Chapter One - How It All Began

So how does a 60 year old retired guy end up as a caddie for a 29 year old LPGA touring professional?

Well it is a bit of a story so why don’t I start at the beginning.

Chapter One – How it all began

When my wife and I moved to Maui from Chicago in 2004 we wanted to give something back to our new community. We were blessed being able to move to paradise and we wanted to contribute so we formed Beyond the Rainbow Foundation who’s focus is “Helping Maui’s youth realize the promise of their future!”. Rather than providing services it was determined that the Foundation could do the most good by supporting existing youth based agencies across the island with money and resources, so we began searching for ways to raise money.

From our research and our love for golf came the idea of holding a special event that would bring visitors and part time residents to Maui in October for three days of world class golf and special evening events. Ultimately we hope to bring hundreds of participants to the Valley Isle for the Aloha Team Classic each October to raise money to help Maui youth.

As an all volunteer organization we are extremely proud of the effort that has allowed us to hold this event for the past three years. Over $45,000 has been raised and granted to agencies across the island. Likewise we have grown our number of participants each year even with the demise of two airlines, oil prices driving plane tickets sky high and the economy tanking last year. With over 65% of the participants coming back each year we know that we have developed an experience that provides the participants a great time.

So what does this have to do with the LPGA players? Well last year we provided housing to 12 players during the Kapalua LPGA Classic, which was held the week before our event, and 8 of the players stayed to play in a special “Play with the Pros” day that we added to the Aloha Team Classic last year to attract more participants. In the process of making arrangements we communicated with a number of the players and two players asked if we knew anyone that could caddie for them during the Kapalua LPGA Classic. We had one of our volunteer’s husband (Ken) that caddied for Carin Koch for the week and I guess it worked out okay as she played well and was in the last group on Sunday. Ken will tell you that it was a great experience as well as being a lot of work.

The other player was Angela Jerman, a player that was coming over to qualify for the Kapalua LPGA Classic and then stay for our event. I met Angela for the first time late on Monday afternoon after she had traveled from Atlanta to Maui. We had talked about trying to get a few holes in that afternoon, but after a day of travel there was no way. We made arrangements to meet at 6:00am on Tuesday as she was scheduled to tee off in the qualifier at 7:00am on Kapalua Resort’s Bay Course and then sent her off to relax and get some sleep.

The next morning we headed to the range in the dark (there were portable lights on the range) and at 7:00am we walked to the first tee. She had never seen the course let alone played a practice round, so as we stood on the tee she asked “so what is this about”? I guess it helps that the Bay Course is one of two courses here at Kapalua Resort, our home club, and I have played it many, many times. I told her it was an up-hill, par 5 and asked her how far she would hit her driver. She said 240 and I responded take it at the left edge of the trap on the right and turn it 10 yards left. Up she walked and hit it 240 at the left edge and turned it left 10 yards and away we went.

We had a good day and for my first time as a caddie since carrying my Dad’s clubs 46 years earlier I guess I did not mess up too badly. Luckily one of the other caddies we were playing with was a long time professional caddie and he helped me a lot. Likewise when you have someone as relaxed as Angela is on the course it really makes a big difference. I quickly got an appreciation for how good the girls are and how much there is to what their caddies do for them.

The round went well, but the putts did not go down. Turned out that we missed getting into the playoff for the second qualifier spot by one stroke. I still feel badly about the read on 17. Got the line okay, but forgot to mention it was down grain and downhill even though it actually looks a little up hill. Putting in Maui can be that way since you are on the side of mountains.

Looking back on my first day on the course as a caddie I realized how quickly it went, how tired I was (those tour bags are heavy) and how much I have to learn about the game. Working with a professional and seeing how she approaches her day on the course left me with a new appreciation for the game overall as well as new thoughts on how I should approach my own game.

We spent some time on Wednesday at the short game practice area and Thursday morning waiting to see if Angela would get into the tournament as an alternate. She was the next to be called, but never was. Over the weekend we played the Plantation course together and she spent time relaxing and enjoying Kapalua Resort. The next week she participated in our charity event the Aloha Team Classic and we said goodbye after the reception on Tuesday night.
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To follow the experience as it continues be sure to follow this blog as future chapters will be posted soon. You will be able to read about the first full tournament that I caddied, what it was like working with Angela during the US Open qualifier, what the caddie is expected to do and much more.

I would also direct your attention to a special posting that I have added to this blog called "How do they call this a living?" This posting is out of sequence from a timing point of view, but due to the important message I hope you will take a moment to read it.