Ironwood Golf Course horticulturist Kim Davidson gets a little help from her four-legged and furry assistant Max. Max, a 6-year-old Labradoodle, has been the official canine greeter and grounds crew member at the Byron Center golf course since he was just a pup.
Typically, he hangs out with Davidson helping to tend the flowerbeds, monitor the local wildlife, scan the woods for critters and greet the golfers. Max often stops for a snack break at the clubhouse before continuing his job flushing out voles, moles, chipmunks, muskrats and woodchucks.
Recently, Max was rewarded for all of his hard work when he was selected as one of 14 golf course dogs to have his photo featured in the Lebanon Turf/Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America 2015 Dog Days of Turf Calendar. He is the featured dog for the month of May.
On top of being included in the calendar, the 14 dogs selected will also have their photos and a write up about them displayed at LebanonTurf ‘s booth #9099 at the Golf Industry Show February 25-26 in San Antonio, TX. There attendees will vote on their favorite dog to be crowned the 2015 Dog of the Year!! If selected Lebanon Turf will make a $3,000 donation to the superintendent’s local GCSAA Chapter, award the dog’s owner a $500 cash prize, and make a $1,000 donation to the Train a Dog Save a Warrior (TADSAW) Foundation. TADSAW provides training for a Medial Alert service dog for any wounded warrior who is surviving with trauma disorders, such as PTSD. Those attending the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio will be able to vote for Max!
Max is owned by Dave and Joy Bradley. They have owned and operated Ironwood Golf Course for the past 39 years. Davidson, their daughter, has been the horticulturist for the past 13 years. She is a 2001 graduate of Michigan State University’s horticulture program and is an associate member of the GCSAA and is also a Michigan Certified Green Industry Professional and MSU Master Naturalist.
