A brilliant idea came to fruition Thursday morning at the Cochrane Golf Club.
Brad Walz, operations manager at the club, presented the Cochrane and Area Humane Society with a cheque for $1,000.
Last golf season saw a new initiative at the club. For the first time in club history, golfers were invited to take their dog golfing. It didn’t matter the time, or day. The club only asked participants to donate $5 to the society through a pet caddy green fee. Half of the $1,000 was collected through the fees and the other half was donated by the club.
“One of my first thoughts was to bring families back to the golf course and provide them with a fun filled, relaxed atmosphere of which they can spend quality time and enjoy their experience,” Walz said.
“I asked myself, why not include all of the family members? What family member typically dominates the household? The answer, the four legged one.”
The initiative was a success. The club is one of a handful in the country that allow pets on the golf course and the only club that doesn’t impose time and date restrictions.
Walz said based on the initiative’s inaugural success, the club will reintroduce the program in the spring. He said they will add a one-time membership fee for dogs that will allow participants to bring their dog throughout the season. Of course the membership fee will go straight to the society.
As a self-professed pet lover Walz decided that the society was the most deserving recipient of the donation. Society spokesperson Janine Possler, brought along a friendly and people loving pooch named Doc to the cheque presentation.
Doc has lived at the society for some time now. The six-year-old large mixed breed dog had surgery on his back hind leg and is recovering well. Possler said he would benefit from being adopted into a home with a big backyard or an acreage.
“A thousand dollars isn’t a small donation,” Possler said. She explained that a donation of that size could benefit their shelter operation or could fund a surgery for a dog just like Doc. She was very grateful to the club’s efforts and is hopeful that the initiative remains a success in years to come.
Walz thanks all responsible pet owners who made the initiative a success.
“Always keep in mind, the future of allowing dogs on the golf course is up to the owners. So far, so amazing,” Walz said.
