Friday, April 8, 2011
Journal & Courier • www.jconline.com
GREATER LAFAYETTE GOLF GUIDE 2011
POOCH PATROL Jim Scott, superintendent of Purdue’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, with Heather, a border collie who works at the courses.
Heather is a golfer’s best friend at Purdue By Sam King • sking@jconline.com
Heather is one of Purdue University’s most appreciated employees. Not even 10 years old, she already has a trophy in her office — a Purdue mascot statue called “Pete” she received during a banquet at Ross-Ade Stadium. Heather, a 9-year-old border collie, is used at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex to keep geese off the course. “She is a working dog, not a play dog,” Jim Scott, superintendent at the complex, said. “She’s kind of gotten out of that regimen because of
VIDEO OF HEATHER IN ACTION
Dog day afternoon: Check out a video by J&C photographer John Terhune of Heather on patrol at jconline.com
everyone petting her.” Heather was raised as a sheepherder in New Kent, Va. In 2005, Scott brought her to West Lafayette to help with the rising geese population on Purdue’s Kampen Course. Using a nonviolent technique, she’s made golf more enjoyable for those who play at Purdue. “The golfers are very appreciative of the dog when they see her out there doing those things,” Birck Complex pro Dan Ross said. One of those appreciative golfers is George Vansco.
DATES SET FOR CITY TOURNAMENTS
In the swing: Men’s City will be played over three weekends at Purdue. Coyote Crossing and The Elks hosting Women’s City. Page 3
Vansco, a regular at the course, has befriended the dog and often has treats in his pocket. “She likes the pepperoni ones,” he said. Needless to say, adding Heather to the Birck Boilermaker Complex staff has proven to be a wise decision. She gets along with fellow employees, is friendly with customers and is a very efficient worker.
Problem solver As the goose population started getting out of control, Scott began researching online and saw that other golf courses had used dogs to herd the animals. He went to Lacy’s Border Collie Farm in Virginia and spent three days in amazement watching Heather herd sheep and — to prove she could also round up something that flies — ducks. He was persuaded, and with the permission of Purdue University,
AREA GOLF COURSE INFORMATION
Pick a course: Your guide to the 28 golf courses in and around Greater Lafayette. Page 4
(BY JOHN TERHUNE/JOURNAL & COURIER)
made Heather an official employee. “It’s nice to have a dog. If you are a dog lover, you like having the dog around,” said Ross, who owns two dogs. “Having a dog here at the complex, kind of a normal thing for me.” Scott stayed with Tom and Karen Lacy long enough to learn the ins and outs of teaching Heather how to round up animals. He couldn’t master the whistle provided to command Heather’s motions. Instead he was taught voice commands that let her know when to veer right or left, when to return and, well, it’s a long list. Scott said during his three days at the Virginia farm, he and Heather bonded. Make no mistake though, Heather came to make sure the number of geese on the golf course dwindled. She quickly proved to be a difference maker. See HEATHER, Page 2
A DREAM FOURSOME OF YOUR CHOICE
Tiger, Phil, Jack or Arnie: Read who area golfers selected to be in their foursome and some pointers on do’s and don’ts. Page 5