To say our caddies are at the fore front of the golf experience here is an understatement. The enhancement of the game is clearly realized when one has the privilege to be assisted by a great caddie. Firstly, it's the way the game is intended to be played. For example, when your caddie gives you a line and your putting stroke is on, you experience the essence and how the game is meant to be experienced. Many players fail to realize that the reason their putting is going well comes from the confidence a good caddie provides. We could go on regarding the benefits of playing with a caddie, but we'd rather invite you to come and experience it yourself. Read on for an interesting glimpse into the history of the caddie...
History of Golf: The First Heroes
By George White / Posted: July 17, 2002
When you spoke the word "professional" in the early 1800s, you were referring to a professional caddie. The caddies were the only group that made a living from the game. They carried the clubs, certainly, but in 1800 they did so much more. In Robert Browning's book "A History of Golf" he describes the early caddie as "his patron's guide, philosopher, and his friend, his instructor when he was off his game, and co-arbiter with the opposition caddie in all disputes".
Caddies were, in short, usually the best players. The best known in the early 1800s was David Robertson of St. Andrews. He was known as a "senior caddie", whose duties were primarily to carry for the captain of St. Andrews on important occasions. Robertson was the last of the senior caddies. His son, Allan Robertson, was also a caddie as a youth, but he emerged as the first great professional player.
The Robertsons were also ball-makers, carefully stuffing feathers into leather spheroids. But Allan was an exceptional golfer. In a series of famous matches watched by one of Scotland's largest sporting crowds of the 19th century, he teamed with his assistant, Tom (Old Tom) Morris, to play the Dunn brothers, Willie and Jamie of Musselburgh.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship
The Scholarship's mission, which has remained constant since its inception, is to financially aid deserving caddies in their pursuit of higher education. In the last 52 years, more than 3,200 young men and women have received over $14.3 million in aid. In the 2010-11 academic year, 153 caddies are received $650,000 in scholarships. The Scholarship is also helping to preserve one of the game's most valued traditions, the caddie. By supporting caddies in their traditional educational pursuits, the Scholarship is also reminding golfers of the important role the caddie has played in the game's history. In turn, this role is preserved for the game's future. Please support the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship:
