Carlisle Country Club is testing out a new vegetation management tool: Grazing Green Goats.

The club decided to use the goats to clear a gully in front of their #18 tee box. According to superintendent Greg Fantuzzi, weed control in the area has been a problem at the club for many years. Carlisle Country Club decided to use the goats because “the process is environmentally friendly in that no chemicals are used”. The club has also calculated that the goats will save the club “approximately $6,000 and this does not include the costs of lost time due to staff being off with poison ivy, bee stings, etc. (Naturally, the intent is to use these savings in other areas of the course which directly influence play)”.

Goats have been used at other clubs around the country for similar weed control problems, but Carlisle Country Club is the first club in Central PA to use this process. Fantuzzi says that  “the results of this test period will determine if the goats will be used in the future” at the club. Other area superintendents with similar weed control issues have already contacted Greg about the process.

The goats are leased from Grazing Green Goats located in Hummelstown, PA. You will find a lot of interesting information by visiting their website.