Yes, that is a Llama on the Golf Course… and yes, it is Caddying…

You may see many things on the golf course … but a llama and a llama that is caddying??!! Yes - it’s come to that in our country.

For the past couple of months, club pro Brian Lautenschlager and Great Smoky Mountains Greenskeepers Inc. owner Mark English at Sherwood Forest Country Club have been training 11 llamas to caddy for golfers.

Sherwood Forest Country Club is - btw - one of two golf courses in North Carolina offer llamas as caddies.

What exactly is in the air or water in North Carolina you ask? The answer is: same as everywhere else - so, yes, you should be concerned at this point. But it’s not a dog’s life for the llamas.

Every Tuesday morning the llamas — which are kept on a seven-acre farm — are fed and saddled with specialized harnesses capable of holding two sets of clubs. Then they head to the greens two at a time with golfers and a trained supervisor (for the llamas, not the golfers) and act as a more traditional caddy. After nine holes, the animal is taken to a “llama litter box,” (and the golfers hold it in) where they use the restroom, and back out they go to finish the round.

How this idea originated is still a mystery. Obviously, there must be a shortage of caddies and/or the cost of hourly pay for caddies has terribly dented the golfers’ wallet. Obviously the llamas can graze on the course while a human caddy cannot; but a llama cannot yet choose the difference between a nine wood or four iron.

No one is certain if this idea will take off beyond the borders of North Carolina or if the USGA is willing to allow llamas on the courses during tournaments. Can you imagine Tiger Woods with a llama caddy? Of course you can. He’s Tiger Woods, after all. Or how llamas will be added to the Rules of Golf, such as player or caddie must not take any action to influence the position or the movement of a ball except in accordance with the Rules. And if you’re caddy is a llama and such movement occurs, it probably means it’s time for potty break in the sandtrap or something.

The world may seem upside down for some. For me, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m Baltimore Spencer.