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.

By Dave Fiskum

In the United States, it often is not possible to play golf with a dog.

Specifically, on the two courses where I play most of my golf – Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club in Salem, Oregon, my basic home, and The Palms in La Quinta, California where I play in the winter – dogs are not allowed.

In Scotland, however, there are many dogs on golf course.

In my five trips to the homeland of golf, I have many cases of dogs on golf course.  Plus, their owners are careful, to put a point on it, picking up what may be left behind. 

Often, the dogs are tethered to walking carts, which, in Scotland, are called “trolleys.”

Truth be told, at my home course in Salem, Oregon, I sometimes took my dogs out to the course, but only near dark when no one else was around.

Don’t tell anyone — I sometimes violated the rule.

In one my on-line golf magazines, Beth Nichols wrote about this subject.

“Have you ever played golf with a dog?” she asked.  “I’ve had the pleasure on two occasions in the U.K. with two extraordinarily well-behaved four-legged friends.  One was particularly adept at delivering head covers.

“Our youngest Golden Retriever, Divot, was named after a dog I met at the NCAA Championship at Rich Harvest Farms.

“I must confess that our dogs wouldn’t do well on a golf course because they’d be desperate to greet every player on the tee sheet.

“Still, it would be a dream day to round out a foursome with my best friends!  If only we could always combine our favorite passions with our favorite people and pets.”

Good points, Beth.

I suspect I’ll never be allowed to play with my dog on the course, though, if it matters, his name is Callaway.  I named my golf clubs after him!

I’ll just have to settle for dogs on courses in my imagination.