The opening ceremonies featured the first official loop for the Silvies Valley Ranch goat caddies
SILVIES, Oregon (Aug. 3, 2018) –The Campbell Family and Silvies Valley Ranch team are excited to announce the opening of McVeigh’s Gauntlet at Silvies Valley Ranch. The opening ceremonies featured the first official loop for the Silvies Valley Ranch Goat Caddies.
The opening event was led by ranch Vice President of Livestock & Guest Services Colby Marshall and included remarks by Course Architect Dan Hixon and Seamus Golf Owner and Founder Akbar Christi, followed by an introduction to Caddie Master Bruce LeGoat and Caddie Captain Mike LeChevon.
Born and bred at Silvies Valley Ranch, professionally trained American Range Goat caddies are available for hire on McVeigh’s Gauntlet, the latest golf experience to open at The Links at Silvies Valley Ranch.
Saddled up with a custom-designed goat caddie pack that carries drinks, golf balls, tees and a few clubs, the goats will join players on The Gauntlet, bringing an entirely new sense of whimsy, entertainment and fun to the golf experience. Silvies Valley Ranch has the largest herd of organic meat goats in the world, and this goat caddie program at Silvies Valley Ranch showcases the American Range goats for ecological restoration and provides a new economic opportunity for ranches in Frontier Oregon.
“We’re taking the golf experience at Silvies Valley Ranch to a new level,” says 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 were ready for the opening of The Gauntlet. We’re truly redefining both goat and golf operations at the ranch. 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!”
Designed by Dan Hixson, one of the most celebrated course architects in the Pacific Northwest, McVeigh’s Gauntlet joins Hixson’s 18-hole reversible layouts, the Hankins and Craddock Courses, and the 9-hole par-3 Chief Egan Course at The Links at Silvies Valley Ranch. A stunning 7-hole ridge course carved into a razor back, the course is challenging in design, yet fun and care-free to play in a short amount of time.
McVeigh’s Gauntlet was designed to help players settle bets and test their accuracy on a series of par-3s and par-4s, while marveling at the views and the Western appeal of the ranch.
“Working with Scott on this project has been a lot of fun,” says course architect, Dan Hixson. “As a designer, having the trust, and space, to truly let loose and design not one, but four different courses with literally no boundaries, has been a rewarding experience. I’m eager for players to travel to Frontier Oregon to play each of the courses – they’re really unlike anything you’ve ever seen.”
Since opening to guests in summer 2017, its preview season, The Retreat & Links at Silvies Valley Ranch has made its mark in the industry as Golf’s Newest Frontier. With luxurious Western-inspired accommodations, fine dining options, an extensive Scotch collection, unique activities and two of the country’s first reversible 18-hole courses, the boutique eco-resort is a must-see destination for families, couples, buddy trips, corporate groups and visitors across the globe.
For more information, please call 1-800-SILVIES, email info@silviesvalleyranch.com or visit www.silvies.us.
