From the editor

Golf is going to the dogs

Dogs hold a special place in golf lore. From the earliest days of play at St. Andrews, locals have been able to walk the course with their four-legged friends. Golf course superintendents are well-known for having a trusty canine by their sides while they care for their courses. Some of golf’s legendary figures - like Arnold Palmer - were constantly pictured at home with their dogs.

We’ve had a small dog for years, a canine that’s been more like a cat because he really just wants to lay around and sit on your lap. He’s had no interest in going to the golf course and, to be honest, he’s too noisy to take out with me.

That changed when I returned home from my annual trip to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in December and found that my daughter had brought home a new puppy. The retriever, labrador, poodle mix - appropriately named Bandon - has already shown a love of golf and the temperament to be a golf course dog.

He’s already comfortable with being on a putting green, courtesy of the synthetic green we have in our backyard. The next step has been taking him for walks on the golf course so he gets used to seeing players walking and hitting golf balls. He’s already been a good cart partner, sitting quietly on the passenger seat to watch the action while we ride around.

How do you feel about canines on the course? Do you have a dog that enjoys spoiling a perfectly good walk with a set of clubs and a ball? Share your stories and your photos with us on social media @nwgolf!

Northwest News & Notes

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