{"id":214,"date":"2017-09-25T19:12:46","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T19:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/?p=214"},"modified":"2019-10-04T13:59:39","modified_gmt":"2019-10-04T13:59:39","slug":"dog-gone-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/2017\/09\/25\/dog-gone-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"Dog Gone Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/No-Dogs-Allowed.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"No Dogs Allowed\" style=\"border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px\" border=\"0\" alt=\"No Dogs Allowed\" src=\"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/No-Dogs-Allowed_thumb.jpg\" width=\"440\" height=\"255\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\">As the <\/font><a href=\"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/2017\/09\/20\/the-most-dog-friendly-golfing-in-the-uk\/\"><font color=\"#008000\">stats<\/font><\/a><font color=\"#008000\"> show, the strong majority of golf courses don\u2019t allow dogs. Some have specific rules against them. Others have never really considered the issues, but when asked responded \u2018no\u2019.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\">The objections to dogs tend to fall into one of four main areas\u2026<\/font><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\"><em>Wildlife Safety<\/em> \u2013 especially areas where livestock or other populations of animals are very nearby<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\"><em>Sanitation<\/em> \u2013 people not cleaning up messes<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\"><em>Dog Safety<\/em> \u2013 dogs getting hit by balls<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\"><em>Disturbing Players<\/em> \u2013 a few mistimed barks<\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\">I did occasionally hear the \u201cslippery slope\u201d fallacy (which is a variation of the \u201cstrawman fallacy\u201d), ie. if \u2018we had dogs all over the place it would be mayhem\u2026\u2019 Well, even if you become dog-friendly, it is doubtful that you will have \u2018dogs all over the place\u2019. Hundreds of courses in the UK allow dogs, but none of them have \u2018dogs all over the place\u2019.<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\">For the sake of equal time and balanced perspective, here is a pretty comprehensive catalogue of all of the reasons provided to DogGolf.info\u2019s survery as to why certain clubs have opted to excluded canine caddies from their courses\u2026<\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\">General<\/font><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>You could end up with quite a few dogs on the course, barking as playing golf shot, distracting people you\u2019re playing with, possibly going to the toilet, it would have to be on a lead and you need something to attach the lead to whilst playing a shot. H&amp;S, stray golf balls \u2013 protect yourself and dog&#8230;? I have occasionally thought it would be useful to be able to walk the dog at the same time but players want to concentrate on their golf, not be distracted by a dog<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Rawdon Golf and Lawn Tennis Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>There are various reasons such as: Dogs biting\/barking at golfers. Dogs urinating\/scraping on greens\/course. Golfers having allergic reactions. Dog injuring itself or others on the golf course. Kids\/Adults afraid of dogs. Dog lifting another players&#8217; ball. Interfering with course maintenance schedule<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Down Royal Park Golf Course.<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>We are constantly in a running battle with dog walkers who seem to think the course is a public space rather than private property so we could not condone players bringing dogs<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Brookdale Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\"><u>Dog Safety<\/u><\/font><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>We have a huge problem with dog walkers on the course as we have a public footpath running through the course. Trying to get non-golfing dog walkers to stick to the public path and not wander across the course endangering themselves and their dogs is a really big struggle for us. Whilst we are dog lovers and look after dogs for friends, we feel that it sends the wrong message to therefore allow golfers to bring dogs onto the course<\/i>.\u201d &#8211; Barlborough Links Golf Cub<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>We don\u2019t allow dogs for health and safety reasons<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Three Locks Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>For health and safety reasons we advise dogs not to be on the course when playing<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Abbey View Golf Facility<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Not safe for the dog with golf balls flying about<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Hirst Priory Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Health and safety issues includes the safety of your dog, for example, being hit by other people\u2019s golf balls, and our insurance doesn\u2019t cover any potential issues caused by dogs on the course<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Gloucester Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>We try not to encourage golfers taking their dogs onto the course just as this may put other golfers off their game<\/i>.\u201d &#8211; Nairn Dunbar Golf Club <\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>We do not encourage it as we have a lot of rounds played and if everyone came with a dog there would be mayhem. We have a number of footpaths which cross our golf course and not all owners decide to behave in a sensible way<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Gaudet Luce Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>We do not allow dogs on the course, for the safety of the dog and also for the players<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Nelson Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\"><u>Sanitation<\/u><\/font><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Unfortunately we do not allow dogs on the Golf Course due to the health impacts it could have if they foul or urinate on the playing areas<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Westonbirt Golf Club, Gloucestershire<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Unfortunately due to past incidents we no longer allow dogs to accompany golfers. Poorly behaved dogs and excrement. It only takes one to spoil it for everybody<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Folke Golf Centre<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>One or two people have unfortunately have let their dogs foul on the course spoiling it for everyone leading to a ban<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Barnsley Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Certain people in the past had let their dogs foul the course and run about off their leads<\/i>\u201d &#8211; Kilmacolm Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Unfortunately due to problems in the past with dogs fouling we no longer allow dogs on the course<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Whiting Bay Golf Club.<\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\"><u>Wildlife<\/u><\/font><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Blackwood is a wild life sanctuary and therefore dogs are not allowed on the course<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Blackwood Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>I am afraid that we do not allow dogs on the course as we have a lot of wildlife which would be disturbed<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 La Grand Mare<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Dogs are not allowed on the course due the resident families of deer that live on our course<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Bishopbriggs Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>We do not permit dogs on the course. We are on a deer park, so it could present problems<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Belton Park Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>The course is situated on a private estate where there is a lot of wildlife roaming about, so not conducive to dogs<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Dundas Park<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Dogs are not allowed on the course; the course is privately-owned and the owners do not want dogs on the land, due to the immediately-neighbouring farms and animals<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Faversham Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><font color=\"#008000\"><u>Disturbing Players<\/u><\/font><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>There had been a few complaints on and off about behavior on the course over a short period. There was then a quite a bad one when a dog got free and went off barking and scaring players<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Clacton Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>Barking, digging, fouling, chasing squirrels, picking up golf balls, general distraction\u2026And that\u2019s just what my border terrier would do if I took her out golfing<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Shandon Park golf Club.<\/font><\/li>\n<li><font color=\"#008000\">\u201c<i>As Ravelston is a tight, compact course we do not allow dogs to accompany players<\/i>.\u201d \u2013 Ravelston Golf Club<\/font><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the stats show, the strong majority of golf courses don\u2019t allow dogs. Some have specific rules against them. Others have never really considered the issues, but when asked responded \u2018no\u2019. The objections to dogs tend to fall into one of four main areas\u2026 Wildlife Safety \u2013 especially areas where livestock or other populations of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":537,"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214\/revisions\/537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/doggolf.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}