Back in the Loop: The Caddie Summit

Colorado Spearheads the Comeback of the Caddie

The Caddie Summit, a day-long meeting conducted by the Colorado Golf Association, is held annually in March. It’s the primary way Mate and Solich promote the advancement of caddying at private clubs and public courses.

“One of the goals of the Colorado Golf Foundation is to continue to grow caddie programs at clubs all over the state,” Solich states. “Our goal is to be the source for developing a caddie program and the blueprint for putting it all together. We hope this can be a model for golf associations throughout the country to bring back the caddie not only at private courses but at public courses, as well.”

After attendance at the first Caddie Summit a few years ago was sparse, Solich came up with an incentive for clubs to attend. “If they bring three people (usually the head professional, the caddiemaster and a member of the caddie committee), they get a $500 check from the Colorado Golf Foundation to go toward their caddie program (usually for hats, bibs or maybe a caddie banquet).” Turnout now exceeds a hundred, and is growing each year. Clubs considering starting a caddie program are encouraged to attend, too.

There is evidence that the effort is having a positive impact.

Mate points to Fort Collins Country Club, where pro John Hanrahan not only introduced a caddie program but also established the Spike Baker Chapter of the Solich Academy (named for a long-time Park Hill caddie and FCCC board member who went on to win a number of state and national amateur championships). Eight caddies will get an average of 35 loops this season.

“It’s a great example of the right ingredients coming together,” Mate says. “You have a pro who’s passionate about caddies, and members who want to walk.”

Solich also notes the progress at one of his own clubs.

“When I became caddie co-chair at Cherry Hills eight years ago,” he begins, “32 percent of our rounds were with caddies. Today it’s almost 50 percent.”

Cherry Hills has 180 caddies, and both Mate and Solich credit Cherry Hills PGA Head Professional pro John Ogden for such a robust program. “He’s the Pied Piper,” says Mate.

“Without John’s buy-in,” adds Solich, “it would be a lot harder for even me, with my passion as caddie chairman, to push it.

“We really need the partnership and support of the professionals,” Solich continues. “Every golf club has a professional who is really the gatekeeper of the operation. They’re the guys buying the golf carts, hiring the golf operations people, making the decision, maybe with input from members at a private club, of do we have a caddie program or not?”

The answer, both he and Ed Mate mhope, will increasingly be affirmative.

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