A Life In Golf

Ever since I was old enough to go to the golf course I have been obsessed with the game. As a player, caddie, spectator and bag room kid my life has been about golf. For nearly 40 years I have wanted to write about some of my experiences in the game. So that's what 'A Life in Golf' is all about.

I grew up as a caddie at the Wayzata Country Club. I loved every minute of every day of every summer for the nearly ten years at the club. I couldn't wait to get to the course each day, whether I was working or playing.

I started caddying at age 12 and got my first taste of caddying in PGA Tour events at the St. Paul Open in 1963 just having turned 15. The St. Paul Jr. Chamber Of Commerce, tournament sponsor, controlled who would caddie. They did this by having those who wanted to caddie sell season tickets to the tournament. The tournament was played at Keller Golf Course, a relatively short municipal course on the east side of St Paul. This was well before players had their own caddie that traveled with the tour. Arnold Palmer was the first player to have a regular caddie, Creme Caroline in about 1965. However, it was not until nearly 1980 that the regular tour player would have the same caddie week to week. 

The Wayzata Country Club is in Wayzata, a suburb on the far west side of Minneapolis. Thus, in the days of no freeways, it was a drive of an hour or more to Keller Golf Course. This discouraged other caddies from wanting to get a bag in the tournament. Not for a kid that idolized tour players. In four St. Paul Opens and the follow on Minnesota Golf Classic, I was first, second, fifth and seventh in ticket sales. I caddied for Kel Nagle, Tony Lema, Doug Sanders and a local pro when Billy Casper withdrew

On winter breaks from Colorado College I would go out and caddie for a friend who played the tour, George Boutell. Caddying for George, I went to the LA Open, the Crosby, Silverado in Napa and several other tour events. I was fortunate enough to caddie in the 1984 Masters get a bag in the 1970 US Open at Hazeltine. 

My life in golf has not been just as a caddie. I have been fortunate to to travel to interesting places through golf and met many fabulous people. it all adds up to a life in golf. 

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I hope you find a small bit of enjoyment from "A Life In Golf."