Young caddies who benefit from the "Evans" scholarship - Photo: DR

The film dedicated to Severiano Ballestros (“Seve: the Movie”) and released in autumn 2014 a few years after the death of the Spanish champion at the age of 54, depicts the incredible golfing epic of a legendary competitor. Coming from a poor family in the small village of Pedreña, in the north of Spain, Seve began his career as a caddy in the local Club which enabled him to satisfy his consuming passion. This is one of the best stories in the sport. Today, caddies within Clubs are scarce, too often replaced by various "infernal" machines, even though they personify the very essence of this game.

The "younger" originally referred to the youngest son of an aristocratic family. The term has borrowed several spellings (caddy, caddy ...) and by extension, cadets both filled the military ranks of the Scottish army of Mary Stuart in the 1859th century and wore her clubs when she indulged in her passion golfing. The first caddies were born and according to the famous English amateur champion and prolific writer, Horace Hutchinson (1932-38), Scottish caddies “at the time only nourished two loves: golf and whiskey! When Americans fell in love with the sport overwhelmingly in the early XNUMXth century, the profile of the "bag carrier" changed drastically. They set up schools for them and established a code of good conduct of… XNUMX pages!

Caddies accomplish many missions for the benefit of their players. Before any advice in the choice of rods and the strategy of the courses, they also reveal themselves according to the dispositions of the day, psychological support, succeeding with skill in "sublimating" the swing of their clients. Henry "Big" Crawford, illustrious Scottish caddy from North Berwick, used to say without emphasis to his "employers" before a game: "with my eminence grise and your game, we should be able to achieve something ..."

A delicate situation to say the least! - Photo: DR

The entire sporting tradition of a game that was originally played on foot is preserved by the good use of caddies which at the same time allow both parties to keep in physical shape and not to give in to the sirens of the carts whose tarred paths distort the lines.

By employing "bag carriers", the Golf courses offer quality service to their members and / or their visitors, who are always keen on sound advice when discovering a route. Caddies breathe golf, they embody the soul of the Club, they know its history and bring it to life. Competent, they promote the label*1 and ensure a pleasant rhythm of play.

Walking: the sporting tradition of the game of golf - Photo: DR

The experience that the younger generation can have when they decide over the course of a summer, for example, to become a shopping cart is often unforgettable. A unique and entertaining opportunity to earn pocket money, and to access a world apart where tradition and honesty are essential. An ardent defender of this activity, Jack Nicklaus does not hesitate to argue that "caddeyer allows you to rub shoulders with quality people, bearers of the values ​​and habits and customs of this game" (Jack Nicklaus: My Story). Advising the time of some of the “enlightened” personalities improves self-confidence, the ability to interact in society and can open some doors ... as was the case for the American of Irish origin, Eddie Lowery, who became a multimillionaire after making a major contribution when he was only ten years old, to the victory of American Francis Ouimet at the US Open of 1913 which took place in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Walking the fairways and breathing fresh air can also be an opportunity to discover a sport; privileged companion of a lifetime. The iconic American triumvirate of the late 30s made up of Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead (198 victories between them), who revived the sport after the Great Depression by playing in particular with steel shafts and persimmon antlers , is a perfect example. Their talent saved the professional world before the PGA Tour was officially formed.*2 in 1948. Coming from modest families and outside any system, James Dodson the author of “American Triumvirate” affirms in his book published in 2012 that: “without golf these exceptional men would never have dreamed of glory and countless successes. From simple backgrounds, their trajectory and their success embody the American dream ”(Golf Channel, 13/03/2012).

Eddie Lowery and Francis Ouimet on their way to victory - Photo: DR

As for the women, few of them engaged in such a demanding physical activity. And yet Sweden's Britt Mattsson also debuted in the ranks of "bag carriers" at Stockholms Golfklubb in Kevinge, before becoming the first Swedish women's golf superstar with 13 victories in national championships and playing the first world championships in 1964.

For budding architects, traveling the courses is a necessary step in order to better understand their future profession. Thus the American architect, Tom Doak, obtained a scholarship from Cornell University to spend a year at St Andrews in Scotland in order to caddeyer and study the architecture of the British links.

Steve Williams and Tiger Woods - Photo: DR

Others discover a profession with a full-time caddy on the professional circuits as was the case of New Zealander Steve Williams who wore his first bag at the age of 6 before taking that of Tiger Woods for twelve years and to become New Zealand's highest paid "sportsman".

The Golden Age of the practice of shopping carts was undoubtedly between the two wars. At present, only a few very private resorts and / or clubs manage to maintain this tradition.
Named after the famous American player, Chick Evans, who won for the first time in history the US Open and the US Amateurs in the same year, in 1916 and who was caddy at Edgewater Golf Club in Chicago, the "Evans Scholarship »Is a scholarship created in 1930. It has already enabled nearly 1.000 deserving caddies to access American universities. Why not implement such programs in Europe in order to effectively attract young people who are still so sorely lacking?

Kristel Mourgue d'Algue

1 Rules of good behavior in the practice of golf
2 Professional Golfers Association / American Professional Circuit