Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) carried a good story the other day that appeared under this headline:  “Golf course dogs, ambassadors of goodwill.”

The story reminded me about my home course in Salem, Oregon, Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club, where a dog who roams the course looking for, among other things, geese.

Since he and his predecessor arrived, the geese are no longer there.

Which is good for golf, including where you happen to step on the turf, if you get my drift relative to geese.

When Illahe hired its current superintendent a few years ago, he told those hiring him:  This is a two-for-one deal – you get me and you get my dog, a German short air retriever who loved to hunt geese.  His name was Boone.

Unfortunately, a couple years after he arrived, Boone went to heaven.  But a few of us at the club banded together to get a new dog for our superintendent – Augie.

He is there to this day.  The geese aren’t.

It was a good deal for us.

Augie is a great ambassador for Illahe even as our super continues training him.

Rather than write more about this, I choose to reprint the USGA story in this blog because, if for no other reason, it’s a feel-good story about dogs – and I am a dog lover.

**********

Whether it’s early in the morning, in the middle of a long day or as the sun sets, there’s one member of the golf course maintenance team who’s always ready to face challenges head-on, with tail wagging.  Our beloved golf course dogs, usually seen working alongside the maintenance crew, are far more than a friendly companion for superintendents.

From chasing away geese to breaking the tension during a serious conversation, these loyal four-legged teammates contribute to a smooth operation in ways that machinery and manpower simply can’t.  Let’s look at how our canine colleagues enhance daily maintenance efforts, boost employee morale and help create a better experience for golfers and staff alike.

Being a golf course superintendent is a tough job.  Beyond managing turf, today’s superintendents have to deal with increasing administrative duties, labor complexities, project management, and politics – all while courses remain busier than ever.  Fortunately, dogs are generally immune to the pressures of golf course management.

In fact, they have an uncanny ability to sense their human’s unease and offer a much-needed, well-timed distraction.  Long days on the course would feel a lot longer for dog-owning superintendents without the company of their pooch, and the benefits of this companionship extend well beyond their owners.

“The members don’t always remember my name but everyone knows Pinki – and they are always so happy to see her,” said Damon Di Giorgio, director of agronomy at the Point Hardy Golf Club at Cabot Saint Lucia.  Pinki, a 17-year-old mixed Chihuahua-Yorkshire terrier weighing in at a whopping 4.5 pounds, is a big hit with golfers, the maintenance staff and social media.

Di Giorgio adopted Pinki as a puppy in the Dominican Republic and she has remained at his side as new opportunities brought him back to the States and then around the Caribbean, ultimately leading to his current role in Saint Lucia.  Pinki doesn’t look like most golf course dogs, but Di Giorgio didn’t want to leave her home alone so he started bringing her to the course.

Now, the staff and golfers can’t imagine spending the day without her.  Whether she’s taking selfies with golfers, going for a ride around the course, or getting to know the exotic wildlife on the island, Pinki is a friend to all those lucky enough to spend their day at Cabot Saint Lucia.

All the superintendents I spoke with for this article emphasized that their dog’s ability to put folks at ease and be a positive, steady, endearing representative of their department is a tangible asset.  A golf course dog is an effective public relations tool for the maintenance department.  No matter what issues may exist, golf course dogs are a great icebreaker and take the edge off tense conversations.

Superintendent Dan Vater’s 3-year-old pit bull and Labrador mix, Moose, is a fixture at Blue Mound Golf and Country Club outside Milwaukee.  It was love at first site for Vater and his wife Maggie, who found Moose on the Lucky Mutts Rescue website.

Having Moose at work lightens the mood for both Vater and his staff and makes for a better work environment.  Each morning, Moose greets everyone in the break room and is quick to spot his favorite employees who carry tasty treats.

Out on the course, Moose is a morale booster and an important part of the maintenance team.  “If Moose hears the backup beeper from my cart, his ears perk up instantly and he is quick to run outside to find out where we are headed,” said Vater.  Members and employees enjoy the sight of Moose running alongside the cart on his way to a jobsite.

Moose is “a bit of an odd one” according to Vater, and his favorite work toys include sprinkler springs, marking flags and sod staples.  If you catch him on the course, he is sure to have one of these with him, although his co-workers don’t always love him sneaking off with parts.  Despite the occasional shenanigans, the maintenance team at Blue Mound couldn’t imagine not having Moose as a co-worker and friend.

At Apogee Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, director of golf courses and grounds Tony Nysse and his 7-year-old blue Weimaraner, Charlie, keep a watchful eye on the constant activity at the multi-course development.

“Charlie is my second dog of turf and comes with me everywhere – a true companion,” said Nysse, who arrived at Apogee in 2022 to grow-in the first of the club’s three golf courses.  “I saw the positivity that my previous dog brought to the maintenance team, and as we filled in our key staff, he met each candidate so that everyone became comfortable with him.”

In addition to interviewing new hires, Charlie loves a good morning run interacting with the wildlife around the course.  He is not a water dog, which is okay with Nysse given Apogee’s abundance of alligators.  Charlie’s favorite area is currently Apogee’s North Course, which is under construction and full of interesting sights and smells, with plenty of newly exposed soil to explore.

“A golf course dog is an effective public relations tool for the maintenance department.”

It’s hard to overstate the good vibes that Charlie brings to the maintenance team.  He has a routine of greeting all the staff members while they receive their job assignments each morning and checking in with them throughout the day.

“He brings a level of positivity to the entire staff,” said Nysse.  “Whether it’s employees, visitors, contractors or golfers, everyone enjoys his greetings, and of course Charlie enjoys the extra attention.”  He continued, “Our other turf managers bring their dogs in on the weekends, so there are plenty of pup parties here at Apogee.”

Di Giorgio feels strongly that having Pinki with him on a daily basis at Cabot Saint Lucia makes him much more approachable to members, guests and staff.  “She is a conversation starter and puts people at ease,” said Di Giorgio.  “Most of all, people smile and are happy to see her, which is always a good thing – even if they’re not happy to see me for some reason,” he joked.

Pinki’s main job has always been “ambassador of happiness,” and her diplomacy extends beyond the golf course.  Together, Di Giorgio and Pinki worked with the non-profit pet therapy organization PAWS to provide therapeutic services to individuals battling Alzheimer’s and other diseases. The organization benefited from Pinki’s services while Di Giorgio worked at the Fieldstone Club in Delaware between stints in the Caribbean.  In fact, Pinki is in the PAWS Hall of Fame for therapy dogs.

Pinki and Di Giorgio have been acknowledged by the New York Times and others for their work on and off the course.  They may have ended up together by accident, but their relationship has been filled with purpose and is representative of all the wonderful ways a golf course dog can benefit our lives.