Appeal goes out to Dog Walkers on Golf Course – AGAIN
It seems some dog owners simply have no respect for others!
The St Francis Bay Golf Club has shown not only great patience but also great consideration in allowing dog walkers to walk their dogs on hallowed ground. Whilst the regular group of walkers are fastidious about picking up after their dogs some are are too disrespectful of not only the golfers who play the St Francis Bay Golf Club course but indeed of the entire St Francis community. It really doesn’t matter if you walk your dog on the golf course, the beaches, the wildside, one of the many hiking trails that meander through the nature reserves of the greater St Francis or even the streets and lanes, you really need to do the decent thing and pick up after your dogs.
Below is an appeal from the St Francis Bay Golf club’s Richard Vauqulin and the St Francis Bay Golf Club committee.
Read it and pass it on to other readers and help keep St Francis clean and hygienic. We are after all on the cusp of receiving thousands of holiday makers so need t be proud of our villages, beaches and nature reserves,
CONCESSIONS TO DOG WALKERS BEING ABUSED; ST FRANCIS BAY GOLF CLUB
The St Francis Bay Golf Club Committee regrettably advise that despite the concessions granted to dog walkers, some owners are flouting the agreed terms. In all likelihood the offenders are new to the area and as such unaware of what was agreed.
The main complaint is not necessarily that dogs are walking on the course but the fact that owners refrain from carrying bags in order to remove the residual deposits. This results in golfers having to continually be on the look out “landmines” which is far from ideal when playing.
The majority of recent complaints regarding above unfortunately came from visitors to the club competing in the Pam Golding Properties St Francis Bay Ladies Open which we hosted over the past weekend. Locals hardly need reminding of the positive contribution made by visitors to the club and community at large.
We wish to reiterate that the golf course is private property though we do permit dog walkers under the following conditions which were agreed:
- That the walking of dogs will only be permitted after 16H00. Clearly in the busier holiday season walkers should be on the lookout for golfers still playing and respect their right of way, particularly for their own safety as well as that of their pets.
- That dogs must be on a leash.
- That owners carry doggie bags and remove their “business cards”.
- That owners confine the walking of dogs to the areas covered by the 11, 12th 13th and 14th holes:-the areas closest to the beach.
In the interests of harmony we trust that dog walkers / owners will abide by the agreed terms failing which we reserve our right to revoke aforementioned concessions.
With many thanks
St Francis Bay Golf Club Committee
Yes, this is still a huge problem on the CSF beach, boulevard and in the reserves…I just don’t understand people who walk dogs without any intention of picking up their poop, day after day. Seems they think if no-one sees them it isn’t a problem…very selfish!
The claim by the St Francis Bay Golf Club Committee that “we wish to reiterate that (the St Francis Bay) golf course is private property ….” certainly applies to the older section on the clubhouse side of St Francis Drive, but, as one who has been coming to SFB since the Sixties and who had owned property there for much of that time, I can recall the fact that the seaward side of St Francis Drive since taken over by the club was a Public Open Space. Correct me if I’m wrong but this should still be the case surely? If not, when was it rezoned to private property?
I am one of the Founder Members of this club – although not an avid golfer but I do enjoy popping in on social occasions.
I also agree fully with the requirement that dog owners control their dogs (not necessarily under leash control) and that they should most definitely have a ‘poop-scoop and bag’ and clear any mess that their dog produces.
Dear Lin, The Public Open Space was there prior to the Golf Club acquiring this piece of ground. It is now registered in the name of the Golf Club.
The Club has and always will do its utmost to be a good member of the St Francis Community but there certainly should be a quid pro quo in that dog owners respect the rights of the owner and therefore of the golfers by cleaning up after their pets.
An issue that wasn’t raised was the fact that after the initial request to dog owners we saw an immediate return of the natural birds to the Course. This has again turned round due to dogs being allowed to run free and chase the birds and sometimes even kill the chicks. Reall very sad.
We are hoping that our dog owners will help us to make the Golf Course a pleasant place for everyone.
So disappointed – played golf yesterday and had to skirt round numerous heaps of “dog poo” while playing with my guests from the UK. They were horrified that pet owners in our village have no respect for their fellow humans! To crown it all, while sitting on the deck watching the field come in, a couple, walking a “pack of dogs” – not one on a leash – merrily crossed the 18th fairway. What must the club do to get through to these people that we want to accommodate them and live in peace and harmony if only they would play ball. Please all you dog walkers just play the game – dogs on leashes and make poop scoopers and packets the order of the day. We want our birds back and a clean course to play on – is that too much to ask?