Golf course planning to graze course with sheep (+electric fences) - any advice?

[patricks148]

Brora's are single strand about 15" off the ground, for access they simply have a couple of sections of rubber hose pipe covering the live fence you simply step over.

Its about knee high on me and a single strand, and as Kenny says they have a bit of rubber hose on a section each side of the green.

Was speaking to a mate thats a member there last night and he said the sheep can be a nuisance in the bunkers. when its windy they shelter in them and don't always use the easiest exit... after all they are stupid.. a bit like the cows

 

[seochris]

I've played at both North Devon and Brora both of which have grazing animals on them and electric fences round the greens. As Patrick said they are just under knee high. No issues really.

If you hit the fence while chipping you get another shot. The only pain is if you run your trolley through the doo doo....not nice to clean off.....

 

[dewsweeper]

Mint!!!
I didn't get it first read either.
I love this forum.

 

[ship69]

Mint!!!
I didn't get it first read either.
I love this forum.

Maybe we'll plant a couple of rosemary bushes too

 

[BrianM]

Hello

Do any of you greenkeepers have any experience of grazing a golf course with sheep during the off season, using electric fences?



If not, where could I best ask for some advice of other greenkeepers?




Background
We need to make a small remote 9 hole course in the West Highlands of Scotland more profitable. We can get useful grants if we graze the course 6 months per year. Moreover as well as reducing the amount of actual mowing that is needed, sheep are good at keeping down the rough particularly in the more inaccessible/steeper parts of the course. The sheep will be relatively light-weight breeds - mostly Blackface and hybrids with Blackface.


The plan would be to fence off each green separately, plus the clubhouse itself. There is a power supply in the clubhouse, so we may not need batteries for the electric fencing, although that would involve connecting everything up with rather long wiring... possibly using underground wiring. The plan would be to have a low standard 3-wire electric fence. We could possibly have gates in the electric fences, to allow easy access to golfers.


All advice welcome! (...including where to find any specialist greenkeeper forums.)


With thanks


J

Ullapool golf course?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I think the 9 holer on Bute have the single wire fence...not electric if I remember correctly.
The new course on Islay also have sheep and I think cattle grazing freely.
Seems to work well.
Sheep are ideal for grazing on golf courses as they only allow the finer grasses to survive.
Bunkers will be a problem, remember the first bunkers on golf courses were designed by sheep.

 

[delc]

The Church Stretton course has sheep grazing on it without electric fences around the greens, and the greens there are fantastically good. I don't think the sheep like the fine grass on the greens.

 

[Bigfoot]

Barra has cows on the course and have solar powered electric fences.

 

[Old Skier]

Royal North Devon does not use an electric fence although it does use a fence, Yelverton however does.

 

[Robobum]

Royal North Devon does not use an electric fence although it does use a fence, Yelverton however does.

I don't remember yelverton having fences. Local rules for relief on the green from hoof marks and horse piss burns, but no fences

 

[SaintHacker]

adding to the list... New Forest GC at Lyndhurst in Hampshire has all sorts grazing on it. Sheep, cattle, horses... no lecky fences round the greens though.

Never seen sheep up there, been a lot of deer about lately though, along with the usual herds of suicidal dog walkers... There was talk of fencing the greens a while back (as they do at Bramshaw) but it was thrown out.

 

[guest100718]

Royston has a number of sheep pens on it. Theyre not OOB either

 

[Tashyboy]

When I was in Ireland a couple of weeks ago, we went to Achill island. There were sheep everywhere. Literally on the only flat part of the island was a golf course. Called in for a ball marker for me Homie Trev, but they did not have any/do any. Anyway, I had a look over the course and was gobsmacked to see all the greens surrounded by fences, for obvious reasons. The fairways looked quite good. The course looked like it was having an open day and was rammed.
played Wollaton for the third time this year and the green keepers must go mad seeing the hoof prints on the greens from the deer. Mainly in the winter though.

 

[guest100718]

i think Mid herts golf club had some cows wandering around