Calling All Dogs
A look into our Dog Days of Golf Calendar in collaboration with GCSAA
It’s that time of year again where we at LebanonTurf, along with the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA), get to know a new round of golf dogs. Every year, we take submissions from golf courses all over the country who want their pal to be featured in our Dog Days of Golf Calendar. And each year, one of these lucky calendar dogs is chosen as our Dog of the Year, which comes with some pretty great perks.
But what is a golf dog? If you take it too literally, you might be thinking it’s a pooch that plays golf. And although we can’t completely rule that out—these pups are pretty talented—that's not quite what we mean.
When we talk about golf dogs, we mean the ones who are out every day saving the course from nuisances, greeting golfers and keeping their crew motivated. For example, our July dog, Bailey, does all of these things at The Florida Club in Stuart, Florida. When she isn’t working you can find Bailey in the lunchroom waiting patiently for a treat, or at home with her owner Chris.
Photo: Bailey@TheFloridaClub
Bailey is just one of 14 dogs who made it into our 2019 Dog Days of Golf Calendar. We have a very hard decision to make as we must narrow hundreds of pictures down to just 14 selections. We love to read the stories that come with the submissions. It always proves what a close bond there is between a superintendent and their dog.
The calendar features a photo of your dog “in the field” along with his/her write-up as well as a bit about their owner. The calendar also highlights golf industry events happening throughout the year.
If you are looking to submit your dog to be considered for the 2020 calendar, you have only until August 1, 2019. Owners of the selected dogs will be notified in September, and the calendar will come out in the November issue of GCM magazine.
The 2020 Dog Days of Golf Calendar will mark year number 17 that we’ve held the Dog of the Year contest that takes place annually at the Golf Course Industry (GIS).
Make plans now to stop by the LebanonTurf booth at GIS in January to place your vote for the 2020 Dog of the Year. The winner's owner will receive a $500 prize as well as $3,000 for his or her GCSAA-affiliated chapter. A $2,000 charitable donation will also be made by GCSAA and LebanonTurf in honor of the winner.
For more than a decade, LebanonTurf has been supporting golf course superintendents and their chapters through the Dog Days of Golf Calendar, but the support goes even further. For the last few years, we have had the privilege of making our charitable donation to K9s for Warriors, a nonprofit dedicated to providing service dogs to those who have served and are suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post-9/11. To learn more about their organization, please visit their website at K9sforWarriors.org.