Llama golf caddies drive tourism, attract "llama-razzi"
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Dave Rhiver of Raleigh played a round with Sandy, a male llama, as his caddy. Photo: Clifford A. Sobel for Axios
Golfing with llama caddies — who carry your clubs uncomplainingly — is the hottest ticket in North Carolina.
Why it matters: Tourism and recreational activities involving llamas have been on an upswing.
- Llama (and alpaca) lovers attend competitive llama shows and invite llamas to visit schools, libraries and nursing homes.
- You can go hiking with your own llama — and the pack-bearing animal may even carry your gear and beer.
- The animals are popular to rent as wedding guests — and they're selfie-magnets that never fail to halt traffic when they're out in public.
Catch up quick: At the Sherwood Forest Golf Club in Brevard, North Carolina, the phone rings 3-4 times a day with people who want to book the llama golf caddies.
- "We get everything – first-time golfers, kids, senior citizens — it's universal," said Mark English, who has trained some of his 30 llamas to carry the clubs.
- The llamas also go trekking with guests at nearby Earthshine Lodge — where the female llamas live.
- They work regularly with SOAR, a wilderness therapy program for children with ADHD and learning disabilities.
- And they do weddings — and go to schools on class photo day.
What they're saying: "Meet Lightning, the world's nicest llama," English told a group of golfers during a recent visit with Axios.
- Lightning, a 13-year-old white male, is poised to participate in his 37th wedding, says English, whose business is called English Mountain Llama Treks.
- "I wish I could freeze him in time," said English, who sprinkles his speech with expressions like "awesome sauce" and "perfect sauce."
- "He is the Snugglemaster 2000 — give him a big hug."
How it works: Llamas are sturdy and docile animals bred to carry heavy loads in the Andes Mountains, so they don't think twice about being saddled with 23 pounds of golf clubs.
- English has had special "cross-tree" saddles made for them by a company called Quality Llama Products (which also makes alpaca cookie cutters and "Spit Happens!" T-shirts).
- Each llama carries two custom-made golf bags that sit on the saddle.
- Each golfer is assigned a llama, leading the animal around 9 or 18 holes.
- English, who has a degree in turf management and used to own a golf course management business, accompanies the golfers and gives advice on club selection and course play.
Fun facts: Some golf clubs have tried goats and donkeys as caddies, with less success.
- Llamas are "amazingly trainable" — and hypoallergenic to boot, English said.
- Plus, they don't pull up the grass when they graze, and their soft toes are easier on the fairway than golf carts.
Flashback: For years there was a llama caddy rivalry between Sherwood Forest Golf Club and a nearby golf course in North Carolina, Talamore.
- The whole llama caddy thing "blew up in 2009," English said.
- "When I saw cars stopping on the side of the road to take pictures, I knew we were onto something." (He calls them the "llama-razzi.")
Yes, but: It's time-consuming and laborious to gear up the llamas to play golf — and make sure it's not too hot for them — and someone must accompany each golfing foursome.
- Talamore discontinued the llama caddy program years ago, though visitors can still see four remaining animals on the property.
- English still does it sparingly, preferring to rent the llamas out for hikers and campers.
- He made an exception for an Axios reporter and her partner — the photographer of these pictures — and members of his extended family, who did the golfing.
Between the lines: Golfing with llamas is more about the experience and novelty than about the golf, which proceeds slowly.
- "It kind of takes all the tension out of the game," said Jenifer Lyons of Black Mountain, North Carolina, who likened golfing with llamas to yoga with goats.
- Her friend Sonya Rhiver, of Raleigh, North Carolina, agreed. "When I hit a bad shot, I just come pet the llama and don't care."
- Sonya's husband, Dave Rhiver, found the llamas a relaxing presence. "They don't swear as much as my friends," he observed.
Zoom out: North Carolina is a golfer's paradise. The U.S. Open was just held in Pinehurst and the U.S. Golf Association has a growing presence.
- Asheville, in the western part of the state, is the biggest city near the llama golf course, and a major tourist area.
The bottom line: Llama caddies are rare and hard to book, but other llama experiences — such as hikes and rentals for photo opps — are plentiful.
