Black-Faced Suffolk Sheep at the Paintbrush

Black-Faced Suffolk Sheep

at the Paintbrush

Sheep enjoying the sunset at The Pulpit Club. Photo taken by Daniel Gelder.

By Rob Wright, Superintendent, The Pulpit Club. Photos provided by Rob Wright and Gabi Best, Communications Coordinator, The Pulpit Club.

Newly re-branded, The Pulpit Club (formerly The Devil’s Pulpit Golf Association), has two very unique golf courses within it. The Pulpit is a Parkland style course with extreme challenges both from the player as well as maintenance practices. This gem provides breathtaking views from every hole including an awe-inspiring tee shot off #1 directly at the CN Tower. The Paintbrush brings back the roots of golf providing a linksstyle experience very much true to golf courses across Scotland. The rolling hills, wide fescue fairways, wispy native fescue surrounding every hole, and sod wall bunkers throughout create an experience that mimics links golf in all its glory. Is there anything truly missing to fully create that pure Scottish feel…? We believe there was and here is the Baaa-ckstory!

Many years ago, original course superintendent Ken Wright and his assistant at the time, Jayson Griffiths (now Director of Agronomy at London Hunt Club), thought that adding sheep to the paintbrush would be perfect and would create an additional ambience to this unique golf course. At the time, there was very little support for this idea, and it quickly faded away. In 2020, when the club was purchased by Longridge Partners, I decided to plant that same seed about bringing in sheep. Everyone was very skeptical at first as there aren’t any golf courses in the GTA with farm animals on

Sheep at holes #12 and #14 at The Pulpit Club.

them. But, through persistence and shaping the idea, it became clear that the dream of bringing black-faced Suffolk sheep would become reality.

Once the idea received the green light, we took all plans into action. Through our preliminary planning stages, we had determined two locations on the property that would suit the sheep well. Each being 2.5 acres in size would provide enough fescue grazing to support the purchased 15 black-faced sheep through our season. A local farm co-op was used to acquire the electrical fence components, as well as all supplies needed to properly raise and care for them. This includes water troughs, hay feeders, salt licks, straw, and bedding. In the Spring of 2021, construction began on installing the cedar posts for the fenced in paddocks as well as the two shelters to protect the sheep from sun and as potential larger-animal threats such as coyotes at

Sheep at hole #10 at The Pulpit Club.

night. An irrigation line was installed off the current system that runs to a water trough, with a float to provide constant water for their hydration. As production continued, our membership became curious of this action, as we had kept this a secret until the big reveal. Rumors inevitably floated around but eventually the truth became clear. As expected, many members were not on board with the idea but as it became reality, the 150 members that came out to see the sheep on their opening day, we knew this wasn’t a baaaaad idea.

The black-faced Suffolk sheep were purchased from a farm in Kingston where they only raise this kind of sheep. They informed us on how to care for them and after the sheep’s arrival, we called in a nearby, remote veterinarian to provide vaccination shots and have stayed in contact with them if any health issues arise.

As the season progressed, a daily maintenance schedule was put in place to care for the sheep as well as their habitat. The shelter is cleaned out twice a week and fresh straw and bedding is installed. A nighttime caretaker comes to the property and feeds the sheep supplement feed pellets and locks them up in their shelter for protection from predators in the area. Every morning the sheep are let out into their paddock to graze fescue alongside the golf holes. At the end of the season, they are taken off property to a local farm where they are cared for during the winter. We are currently looking into building a

barn on-site with a small, fenced in area on The Pulpit’s course where they can be cared for by our team. This will reduce outside costs and deem positive in the long run. The addition of 15 blackfaced Suffolk sheep was primarily to enhance the feel of a Scottish-style course in Canada. ...the sheep have done a very good job However, the sheep have done a very good job at maintaining at maintaining the fescue in their 5-acre plot the fescue in their five-acre plot of land; although it was never designed of land; although it was never designed for this purpose, it for this purpose... could be an opportunity for the future. There are challenges with this strategy, primarily keeping them contained and avoiding damage to playable areas throughout the course. The sheep have also gained popularity world-wide as many people across the globe have heard about our unique course additions which has generated additional income for the club from various angles. Firstly, members are bringing out more guests to the Paintbrush to see the sheep first-hand

Sheep at holes #10 and #11 at The Pulpit Club.

and experience a true links-style course. Internally, we have also created a “3rd Logo” and an exclusive event for members called The Black Sheep Tournament. This twoday event which kicked off last year was sold out within an hour! Our exclusive line of sheep apparel is available at the Paintbrush’s pro shop and can be found on shirts, hoodies, hats, and head covers.

Throughout these past few years, it’s truly been amazing experience. I am very proud of being able to bring this unique idea to life and having the support of our owners and management team to make it happen. I hope many of you get the opportunity to come out to the Paintbrush and see this for yourself. If you have the chance to play the links, make sure to hit em’ straight, as this new “Out of Bounds” area has succumbed to many baaaad shots! ■

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