Goat Caddies Take Over the Fairways at Silvies Valley Ranch in Oregon

Nestled in the rugged Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon lies Silvies Valley Ranch, a sprawling luxury resort that offers visitors a taste of the Wild West. But this resort isn't just known for its stunning vistas and upscale accommodations - it's also home to a unique caddie program that has golfers talking.

Since 2018, Silvies Valley Ranch has been employing a team of highly trained goats to serve as caddies on its challenging McVeigh's Gauntlet course. This seven-hole challenge course is too steep for traditional golf carts, so the ranch's owner, Dr. Scott Campbell, decided to put the property's 3,000 grazing goats to work.

The goat caddie program at Silvies Valley Ranch is a world first, and according to Dr. Campbell, the current team is the best that's ever done it. "A lot of people said it was a stupid idea," he told CNN. "They thought it would make people call us a goat track. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everybody has a good time...People come from all over the world."

The goat caddies go through a rigorous three-month evaluation process starting as young as six months old. They are selected based on their friendliness and physical aptitude, then fitted with custom-made golf bags tailored by Oregon-based company Seamus Golf. These bags contain the essentials - six clubs, extra balls and tees, and even a few dozen peanuts as their daily wage.

The chosen goats are then trained on the course and put on a carefully monitored physical and nutrition regime before taking on their new roles at two years old. They work six-hour shifts three to four days a week, with an on-site vet visiting the "caddy shack" next to the clubhouse on a weekly basis.

The current team of eight goat caddies - Chunky, Mulligan, Harry, Bogey, Birdie, Charlie, Carrot, and Jack - have captivated golfers from around the world. And with nine yearlings in training and 10 three-month-old prospects waiting in the wings, the future of goat caddying at Silvies Valley Ranch looks bright.

For golfers looking to experience this one-of-a-kind adventure, Silvies Valley Ranch offers various golf packages that include the use of a goat caddie. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the friendly animals and even snap a few photos to share on social media. Who knows, you might even get to caddie for the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of the goat world.

To book your tee time with a goat caddie at Silvies Valley Ranch, visit their website at [insert website URL] or consider supporting Justice Pretorius on their Buy Me a Coffee page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JusticePretorius. And don't forget to check out Justice's blog at justicepretorius.blogspot.com for more unique travel adventures.