Golf is already one of the greatest sports ever. You’re out in the fresh air, you’re spending some time with your buddies and you’re having fun. And then, out of nowhere, something glorious happens — you see a dog. Everyone rejoices as the entire round freezes and the dog becomes item #1. Because there’s nothing more therapeutic and relaxing than meeting a new dog — not even golf.
The golf dog can be traced back centuries — way back to the humble beginnings of the sport in Scotland. Since then, golf dogs have been roaming the course, keeping the grounds clean and delighting passersby.
In this article, we’ll put the spotlight on the golf dog. We’ll pay homage to a well-known but little-talked-about part of this great game.
What Is a Golf Dog?
A golf dog is a dog who has been chosen to essentially keep watch over a golf course. Usually, their owner may be the owner of the golf course or a superintendent. The golf dog is usually very active on the golf course in the early mornings and then may be seen at some points later in the day roaming about or riding in the cart with their owner.
Golf Dog Responsibilities
Here are some of the core duties of a golf dog.
Keep the Course Clear
One of the main jobs of a golf dog is to keep the course clear so that golfers can freely hit and find their ball. Birds such as geese love to congregate on the fairways of courses. If a golfer hits their ball into a crowd of geese, their ball could easily disappear.
A golf dog is a perfect solution to this problem. They can use their love for sprinting to herd away the geese off the course. Golf dogs can also chase away other animals they may happen to be walking about the golf course.
Socialize with Golfers
While golf dogs have the job of chasing away unwanted pests, they also play another important role on a golf course — socializing. If you play golf, you’ve probably encountered a golf dog at some point. It can really add a level of fun to your round. You may even be having a bad round or getting down on yourself about a few mistakes. A visit from the golf dog can be just the thing to turn your mood around and help you start playing better.
Dogs are happy-go-lucky after all. They live in the moment, always. Sometimes that’s all you have to do to get back to your swing.
Uphold the Reputation of the Course
Golf dogs also help uphold the reputation of the golf course. If a course is full of geese and roaming animals, it will likely affect the condition of the golf course as well as the gameplay for golfers. When a golf dog does their job successfully, it helps keep a course clean and fun to play.
The History of Golf Dogs
Golf dogs are not a relatively new phenomenon. It’s believed that dogs may have roamed the courses when golf was first invented in Scotland centuries ago. Dogs likely had a very similar role on courses as they do now — chasing away birds, socializing with golfers and upholding the condition of the course. Back then, seeing a dog on a golf course may even have been more common.
Course may have become stricter as golf evolved to become a sport for professionals and the well-to-do. The prevalence of golf dogs on courses now could be a trend that’s merely been repeated from golf’s beginnings.
The Best Dog Golf Names
Golf dogs are a very important part of the golfing world. If you’re looking for a name for your golf dog, here are some great ones we’ve come across in the past.
- Zip
- Caddie
- Divot
- Dimple
- Callaway
- Ace
- Birdie
- Bunker
Dog-Friendly Golf Courses
The only thing better than playing a round of golf is playing a round of golf with your dog. It turns out, there are a number of dog-friendly golf courses across the country. (We hope this number continues to grow in the future). Here are some dog-friendly golf courses to check out.
Discovery Bay Golf Club
Located in Washington and bordered by the breathtaking views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, Discovery Bay Golf Club is an awesome course to check out in itself. What makes it even better is its policy on dogs — you’re free to keep your dog on a leash throughout the round and take them with you as you play.
The scenic views combined with a great round with your dog make this course a must-visit experience.
Belgrade Lakes Golf Course
At this course, dog-friendliness is taken to a whole new level. Dogs can actually travel along with their owners without a leash. Feel free to bring your well-trained dog here to walk along with you and enjoy the links.
The Old Course at St Andrews
That’s right — the oldest and most prestigious of all golf courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, turns its grounds into a dog park on Sundays.
Other than the big tournament come summertime, the Old Course is usually closed on Sundays. Hundreds of years ago, it was decided that golf wouldn’t be played on Sunday. Sunday was for religion. And so instead dogs are free to roam the course — leashless and free, on one of the oldest and greatest golf courses in the world.
Unlike your typical American golf courses, which require constant attention and artificial watering to keep fairways sparkling, the Old Course relies on rain and nature to keep it fresh. This is another reason dogs can frolic without doing any real damage to the course.
Since St Andrews is all about history and tradition, the Sunday dog park is still more evidence that golf dogs go farther back in time than we might think. It’s likely that they’ve been on golf courses and been a part of the game since the very beginning.
Golf Dogs: The Bottom Line
Even though golf is awesome already, dogs on the links make it that much better. As we’ve been reminded in this article, dogs have been a part of golf history for centuries. The oldest and most renowned golf course in the world — St Andrews — turns the course into a dog park on Sundays. That should tell you everything you need to know about golf dogs and their role in this ancient and beloved sport.
We hope to see more dogs welcomed onto courses in the future.