Veteran caddies Bruce LeGoat and Mike LeChevon set to retire following the 2022 season as Chunky and Charlie join the ranks
SILVIES, Oregon – The Links at Silvies Valley Ranch announced today that two new goat caddies have been added to the resort’s staff. Chunky and Charlie were selected from over 300 young goats at the ranch all vying for a spot on the caddie team. Goat caddies are available to assist golfers on McVeigh’s Gauntlet, the property’s 7-hole challenge course that was named Best New Golf Experience by Golf Magazine in 2018. The stunning 7-hole course was designed as a fun yet challenging course to help players settle bets and test their accuracy on a series of undulating par 2, par 3, and par 4’s.
While on duty, goat caddies carry up to six golf clubs, a dozen golf balls, golf tees, and six cans of refreshment, along with a few dozen peanuts for themselves. Silvies caddies are equipped with a custom goat caddie backpack designed by Seamus Golf.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chunky and Charlie to our team of caddies,” said Sandy Campbell, head of the goat caddie program at Silvies. “Both of these guys have worked tirelessly to earn their spot on the staff, and they are sure to be adored by golfers and resort guests. After all, they never give any baaad advice on the course!”
The ranch has the largest herd of organic meat goats in the world. The goats are used to help improve the sustainable environment at the ranch, and as a healthier alternative to other kinds of protein at the ranch’s gourmet restaurant and other white tablecloth restaurants and homes in the region. The purebred American Range Goats are two – eight years old when caddying full time, and they work three to four days a week for about four hours per day.
The McVeigh Course is about a half-mile long, and goat caddies get a 20 minute break between rounds, along with a healthy snack of organic antelope brush and juniper. Golfers must take a short training course to have a caddie and are given a two-way radio for questions or to summon a human if any disagreements occur with their caddie.
Like all caddies, they have their own caddy shack (by the clubhouse) where they lounge around until they’re called. At night, they have caddie quarters in the stable where guests can go visit and pet them.
The goat caddies are one of the many things that make Silvies unique. Recognized by Golfweek, Golf Digest,GOLF Magazine and Golf Inc. for its innovative approach to the golf experience, Silvies boasts both quality golf as well as the opportunity to connect with the land on a deeper level. In addition to golf, guests can enjoy a variety of ranch activities, including horseback riding, shooting, fishing, hiking, cattle feeding and goat herding. Ranked in the Top 15 Golf Resorts in America by Robb Report, the property features luxurious Western-inspired accommodations, farm-to-table dining options, an extensive Scotch collection, and one of the largest spas in Oregon, making the boutique eco-resort a must-see destination.
For more information on Silvies Valley Ranch or to book your retreat, please call 1-800-SILVIES (745-8437), email info@silvies.us or visit www.silvies.us.
About The Retreat, Links and Spa at Silvies Valley Ranch
The Retreat, Links and Spa at Silvies Valley Ranch is a boutique 34-room eco-resort, complete with luxurious accommodations, fine dining, a conference center, full-service fitness center and spa. The property offers an award-winning golf experience for players of all skill levels, with two reversible 18-hole courses – the Hankins and Craddock Courses – McVeigh’s Gauntlet, a stunning 7-hole ridge course, and Chief Egan, a mountain meadow 9-hole par-3 course. Merging lodge and spa amenities with an amazing, diverse golf experience, intertwined with an authentic Western ranch ranked among the top 50 ranches in the U.S., Silvies Valley Ranch is the ultimate Western luxury retreat. Each and every stay brings the experience of a lifetime – visit and be Simply Amazed.
Silvies Valley Ranch, founded in 1883, is an ecologically sustainable Western livestock ranch and guest retreat with abundant herds of healthy wildlife, cattle and goats. In many ways, it sets the standard for sustainable ranching and environmental practices. Made up of 150,000 acres of deeded and leased National Forest lands in and surrounding Silvies Valley, Oregon, the property is home to countless wildlife species, mountain meadows, Ponderosa Pine forest, the Silvies River, and 12 other creeks and streams.
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Taryn Parker
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