News & events detail
03 March 2011
Dogs on the golf courses
There are an increasing number of reports that dog walkers have been allowing their dogs to roam freely on the golf courses, which amongst other problems has lead to a disturbance of wildlife on the courses and has caused alarm to some members of the club. Members are requested to notify the Managing Secretary of instances where the advice below is not being adhered to, and where the identity of dog owner is known, including this.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code, supported by legislation and agreed with the Ramblers Association have issued the guidelines below:
Extract from the Scottish Outdoor Access Code:
You can only exercise access rights to cross over a golf course and in doing so, you must keep off golf greens at all times and not interfere with any golf games or damage the playing surface. Golf courses are intensively used and managed, and there can be hazards such as where golfers are playing “blind” shots. In exercising access rights:
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allow players to play their shot before crossing a fairway;
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be still when close to a player about to play;
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follow paths where they exist; and
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keep your dog on a short lead.
To avoid damaging the playing surface, cyclists and horse riders need to keep to paths at all times and not go on to any other part of a golf course. When fertilisers and pesticides have been used, the duration of any hazard depends on the material used but should not normally extend more than a few days. Golf course managers can ask you to avoid using particular routes at these times. Following such advice can greatly help to minimise risks to safety.
