This Oregon Golf Course Uses Goats As Caddies

It’s a warm, summer morning in Eastern Oregon, and you’re ready to conquer McVeigh’s Gauntlet at The Links at Silvies Valley Ranch. You’re all ready, fully equipped with clubs, golf balls, tees and…a goat?

In July 2018, the Seneca-based golf course is officially opening McVeigh’s Gauntlet. The seven-hole challenge course designed by Dan Hixson sees players winding through a ridge course carved into a razorback, with their faithful caddies by their sides. Those loyal helpers were born and bred on the ranch and professionally trained. They’re the G.O.A.T.—literally.

When Silvies Valley Ranch unveils the Gauntlet, it will also be revealing its new caddie program: American Range Goats. Each animal will be saddled up with a custom-designed caddie pack that carries drinks, golf balls, tees and a few clubs.

“The idea came from the goats themselves,” says Colby Marshall, Vice President of Livestock and Guest Services at Silvies Valley Ranch. “They have been seeking other career opportunities on the ranch, so we developed a new career path for them. Quite frankly, they’re stampeding to it!”

Playing a grueling course becomes much less intimidating with a goat by your side, and that was the goal at Silvies. McVeigh’s Gauntlet is meant to be a difficult yet fun and care-free short course, designed to settle bets and test accuracy with a series of par 3s and par 4s.

“We’re taking the golf experience to a new level in 2018,” explains Dr. Scott Campbell, veterinarian and owner of The Retreat & Links at Silvies Valley Ranch. “We’ve been developing an unprecedented caddie training program with our head caddie, Bruce LeGoat, to ensure that he and his team are ready for the opening of The Gauntlet this summer. We’re truly redefining both goat and golf operations at the ranch.”

He adds, “Can you think of another course where its caddies were literally born, raised and fully educated on-property? We will get you a caddie who really knows the course and won’t give you any bad advice—and they work for peanuts!”

The staff’s fun-loving attitude is a result of hard work and care for the animals they raise on the ranch. Silvies Valley Ranch is an ecologically sustainable Western livestock ranch and guest retreat housed on 140,000 acres of deeded and leased National Forest and BLM lands that are lush with mountain meadows, the Ponderosa Pine forest, the Silvies River and a dozen creeks and drainages.

The ranch prides itself on quality, freedom, efficiency, and responsibility, and now it can pride itself on its goat caddie program too.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.