seil Golf Club pay, unlike the dog walkers. My dog walks on th course, all mess is cleaned up and I consider it a privilege, not a right.

[Kathy Bowles]

Parky - just what everyone should do! We had a dog for years - sadly gone - and we walked the golf course regularly and as one always did, cleaned any mess up! Why do people have a problem with this simple task?

[Foxglove]

Ah but parky...looks like your 'privelege' is being withdrawn. I imagine that maybe dog owners who do not play golf would just see a place to walk the dog, no interest in the golf side of things. However..the amount of posts on this subject shows it is definitely a matter of local concern, regardless of certain people seeming to want it not to be discussed..by some who 'it is not their business'. At the end of the day it's a golf course and not a dog playpark..

[rubber ducky]

It isn't working !! Today I passed the course and saw a very fast black dog running laps round the course over the greens and fairways while it's owner walked imperviously along the shore. Is this someone who doesn't read the Seilleachan, doesn't read the blogs or is this someone making a statement !? Please whoever you are, you are giving responsible dogowners a bad name

[longshanks]

This link will take you to a number of case studies around Scotland of golf courses which have had public access concerns and how the issues (including dog fouling and roaming) were very amicably resolved.

http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B625453.pdf

Having just read this whole thread the only thing I can add as a dog owner and as a golfer is that I think it is quite correct that dogs should be kept on a lead if they the cannot be controlled to the extent that the owner cannot prevent them from running onto the fairways and greens; most particularly at this time of year when the conditions underfoot are so sodden.

I agree totally that the golf course is a tremendous resource for the whole of Seil and I am saddened to hear that some unthinking dog owners have irresponsibly allowed their dogs to damage the greens.

If a member of the golf committee would post some photos on here of the damage (or PM me if that's difficult technically) I would be happy to send a cheque to the golf club to fully cover the cost of repair.

Tiger Shanks (gofer by choice)

[Tony the Toad]

This link will take you to a number of case studies around Scotland of golf courses which have had public access concerns and how the issues (including dog fouling and roaming) were very amicably resolved.

http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B625453.pdf

Having just read this whole thread the only thing I can add as a dog owner and as a golfer is that I think it is quite correct that dogs should be kept on a lead if they the cannot be controlled to the extent that the owner cannot prevent them from running onto the fairways and greens; most particularly at this time of year when the conditions underfoot are so sodden.

I agree totally that the golf course is a tremendous resource for the whole of Seil and I am saddened to hear that some unthinking dog owners have irresponsibly allowed their dogs to damage the greens.

If a member of the golf committee would post some photos on here of the damage (or PM me if that's difficult technically) I would be happy to send a cheque to the golf club to fully cover the cost of repair.

Tiger Shanks (gofer by choice)

[MonaLott]

A woman with a delinquent black dog tearing about the greens and lapping the north half of the course in microseconds was again seen this afternoon. What do we do? Phone the police? Make a Citizen's Arrest? Take her on one-to-one? Shoot the dog? Phone a golf club committee member? Get Longshanks? Or relax and let live. Opinions welcome. Maybe a couple of CCTV webcams would help?

[Pentlandpirate]

The suggestion that tourists would be put off visiting us because of the blogs here is pure drivel, as was most of Tricky's input

Well I can think of one tourist who might be put off by comments on here..................me! Hoorah! That will bring great joy and glad tidings to many (Oh no, that's supposed to be Christmas). So Richard Wesley is not wrong. And as an individual who contributes to the community he should command more respect for his personal views without being sneered at. I have similar sentiments to him for the comments from MsAnnThrope.

Until now the golf course seems to have been taken for granted as a 'public park'. Born out of rough agricultural land it might not have mattered before if it was abused. But now, after so much loving labour has been invested in it, it has at last reached a condition where it has to be taken seriously as a 'proper' golf course, to which proper rules apply and must be observed. The community are lucky to have had the use of it, but times have changed, and they have no right to treat it as they might have before. If you have a dog, tough. You should think about where you can legitimately let your dog free before you get one.

[MonaLott]

Anyone who opens on here telling us we're like scared rabbits with no moral backbone, slagging the golf club committee in a disdainful way and behaving generally like an opinionated disrespectful prat deserves little community respect. Extending the insults into local racism and scatter-gunning spurious accusations doesn't improve things. We love you, PP, but don't bark up the wrong tree please! In a small community like ours, superegos are easy to assume but are a significant enemy. This is a place to bury ego, relax and coexist in peace. Happy Xmas all!

[Gavin Rae]

Dear Monalott

Under the circumstances and to progress a solution could you not contact a member of the golf club committee with your observations today?

It seems a pity that the whole of the dog owners community on the island might be getting targeted for one irresponsible dog owner ?

In my opinion this thread has generated a lot of posts - it's been very interesting but has been going round in circles for the past few days !

[Tony the Toad]

I have a hyena and am uncertain where I stand.

[Pentlandpirate]

It's off-topic but Mona,

Anyone who opens on here telling us we're like scared rabbits with no moral backbone, slagging the golf club committee in a disdainful way and behaving generally like an opinionated disrespectful prat deserves little community respect. Extending the insults into local racism and scatter-gunning spurious accusations doesn't improve things

I've got to disagree with you. I just don't read Richard's comments, which are just an opinion, that way. Remember you can often assume the wrong tone from the written word. Richard makes some perfectly reasonable suggestions. Discussing the subject on Seil Chat won't fix the problem but talking to the Golf Club could.

Can't we have a 'serious amnesty' over the Christmas and new Year period. Only light hearted humour and non-serious topics allowed on Seil Chat for the 12 days of Christmas? A time to get silly. Spider and Maggie have already started. Bring back the good old days!

[MonaLott]

Dog-walkers are not an organised grouping and to suggest rounding them all up, especially the problem ones, in order to talk to the golf club en masse, is unrealistic. Nor does the golf club need to talk. It should be clear to everyone that letting your dog sprint around the fairways and greens isn't acceptable. It just isn't unreasonable to keep your dog on a lead while on the course. So what's to talk about? It's just a matter of finding the minority loose walkers and getting them on board. The golf club committee and members need to look out for them and address them individually.
As for Tricky, let's get silly and magnanimous, as you suggest, agree to differ and, in the spirit of Xmas, chill out contentedly! Jingle Bells!

[Pentlandpirate]

Spot on Mona! I'll drink to that!

[Foxglove]

Is it just me or is the golf course very quiet today...passed it twice and no dogs..unusual when it's not raining.