This might just be the only time of year that golfers see Canada Geese V’ing overhead and don’t have the urge to aim an imaginary shotgun at the flock.
Spring brings gentler dispositions.
“Welcome back old foes. We’ll look for your calling cards on the greens.”
Whenever I see geese near a golf course, I think of this story:
The year was 1986 and a young PGA pro named Brian Sanderson was early in a career that would span more than twenty years with BOYNE. Brian had been receiving complaints from guests about the geese that had decided to call the 18th hole of the Alpine Course home. Brian took the matter to BOYNE’s founder and owner Everett Kircher.
Mr. Kircher was many things and nothing if not complex. He was a business force, inventor, avid outdoorsman, jet pilot, philanthropist and (his favorite title) a great fly-fisherman. He is also credited with starting the golf boom in Northern Michigan.
His solution was as quick as it was simple.
“If we want to get rid of those geese we just have to shoot one. The rest will get the message and that will be the last of it.”
This was a logical response from a no-nonsense man who had hunted the world over. Visitors to BOYNE will still find many of his exotic trophies decorating the walls of the resorts. There was one hitch that no one would have expected. More...
