This might be an odd story all by itself. A 14 year old boy gets an odd job that he might not have the skills or knowledge for. He becomes a caddie at a private country club called Twin Orchard. He has no idea who the caddie for Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson is and has not golfed once in his life. He takes The Caddie Exam and passed, received his uniform and was ready(ish) to start. He was determined to work, yet inexperienced and unconfident. 

A caddie who doesn’t golf is usually seen as the worst kind of caddie. I didn’t know all the technical terms like “divot”, “hook”, “fade, or “fringe”. All of the other caddies were golfers who knew all about the sport and the way it worked/s. They had been working at the golf course for years and knew all the members and had a first name basis with the caddie master. I was a new worker who knew nobody. They all golfed on free golf Mondays and knew how to read greens and use a rangefinder. I didn’t know what a rangefinder even was. 

I refused to fail at this job. I had a good work ethic. I was eager to learn. I was determined. I was open-minded. I bugged my parents every night to drive me to work in the morning. I went to work at 6:00 every Saturday and Sunday. I worked for the members and learned their names. I learned how to use a rangefinder and understood how to read greens (at least better than before). I learned how to fix divots and what “hook”, “fade”, and “fringe” meant. I learned how to address someone who you work for and how eye contact is the most important thing when introducing yourself. I learned how to be a be a good caddie. I did it all without golfing. I am not giving up on this job. I am a caddie who doesn’t golf, but I’m just as good as every other.