Llama golf caddies drive tourism………
To 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.
Elwood, a Suri llama, has twisty strands of fiber and can carry up to 85 pounds — though the golf bags typically weigh only 23. Photo by Clifford A. Sobel for Axios.
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.
Lightning the llama gets up close and personal with Maureen Plattner (left) and 4-year-old Isla Craig (right). Photos by Clifford A. Sobel for Axios
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
“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.”
At left, Sonya Rhiver of Raleigh takes a swing as her husband, Dave, looks on. At right, Mark English stands next to Lightning the llama. Photos by Clifford A. Sobel for Axios
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
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.
Elwood the llama helps Kate Warner of Horse Shoe, N.C., with her swing. Photo: Clifford A. Sobel for Axios
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.
Jenifer Lyons takes a shot. When a llama is your caddy, you need to carry a stake to put in the ground as you proceed along the fairway. Photo: Clifford A. Sobel for Axios
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.
Lightning the llama checks out Dave Rhiver’s form. Photo: Clifford A. Sobel for Axios
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.
The reward for a good caddy tends to be a bowl of water and a handful of tasty greens. Photo: Clifford A. Sobel for Axios
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Data: NCSL and Ballotpedia; Note: Mississippi’s supreme court voided the state’s initiative process in 2021; Map: Axios Visuals
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