Be Somebody
Most of the caddie programs in the US are located at high end exclusive private courses, but it’s also public and semi-private golf facilities that are home to a novel, innovative program aimed at mentoring youth and strengthening the institution of caddying.
What better way to experience golf than with a caddie! The Caddie Academy will encourage the use of caddies through a unique incentive — paying the caddie’s base fee. The only out-of-pocket cost for a golfer would be an optional tip.
Upon successful completion of a loop, (A loop is one 18 hole round of golf, carrying a bag which takes about 4 hours) caddies will receive $40 paid electronically within 48 hours via Stripe. Caddies will also likely to receive a tip, based on their hustle and attitude from their golfer after a completed loop.
This caddie program is designed to provide young men and women the opportunity to learn life lessons through exposure to the game of golf — valuing a strong work ethic, social interaction and perseverance. In addition, the Academy will help the Western Golf Association identify potential candidates for the Evans Caddie Scholarship program.
The Evans Caddie Scholarship Program
The Evans Scholarship is one of the flagship programs of the Western Golf Association in sponsoring the Evans Scholars’ chapter houses at Marquette University, the University of Wisconsin and 25 other major universities across the Mid-West, West and East Coast. Through Par Club contributions to the WGA and other fund raising initiatives, donors fully fund the year-to-year scholarship costs. The WGA awards approximately 300+ new scholarships annually with about 20 of those scholarships going to deserving caddies in Wisconsin.
WGA director George Solich, who is an Evans Scholar graduate, provided the inspiration for the Academy’s creation in Denver. Solich read an article about a caddie camp in Nantucket, Mass., and thought a similar program would be ideal.
“The whole idea is promoting caddie programs, the lifeblood of what this [Evans] Scholarship offers, and pulls kids out of extracurricular activities that aren’t so rewarding. This is perfect for them.”
— George Solich, WGA Director & Evans Scholar graduate
“Golfers who have never used a caddie, then do it, they find it’s the best way to play the game. When they have a caddie, they get it. And they’re helping kids in the process.”
— Jim Bunch, former president of the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholar Foundation