TAMPA, Fla. - Something that will never cease to put a smile on players’ faces at the golf course? Seeing a four-legged friend running around.
At a number of courses around the state, you'll see the golf staff riding around with a canine companion tagging along. Overseas, you'll encounter quite a few dogs on the links, but here in the United States it is more limited. You'll likely see them riding along with the maintenance crew or spending time in the pro shop. The jobs of these golf course dogs range from chasing birds and geese to greeting members.
Courses around Florida embrace these furry friends, like Riomar Country Club in Vero Beach where Ollie goes to work every day with superintendent Dennis Croumie. At Fairwinds Golf Course in Fort Pierce, Marley, who belongs to head professional Mark Cammarene, can often be found welcoming the golfers as they get to the course.
These dogs will wag their tails and say hello to everyone, but you won’t see them barking during a member’s backswing or running into the bunkers.
"Ruby is a very smart girl," Fiddlesticks superintendent, Gabe Gallo said of his dog Ruby. "She has been trained not to walk on greens or bunkers. If I walk across the middle of a green, she will run along the collar to meet me on the other side."
Meet some of the coolest canines around the state.
Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club
Name: Drake
Age: 10 years old
Breed: Vizsla
Owner: Jack Creveling - Superintendent
How He Got the Job: Creveling got him at eight weeks from a breeder in Lakeland, FL
Job Duties: Loves chasing birds off fairways (not as much as he did 5 years ago)
I'll Never Forget the Time: The club name the Member/Member tournament after him - The Drake
"He is super friendly and soft to touch," Creveling said. "On days he’s at home, I get asked a handful of times where he is."
Pine Tree Golf Club
Name: Flynn
Age: 2.5 years old
Breed: Golden Retriever
Owner: Joe Pantaleo - Superintendent
Likes: Flynn is obsessed with balls, go figure
How He Learned the Job: He was able to learn the ropes on how to socaialize from his older brother Wade before he passed. They were a great pair together.
"Flynn is so handsome and friendly to all of the dog loving members," Pantaleo said. "A select few give him treats and loving each day we see each other."
Fairwinds Golf Course
Name: Marley
Age: 12 years old
Breed: Yellow Labrador Retriever
Owner: Mark Cammarene - Head Professional
How He Got the Job: Cammarene adopted Marley from the Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida four years ago
Job Duties: Laying down underneath a large oak tree behind the driving range
I'll Never Forget: How much Marley enjoys playing “Golf Baseball” with our kids in our summer junior golf camps.
"He always has a smile and a wag when he greets the golfers," Cammarene said.
Riomar Country Club
Name: Ollie
Age: 3 years old
Breed: Toy Poodle
Owner: Dennis Croumie - Superintendent
How He Got the Job: Croumie got him from a local home breeder as a pet for him and his family
Job Duties: Runs along with the cart all over the course and participate in the staff lunch break by begging every staff member for scraps
I'll Never Forget the Time: Ollie was a puppy, probably about 3 months old, he was running on the golf course and didn’t understand the concept of a pond and ran straight in the water without realizing that he was about to fall in and get wet.
Fiddlesticks Country Club
Name: Ruby
Age: 3 years old
Breed: Yellow Labrador Retriever
Owner: Gabe Gallo - Superintendent
How He Got the Job: Ruby came to Gallo's family through a golf vendor
"The vendor was not a breeder, but decided to have a litter, with their two labs they owned," Gallo said. "The vendor approached my wife and I if we were interested in any lab pups. At the time we were looking for a dog through the local Humane Society, with no luck. So we decided to see the litter, and immediately fell in love with 3-month old Ruby (which was her original name)."
Job Duties: Chasing fox squirrels and looking out for members who have tasty treats for her
I'll Never Forget the Time: When we got the big news this past February that Ruby was featured in the GCSAA and LebenonTurf’s 2022 Dog Days of Golf Calendar. Being in the calendar qualified her for Dog of the Year, which she won by vote in February. Ruby is the 2022 Dog of the Year by the GCSAA.
