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LOCAL GOLF NEWS by Bill Cromwell , Publisher
This Man ’ s Best Friend ’ s Name is Fred
The dog , according to popular American culture sayings , is man ’ s best friend . Many women would disagree , and rightfully so . Nevertheless , if you ’ re old enough , you ’ ll remember the 1954 TV series “ Lassie ” that ran through 1973 . In the show , Timmy and his beloved Lassie were inseparable and went on adventure after adventure . Timmy ’ s days and life revolved around Lassie .
Most of us pet lovers with jobs scratch our pets goodbye in the morning as we usher them into their kennel while we ’ re off to work . Once home in the evening , the love ’ n , play , and baby talk with our “ best friends ” consumes our evening . Only pet owners can relate .
However , for golf course superintendents , their canine sidekicks are with them 24 / 7 .
In 2015 , Tom moved his greenkeeping talents to Unity Village Golf Course , where for the next seven years the tradition continued — Fred side-by-side with Tom .
Fred ’ s day at Unity Village Golf Course started at sunrise when he took his place in the utility cart and was ready for work .
Fred was just one of those “ Cool Dogs !” If you played golf at either course regularly , then you certainly knew Fred . Tom says , “ It was funny how people would come up and greet or pet Fred totally focused on him — it was like I wasn ’ t even there when Fred was around . However , when he wasn ’ t there to greet golfers , most people were quick to ask , ‘ Where ’ s Fred ?”’
Tom and Fred 2010 . Fred has the hair !
One day in 2008 , while Tom Poppa was , at the time , General Manager and Superintendent at Teetering Rocks Golf Course in Kansas City , MO , his soon-to-be lifelong mixed-breed canine sidekick just showed up . “ Fred just showed up at the course ,” says Tom . “ I first saw him on the 18th hole when he ran out and snatched a ball off the green . He was skinny and a little bit afraid of people .”
From that day forward , Tom and Fred were inseparable and went on adventure after adventure . Tom ’ s days and life revolved around Fred .
During Tom ’ s eight years at Teetering Rocks , Fred was either running alongside the maintenance cart or riding in it next to Tom . At the end of the day , they went home together and then back to the course the next morning before sunrise — day in and day out .
While at Unity Village Golf Course shooting photos one day I turned around and found Fred in my cart next to my camera bag . He was not getting out ; he ’ s going with me . ( 2018 photo )
To know Fred was to love him . Fred spent most of his time hanging around the clubhouse , greeting golfers as they showed up to play or greeting them on the course . Fred was always willing to accept a bite of a hot dog as a treat if offered . Tom loved Fred endlessly and fed Fred high-quality dog food , but a hot dog seemed to quickly get Fred ’ s attention .
8 August 2023 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE