From the Asheville Chamber of Commerce blog, which picked up the press release from llamacaddy.com and the NBC Nightly news video story. Cute!
Press release:
Starting next Thursday, August 20th , golfers will be able to have a llama be their caddy at Maggie Valley Club. Llamas and their handlers from llamacaddy.com will be available for afternoon tee times with golfers. Golfers will walk the course with their llama caddy. Each llama will have a handler with it who will attend to any needs of the llama throughout the 18 holes.
Llamas are South American animals related to camels that have been used as pack animals as far back as the Incan empire. Llamas are great on the golf course because instead of regular hooves, llamas have soft pads on their feet which do not tear up the delicate grass on the course. The llamas can each carry 2 sets of golf clubs.
Llamacaddy.com is located in Brevard, NC. The llamas of llamacaddy.com are currently working with Sherwood Forest Country Club and now Maggie Valley Club. Llamacaddy.com has been featured on BBC News and this past Sunday was seen on the NBC Nightly News after the PGA Championship. In addition to golf caddies, llamas.com also books special events and children’s parties.
The llama rounds will happen every Thursday at 5 pm now through October 29th. Rounds of golf will include 9 holes and cost $70 plus tax. The number of llamas is limited and they will ONLY be available on Thursday afternoons. Please call the Maggie Valley Club Pro Shop at 828-926-6013 to schedule your round!
Here’s the video:
2 Comments
Kathi, that’s awesome!
Hi, Ash – I actually saw a version of this story when I was working on a project in South Texas in July. It was on the Corpus Christi TV news and shot by WSPA in Spartanburg. The Texas news anchors had a heyday making fun of North Carolinians…as in "only in North Carolina would they consider using llamas for golf caddies…I don’t understand those people."
Another interesting juxtaposition while there: A USA Today in my hotel room had an article about college superlatives. The Most Conservative College in the US: Texas A & M (my project was at Texas A & M – Kingsville). Next on the list: The Most Progressive College in the US: Warren Wilson College (two miles from my home/office).
Yes, we’re definitely different here in WNC.
–Kathi