Golf Etiquette: Must Golfers Tip Llama Caddies?

Golf is known as a social sport. Lately, some very social animals have contributed to this popular pastime by serving as caddies on a few select golf courses.

Golf etiquette is essential to the sport. A quiet and courteous caddy can be a considerable asset to any golfer. Traditionally, caddies have carried golfers' bags of golf clubs. Caddies have helped duffers determine which golf club to use for tricky pitching and putting. Caddies have polished golf clubs and golf balls.

And caddies have often complimented golfers on well-executed (or even not-so-well-executed) golf shots.

What happens when caddies are not even human?

At least two North Carolina golf facilities now offer llamas as caddies. These furry mammals, related to alpacas and camels, tote golf bags for players. Originally from Latin America, llamas have been used as pack animals for centuries. In fact, the ancient Incans apparently employed llamas for carrying construction supplies and other burdens.

On a couple of North Carolina golf courses, the llamas have become particularly popular as caddies in the colder months of the year. Perhaps human caddies have returned to school by then. Possibly, golfers choose not to rent golf carts during the cooler months.

For whatever reason, the llamas are on the links and on the job.

Talamore Golf Club, located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, has become known as the first golf facility to employ llamas as caddies. Talamore Golf Club offers golf getaway packages, known as Dollie Llama's Dream Vacations. Participants may rent llama caddies for any of seven golf courses: Beacon Ridge, The Carolina, Legacy, Longleaf, The Pit, Seven Lakes or Tobacco Road.

Golfers need to know that Talamore's llama caddies do not work on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. Cud these be the llama's days

About an hour's drive from Talamore, the Sherwood Forest Golf Club of Cedar Mountain, North Carolina, also offers llama caddies. On Tuesdays, Sherwood Forest golfers may hire llamas for 9-hole rounds.

Do llamas make good golf caddies?

Participating golfers give the llamas a big thumbs up.

The llama caddies have gained points for on-the-course discretion. They don't tend to roll their eyes when golfers call for mulligans. They don't snicker and whisper when golfers become teed off over missed swings. Most important, the llamas do not squeal when golfers alter their scorecards.

However, the llama caddies have not yet been trained in golf club selection, although some golf club staffers insist their llama caddies will stomp their approval or disapproval of a golfer's choice of irons.

Also, golfers may need to keep their llama caddies off the manicured putting greens. Llamas, after all, tend to eat grass.

Still, one must wonder. What does a golfer tip his llama caddy?

Sources:

http://attractions.uptake.com/golfing/north_carolina/cedar_mountain/sherwood_forest_golf_club_11893685.html

http://www.llamaweb.com/uses/golfing.html

http://www.talamoregolfresort.com

http://www.thegolfcourses.net/golfcourses/NC/5591.htm

http://www.totalprosports.com

http://www.upi.com

http://www.wspa.com/spa/news