Fore Evans Sake
There’s an old adage that says you can learn everything you need to know about someone by playing three holes of golf with them. That adage is especially true when you have the opportunity to observe as a caddie.
As a caddie, or looper as they call themselves, you get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly of human beings from a unique vantage point. You see if they play by the rules, or maybe twist them in their favor. You see how, and whether, they relate to you as a person. How they talk about their spouses, kids, and co-workers. Whether they have a sense of humor about their game, or if they take it way too seriously and blame you (or a thousand other things) when they muff a shot.
That’s precisely why there’s a protocol that every good caddie must develop. Not so much to impress or appease the person swinging the club, but to build a dignity and respect for the craft itself. A good caddie knows when to show up, and when to shut up. A good caddie knows the yardage, what club to pull out of the bag, makes sure that club is clean, replaces divots, rakes bunkers, reads putts, and if necessary, runs ahead to forecaddie on a blind hole.
But becoming a good caddie takes time and perseverance. Good caddies aren’t born, they’re made. It’s hard. Very hard. Even grueling and thankless at times. Especially in the beginning.
But with every loop, confidence grows. You learn the game – from the inside out. You learn about people. The nice and not so nice. You learn how to overcome intimidation, and how to interact with every personality. You develop unique bonds that can last a lifetime. Bonds with your fellow caddies, and bonds with influential people who can change the trajectory of your life forever.
Of course, there are other “summer jobs” where this kind of camaraderie exists. But there’s something about caddying, especially in the formative years, that may be the best precursor to life itself.
Meet Ryan Shaw, an 18-year-old caddie at Sand Valley Resort in Rome, Wisconsin. Ryan is a senior at Assumption Catholic High School in Wisconsin Rapids. He has been showing up at Sand Valley, often before the sun rises, since he was 11 to carry a bag that, at first, was bigger than him. *
“I didn’t know anything about golf when I started. I was just a kid. But they believed in me and gave me every opportunity to prove myself.”
That’s par for the course at Sand Valley. They have one of the most robust caddie programs in the state. With 250 “pro caddies” and 100 “junior caddies,” from all walks of life – ranging in age from 13 to 68! Many of the older caddies do this for a living - carrying bags here in central Wisconsin in the summer and heading to courses in Florida, Arizona, and the like in winter.
The junior caddies, however, are more than likely still living at home, going to school, and doing all the things that a teenager does when they’re a teenager. Like our friend Ryan. A three-sport athlete – baseball, football, and basketball – on top of his 12th grade studies and many other outside interests.
But that’s where the Sand Valley caddie program really shines. With an emphasis on the person, Junior Caddie Development Manager, Mike Reuteman, makes sure his young people know why they’re there. Why they’re doing what they’re doing. And where they want to go. If you were to observe Mike, and see how he interacts with the junior caddies, you’d see very clearly that the word development in his title is no accident.
“I get the most satisfaction from meeting a young person with little or no golf experience, maybe a little bit shy, no real-world interaction with adults, and watching them grow into mature, ready-for-the-world young adults themselves.”
One of Mike’s proudest achievements each year is when he sees one or more of his caddies receive the prestigious Evans Scholarship. The Evans Scholarship is a full housing and tuition college scholarship awarded to caddies who meet very stringent criteria - including a strong caddie record (with at least 100 loops), excellent grades, and outstanding character.
So, if you’ve been tracking along, you’ve probably figured out that Ryan is one of those hard-working caddies who earned the scholarship this year. After applying in September, Ryan and his family were thrilled to hear the news that all his hard work is paying off.
With his eye on the University of Wisconsin, he is eager to take his life to the next phase. But he’s quick to remind you that he will continue to caddie during the summers as he works his way to a degree in Civil Engineering.
“I can’t give it up now. I love it. It got me here and, oh yeah, it’s pretty good money.”
He’s right. A caddie can make pretty good money. But the real payoff for Ryan, and every caddie that perseveres, is the lessons they learn in the greatest laboratory of human behavior, the golf course.
A big thank you to the Evans Scholarship Program for recognizing that.
Written by: Lydell Capritta
*A huge shout out to mom, Shannon, by the way. She chauffeured Ryan back and forth all those years before he was able to drive himself. And she’s doing it again with Ryan’s little sister, Sarah, who is proudly following in his footsteps.