Opinion & Analysis

How disadvantaged teenagers are changing their lives by learning to caddie

Published

9 years ago

Jul 23, 2017

The good work of the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship is well known. To date, more than 11,000 teenagers have earned full-ride scholarships at top universities through the program.

But the WGA isn’t content to rest on its laurels. The organization has instead turned its attention to providing teenage females—mostly minorities from economically disadvantaged households not near country clubs—caddying opportunities, and in turn a chance at the Evans Scholarship.

The Caddie Academy, now in its sixth year, is a three-summer-long program for young females to live together and caddie at Chicago-area courses. This year, 89 high school students from 13 states will participate in the June 17-Augusta 5 program. Students who complete the three-summer program are eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship. Since the program’s launch in 2012, 23 Caddie Academy participants have received the scholarship.

“The Caddie Academy provides a unique opportunity for hard-working young women to be introduced to caddying and the game of golf. Their ultimate reward is a chance to earn a full scholarship to a top university.” WGA Chairman David Robinson.

The Evans Scholars Foundation hopes to send 1,000 caddies to college annually by 2020, so the Caddie Academy and similar programs are key. Because of the year-over-year success of the program, the WGA is expanding the Academy to include you men. They’ll be housed at Northwestern’s Evans Scholarship House in Evanston, Illinois, and caddie at clubs along Chicago’s North Shore.

Here at WRX, we’ve always seen caddying as, at the very least, the ultimate summer job, but more often, a life-changing opportunity for teenagers to lay the groundwork for their futures. And certainly we applaud any effort to extend that opportunity to those who might not otherwise have it.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

6 Comments

Hardcore Looper

Jul 23, 2017 at 10:56 pm

Having caddied all through high school and college and being a recipient of a NJSGA caddy scholarship, I can’t say how glad I am to read this. The more caddying programs available, the better.

Reply Report comment
- Jock Itch
  
  Jul 24, 2017 at 7:22 pm
  
  Yeah. Make them work. They got nothing better to do than get slapped around by belligerent chauvinistic makes ordering them to clean their sticks
  
  Reply Report comment
Carlos

Jul 23, 2017 at 3:54 pm

Young girl caddies is a great idea otherwise these impressionable disadvantaged teenagers would be exploited.

Reply Report comment
- Jock Itch
  
  Jul 24, 2017 at 7:20 pm
  
  I like the sarcasm
  
  Reply Report comment
Chuck

Jul 23, 2017 at 3:49 pm

For anyone who wants to look at it closely, the Evans Scholarship program is one of the most phenomenally successful scholarship programs in American history.

Golf popularity has fallen off, in significant part because we are entering the first generation where electric carts have dominated for the last 25 years or so. We can rebuild the golfing population by starting with the revival of caddy programs.

Reply Report comment
2putttom

Jul 23, 2017 at 12:43 pm

great article. I have worked with young people prior to and post Evans scholarships and the program(s) build knowledgable, courteous and professional caddies.

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Opinion & Analysis

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6 days ago

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