Guest Post In a world of perfect pairings like tea and cake, scones and jam, and William and Kate… Dogs and golf should really be one of them. If you’re a golfer who happens to also love spending time with your furry friend, then why not make it a thing?
Okay, so not all golf courses will let you bring your beloved floof for a round. But some welcome them, and I encourage you to share a golfing experience with your best bud at least once!
Of course, for the experience to actually be fun and not stressful for both you and your dog, preparation is key. Here’s my advice (as a golfer and a dog lover) on how to make this an enjoyable outing for everyone involved.
N.B. Some courses ask for proof of vaccination or a health certificate from a vet before your dog will be allowed. First, make sure you CAN actually take your pup onto the course before you prepare everything else.
Essential Golf Course Gear for Your Dog
You already know what gear you need for your round. But if you want this shared experience to be fun for your dog too, make sure you kit them out with everything they need to be happy and healthy on the course.
Leashes and Harnesses
Your first responsibility is making sure you can control your pup on the course. Unless your dog is super stranger-friendly and has excellent recall, you shouldn’t be letting it off the leash—and even then, some golf courses may prohibit it so check beforehand.
A harness is always a better idea than a leash because it’s easier (and safer) to lead your dog by the entire torso than it is by just the collar. A fixed long line leash could be a good idea if you want to give your fluff some freedom without allowing them to run rampant and steal golf balls, but make sure they can’t wrap it around you, your caddy or the golf cart to prevent accidents.
Collapsible Water Bowls
Even if you’re driving your pup around on a golf cart, the excitement of new sights, scents, and people will get them worked up. Make sure you have a water bowl (and of course, water) with you. A collapsible one is always more convenient for carrying purposes.
I suggest carrying some bottled water with you, because you never know if water will be freely available on the course. Rather take too much than too little—a round of golf can last a lot of hours, and you don’t want your pup to dehydrate.
Pro tip: A wheelie cooler box is an excellent idea to keep it cool and easy to move around with you at the same time.
Food/Treats
A round of golf isn’t a short endeavor! Just like you’d snack on a protein bar or trail mix throughout the day, make sure you have a snack for your pup to enjoy that’ll bump up their energy too. Keep in mind that some snacks may make them more thirsty.
Waste Disposal Bags
Yes, your dog most likely WILL mess on the course. Make sure you’re prepared to clean up after them! Sturdy bags, gloves, and a scoop should be enough to keep the course pristine. You might want to also figure out where to store the full bags until you can find a bin to dispose of them.
Comfort and Safety Accessories
Having your fluff with you on the course might be great fun for you, but it’s your responsibility to make sure they’re as safe as possible throughout the day. Not to focus on the negatives but a bit of preparation for potential issues upfront could save the day if something does happen on the course.
Dog Cooling Vests
Aside from keeping your pup hydrated, if you’re hitting the course in summer weather, a cooling vest is an excellent idea. They’re made from specific technical material that helps keep your pup’s body temperature at a healthy level, and they work super well for fluffs with a lot of fur and those with flat faces who are more prone to heatstroke.
Dog Sun Protection Gear
A cooling vest will help, but it won’t protect your dog from the effects of the sun on their skin. Dogs can get sunburned just like us, which isn’t just painful for them, it can actually lead to skin cancer.
Use a pet-safe, vet-approved sunscreen, and don’t forget to reapply every few hours! Your pup’s nose, ear tips, and belly are more susceptible to getting burned, so lather it on. Wherever possible, keep your dog in shaded areas.
P.S. Your dog’s paws should be fine on the grass of the course, but keep in mind that if you’re golfing on a hot day and you end up standing on the pavement or outside the clubhouse, your paws can easily get burned. Keep this in mind—booties can help!
Dog First Aid Kit
Taking some time to put together a small but thoughtful first aid kit could literally save your dog’s life. Here’s what we recommend putting together for easy access on the golf course:
- Disposable gloves
- A small splint
- Bandages and sticky tape
- A pair of tweezers (great for removing thorns)
- Healing ointment (for raw skin and cracked paws)
- Antihistamines (for bites and stings)
- Nausea/diarrhea remedies
- Activated charcoal (for poisoning)
- A muzzle (hurt dogs can snap, even if they’re good boys/girls)
- A small laminated card with your vet’s details on
If your dog is on chronic meds, keep a small supply inside your pup’s first aid kit just in case. If you’re traveling to a faraway course, do some research upfront and keep the details for the nearest vet with you in case of an emergency.
Entertainment and Relaxation
Your dog won’t be working on his swing or analyzing the slope of the green, so make sure you bring along some stuff that he’ll actually enjoy doing while you’re distracted.
Dog Toys for the Golf Course
A heavy-duty chew toy is a good idea to keep your pup busy. It should be good enough quality that it doesn’t leave tiny bits of material all over the golf course! I also recommend leaving the squeakers at home—imagine how mad you’d be if your drive went rogue because you were distracted by a loud squeak from a nearby dog toy.
Another great idea is to bring along some kind of enrichment toy to keep them busy, happy, and getting smarter all at the same time!
It goes without saying, but just to be safe… Make sure your dog can’t hurt themselves or choke on the toys you bring along.
Dogs Who Should NOT Be On the Golf Course
As much as you and your dog might be soulmates, some pups just aren’t suitable for this kind of adventure. Keep these kinds of dogs OFF the course:
- Heavy, big ones that you can’t control
- Those who LOVE to chase balls (or squirrels or people…)
- Dogs who live to bark
- Pups who enjoy digging
- Those who aren’t people-friendly
- Fluffs who are prone to anxiety
- Dogs with NO recall
If your dog falls into one of the categories above, you CAN train them to be a good golf course dog. But it takes time and effort, so you need to be dedicated if you want to turn your dog into your golfing buddy!
Conclusion
My final tip is to make sure your dog knows simple commands like “sit”, “stay”, and “no”. You don’t need to go and reinvent the wheel to raise a golf-friendly dog, but a bit of basic training can go a long way!
You can also train them to be used to your golf clubs by investing in a golf mat at home and practicing your putting around your pooch. It’ll help them to get used to the sight of you swinging clubs… And it’s also a great way to figure out how they’ll react to the golf ball. Ignore it or play fetch?
Once your dog is ready, I also advise picking an off-peak time for their first golf course experience. It’s a whole new world for them, so make it as easy as possible for them to enjoy it and get used to it before throwing them in the deep end with a packed golf course.
Have fun and enjoy this new way to bond with your best furry friend!
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.