Several dog walkers have approached St Francis Today regarding use of the golf course.
At the start of the holiday season this publication posted a letter from the St Francis Bay Golf Club banning dog walkers from the golf course. (Read https://stfrancistoday.com/dogs-are-off-the-course/.) Many believed that this ban would be lifted once the holiday makers had left and life returned to normal. Sadly it appears that this is not the case and dog walkers are indeed still not allowed to take their pooches for their early morning or late afternoon exercise on the golf course.
One can understand it from the golfers point of view for with our late evening sunsets, golf rounds are played late into the evening and some dog walkers, primarily holiday makers, choose to ignore the golfers right of way. In addition they, and here we again stress, SOME, simply do not have the decency to pick up after their dogs leaving golfers to not only navigate their way round the course in as low a score as possible but to also avoid landing in or standing in dog pooh.
There is a nucleus of walkers who have used the course for years and who are very responsible and respectful of the privilege to walk on the course, picking up, not only after their own dogs but also after those who simply don’t have the decency to follow the rules. Thus the good guys are punished by being banned.
One of the most noticeable features of St Francis, both the Bay and the Cape, is how dog mad the locals are. The phrase “every man and his dog” could be changed in St Francis to “every man has a dog”. Those living in Cape St Francis are indeed more blessed with space to walk than their Bay counterparts and thus the golf course facility has proved a godsend.The concern and love of animals is quite overwhelming in the entire region for animal charities, SPCA, April Olive Blossom Fund and the Open your Eyes – Sterilize campaign are all enthuisatically supported.
So surely there is a solution to this standoff? As you read this, scores of dog owners will be descending on the St Francis Links for the January “Mutt Strut” and “no turd will be left (unturned)” as all walkers are required to carry pooh bags and all who participate appreciate the privilege afforded by The Links in allowing this fund raiser to use their facility.
Possibly a meeting could be arranged with the Golf Club management and the nucleus of dog walkers and only those who say, carry a permit to use the course, may use the facility and must pledge to police those who refuse to obey the rules. Possibly these walkers must provide signage and supply “pooh bag” points where walkers can replenish their pooh bags if the have forgotten to bring. Maybe they could also provide a disposal bin which must be disposed of by them. Maybe also limit the use of the course to a small section, say the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th making the 15th where there are a pair of plovers resident and the rest of the course a no go area. And if there are dogs that do chase the birds, keep these on a leash.
There has to be a way of resolving this stand-off for we all need to work together in peace and harmony in our human and dog friendly little village.
On a lighter note – penalty for plaing a ball in motion – one stroke
Well done Colin and thank you sincerly
I mean sincerely!!
No real beach and the new section of the golf course was the last green lung in the village,’sharing’ not such a bad thing for those that are responsible.
Hi Colin,
I really believe that the dog walkers should be allowed to walk the dogs…out of season.
It is a safe place and I can tell you that the dog walkers (most of them) are so protective of the privilege to walk after hours that they take it on to pick up any other dog poo as well..It is just what they do!!. The other thing..some of the ladies are in their 80’s who live alone and the community know that they are ok, if they are seen on their daily “safe” walk!
The dogs do not chase the birds, they are just too busy playing and socialising. I think that cars on the golf course can do more damage.!
The walkers are very aware of the golfers and always wait until they are finished playing.
So please… let us be… even if it is only an hour a day between say 6 and 7 in summer and a little earlier in winter..
Having chats on the golf course, promotes our small community and creates a warm welcoming spirit with newcomers.. are the people as friendly and accommodating as the dogs. I would love to say Yes absolutely!!
The golf course boundaries are totally porous giving access to all legal and illegal people and dogs. The Committee does not see the skating boarding down the 12th or the hump at the short hole, the cyclists,the kids playing in the bunkers or soccer on the fairways and the surrounding residents that allow their dogs access to the first 9 to poo or chase birds. Nor do they see 2 of their members driving their dogs in their carts and allowing them to run all over the course without poo bag in sight. We clean up after them. We see it all. If the club wants a nature area fence in the old course where the all the birds are, warn surrounding residents to make their boundaries higher and keep the access gates closed. Ban all dog walking on first 9 and leave the coastal 9 as a green lung. Remember the long winter when your caterers need our support. We don’t ask much.
It may be a consideration to invite serious dog walkers to pay for the privilege of walking dogs on the course and the issuing of paid permits might prove a win-win for all concerned. I know most dog walkers in our village truly value the opportunity to walk their dogs on the the golf course and will undertake to ensure fellow dog walkers accept responsibility for staying away in season and when golfers are playing – and will also collect and dispose of all dog poohs.
I totally agree with all the above comments. All this trouble and bad vibes between the club and the dog walkers is so unnecessary. The seven or eight permanent dog walkers have well behaved dogs who have practically been brought up on the golf course. They do not stray from the path and boundary area. In eight years I have not seen one of our dogs chase birds. Come on Committee, it,s one hour a day we are asking for. And in return we will keep your course clean and shame those who do not do so. We love that course as much as you do.
Please correct me if I am wrong. The extension of the golf course was built on ‘Public Open Space’ and one of the conditions was that it would still be available to the public.
This is one area where we feel safe walking our dogs and as mentioned above we respect the golfers and enjoy the course as much as they do.