Principal Charity Classic: Daisy May helps keep wildlife off Wakonda Club’s golf course
Daisy May, a silver Labrador at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, runs up to six miles daily to keep geese and squirrels off the golf course alongside assistant superintendent Tyler Kinney
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SHANNON. NOW I GOT A FUN FACT FOR YOU GUYS. A SINGLE GOOSE CAN EAT 4 POUNDS OF GRASS IN A SINGLE DAY. WHO KNEW? AND WILDLIFE THAT FEEDS ON GRASS IS NOT A WELCOME SIGHT ON A GOLF COURSE. AS COLIN HOLT SHOWS US. THESE GEESE ARE NO MATCH, THOUGH FOR ONE WAKANDA GOLF EMPLOYEE. THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE BUSIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR FOR WAKANDA CLUB ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT TYLER KINNEY, UP. GOOD THING HE HAS SOME HELP. THIS IS DAISY MAY. THIS IS OUR SILVER LAB HERE. WAKANDA. DAISY PRETTY MUCH RUNS THIS PLACE. LET’S GO. COME ON. LITERALLY. I MEAN, I THINK SHE PROBABLY RUNS AT LEAST 5 OR 6 MILES A DAY. DAISY MAY JOINED THE WAKANDA STAFF THREE YEARS AGO AS A PUPPY. AND WHILE IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET HER UP TO SNUFF, KENNY SAYS SHE WAS A PERFECT FIT. TRAINING A DOG TO BE USED TO MACHINES AND USED TO RUNNING AROUND. IT’S KIND OF HARD, BUT I THINK AS A ARE HERE MORE. THEY COME, MORE ADAPTIVE AND I THINK EVERY MORNING SHE’S EXCITED TO GET UP MORE THAN I AM. GOOD THING DAISY’S A QUICK LEARNER. OH MIGHTY KENDALL PALS. COME ON. WHILE SHE’S NOT CART PATH, ONLY DAISY KNOWS TO KEEP HER PAWS OFF THE BUNKERS AND GREENS. AND IF YOU DON’T SEE SQUIRRELS OR GEESE WANDERING ALL OVER THE COURSE THIS WEEK, WELL, YOU CAN THANK DAISY MAY FOR THAT. SO GEESE CAN BE A PROBLEM TO OUR TURF GRASS AND CAN REALLY CAUSE HAVOC. SO SHE KIND OF KEEPS THEM IN THE PONDS. SHE WON’T HURT THEM OR ANYTHING. SHE’S KIND OF HARASSES THEM AND KEEPS THEM IN THEIR PLACE. SO HOW’S THE COURSE LOOKING THIS WEEK? BEING THE OFFICIAL COURSE? DOG CAN BE ROUGH. WHEN SHE GETS HOME, SHE IS INSTANTLY TO THE COUCH NAPPING FOR US TODAY. SHE IS TIRED. SHE’S CHECKED OUT, BUT WITH DAISY MAE, THESE REALLY ARE THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER. NO, THERE’S NO BAD DAYS BEING A GOLF COURSE, DOG. CULLEN HOLT KCCI, IOWA’S SPORTS LEADER. AND LOOK WHO SHOWED UP TO VISIT US LIVE. THIS IS DAISY MAE. WHAT A PERFECT WAY TO END THIS SHOW. SCOTT. WHAT A GORGEOUS DOG. THE SILVER LAB. AND WHEN YOU WATCH THE GOLF, YOU’LL KNOW WHO’S REALLY IN CHARGE OUT HER
Principal Charity Classic: Daisy May helps keep wildlife off Wakonda Club’s golf course
Daisy May, a silver Labrador at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, runs up to six miles daily to keep geese and squirrels off the golf course alongside assistant superintendent Tyler Kinney
Updated: 9:42 PM CDT Jun 11, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Daisy May, a silver Labrador, helps maintain the Wakonda Club golf course in Des Moines by keeping geese and squirrels away. Assistant superintendent Tyler Kinney said Daisy May runs about 5 to 6 miles through the course each day. Her main responsibility is keeping wildlife off the course, ensuring golfers won’t encounter geese or squirrels during the Principal Charity Classic this year. Daisy May joined the Wakonda staff three years ago as a puppy. Kinney said she’s easily adapted to her environment, and the loud equipment doesn’t scare her off like it would most dogs.More Principal Charity Classic coveragePrincipal Charity Classic: Wakonda Club showcases challenging holes and dramatic elevationsPrincipal Charity Classic: Agronomists use science to prepare greens at Wakonda ClubNorwalk boy to receive adaptive bike at Principal Charity ClassicPrincipal Charity Classic: Zach Johnson’s favorite sandwich honored at Des Moines deliPrincipal Charity Classic 2026: Your guide to PGA Tour Champions event in Des Moines
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Daisy May, a silver Labrador, helps maintain the Wakonda Club golf course in Des Moines by keeping geese and squirrels away.
Assistant superintendent Tyler Kinney said Daisy May runs about 5 to 6 miles through the course each day.
Her main responsibility is keeping wildlife off the course, ensuring golfers won’t encounter geese or squirrels during the Principal Charity Classic this year.
Daisy May joined the Wakonda staff three years ago as a puppy.
Kinney said she’s easily adapted to her environment, and the loud equipment doesn’t scare her off like it would most dogs.
More Principal Charity Classic coverage
Principal Charity Classic: Wakonda Club showcases challenging holes and dramatic elevations
Principal Charity Classic: Agronomists use science to prepare greens at Wakonda ClubNorwalk boy to receive adaptive bike at Principal Charity ClassicPrincipal Charity Classic: Zach Johnson’s favorite sandwich honored at Des Moines deli
Principal Charity Classic 2026: Your guide to PGA Tour Champions event in Des Moines