While some people mark the end of the day at local watering holes, Bighorn Golf Club members gather with their dogs at the community’s dog park for “yappy hour” socializing.
“During the busiest time of the season, we have 200 dogs on property with 125 pet owners,” says Director of Marketing Theresa Maggio. “That’s almost a quarter of our members; [they] are big dog lovers. And most of the dogs are rescues; that’s very big here.”
Bighorn’s “official” Yappy Hour in February welcomes dogs of all breeds (and their people) to enjoy a variety of experiences, such as first-class shopping from more than 15 pet retailers (including a collar designer from Utah), training demonstrations, and a mixer featuring chef-prepared canine cookies. The event also serves as an opportunity for The Humane Society of the Desert to find homes for shelter dogs. “All of them get adopted,” Maggio beams.
The excitement culminates when photographers Mark Davidson and Pat Lassy assemble club members and their dogs for a group photo. “It takes us about 20 minutes to gather everyone and squish them together. Everyone wants to be a part of it,” Maggio says. “People plan their trips around Yappy Hour because they love it so much.”
Many dog-loving members of Bighorn Golf Club plan around the annual Yappy Hour get-together.
COURTESY BIGHORN GOLF CLUB