Golfing Is Good To Goat at Eastmoreland Course

News Article

Grass-munching, natural lawnmowers on site at hole #13

(Portland, OR) -

Have you herd? Don't blame them if you hit a baaaaad shot. Several goats are temporarily taking up residence at Eastmoreland Golf Course, part of the five courses in the Portland Parks Golfsystem.

Goats pause between bites of leaves at Eastmoreland Golf Course in late September, 2024. 10 goats and one llama are helping trim vegetation without chemicals or heavy equipment.

The 13^th hole at Eastmoreland features a ravine which bisects the par-5 fairway, overgrown weeds on its steep banks. To manage the issue without herbicides or heavy machinery, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and golf management firm KemperSports contracted local goat-renting professionals, GoGoatOregon. Starting last Saturday, September 21, 10 goats and one llama (named Dewey) began munching the weeds and trimming the greens at Eastmoreland hole 13. They're expected to be "working" for an estimated two to three weeks.

"The llama has already deterred a curious coyote," says John Ball, Portland Parks & Recreation maintenance supervisor at Eastmoreland and RedTail Golf Courses. "He and the goats are exceeding my expectations, having a great time eating all the leaves and they are super cute. It's awesome watching them work."

Ball says he came up with the idea when the United States Golf Association (USGA) did a course consultation at Eastmoreland in July.

"We talked about management and strategy for that challenging ravine, and the USGA representative said, 'What about goats?' And I thought this was genius. No need for chemicals or equipment and it was a chance for a popular, highly visible part of the course to be maintained effectively."

"It's not only a way to bring smiles to people's faces," says Portland Parks Golf Director Vincent Johnson. "But goats are effective and eco-friendly. This is about caring for a valuable recreational asset and furthering the environmental stewardshipthat is a core part of Portland Parks Golf philosophy and practices."

About Portland Parks Golf

Portland Parks Golf has been meeting the recreation and golf needs of the Portland community since 1918 and has a long history of holding various high-profile golf events, including four USGA national championships.

In fiscal year 2024, over 296,000 rounds were played on Portland Parks Golf courses. We are proud to offer lessons by trained golf professionals, meeting and hospitality facilities for public and private events and tournaments at each of our properties.

Portland Parks Golf is an enterprise fund. It covers its operating costs with user fees paid by public golfers and no tax dollars. Revenue made in excess of costs are placed in the golf fund. The reserve in the golf fund supports future capital projects and helps mitigate negative impacts to revenue, like poor weather.

Over forty full-time and part-time City employees maintain the five Portland Parks Golf courses. An addition, more than 260 people work for the clubhouse contractors in the pro shops, restaurants, and driving ranges.

Please note that dogs should not be brought onto Portland Parks Golf courses.

Environmental Stewardship

Portland's golf courses play a crucial role in achieving the City's Climate Action Plan by delivering ecosystem services, such as improving air and water quality, providing wildlife habitat. The open space provided by the golf courses host a diverse range of native species, from great blue herons and salmon to native grasses and legacy trees.

Portland's public golf courses, covering over 800 acres of green space within our metro area, serve to filter and absorb a vast amount of stormwater, which mitigates local impacts from climate change.

All Portland Parks Golf courses are Salmon-Safe certified, meaning they achieve strict standards to protect the health of our City's watersheds and restore salmon habitat. Learn more at salmonsafe.org.

Both Heron Lakes and Eastmoreland golf courses are certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries, enhancing the important urban wildlife habitats that golf courses provide. Learn more at auduboninternational.org/acsp-for-golf.

Portland Parks Golf courses host managed bee hives, promoting pollination and collaborate with Columbia Slough Watershed Council to seed new pollinator patches at Heron Lakes.

Portland Parks Golf includes maintenance practices include the innovative Greenway Program, that when fully implemented, can reduce chemical inputs by as much as 75%.

All courses follow PP&R Integrated Pest Management Programand City of Portland Urban Forestry best practices.

Heron Lakes was named in honor of the heron rookery that thrives on-site.

Portland Parks Golf is honored to partner with impactful, local non-profits, including:

• Columbia Slough Watershed Council
• Johnson Creek Watershed Council
• Crystal Springs Partnership
• Salmon-Safe
• Portland Audubon Society
• Oregon Bee Project

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