We Need to Bring Back Caddy Programs.

By Mike Stevens

I have spent a lot of time on junior golf over the years. I run after school programs and summer camps. I have also been involved with The First Tee program. Yet what I have noticed is that very few kids take the initiative to go to a golf course on their own. Most are only there when their parents bring them to the lessons or camps. Thinking back on my misspent youth, I about lived at the course. I strongly believe my love for the game and the reason I stuck with golf is because I started out as a caddy. I have life long friends from my high school golf team, all still playing and loving golf as much as I do with a common link – we all caddied as kids. 

Would I have stayed in golf had I not been a caddie? Maybe, but spending hours at the course, witnessing the camaraderie of the men I toted for and helping my man negotiate the fairways certainly solidified my wanting to be around this game forever. Every year there are all kinds of studies on growing the game, yet none ever mention bringing back caddie programs. Maybe I am missing something here. Maybe we all are!!