Saturday, June 16, 2012:
I did something really cool that day! It was a little different than what I’ve usually done these past few years!
I went to a golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, in Lake Manassas, VA. It’s a private golf club, just outside of Washington, D.C., where I had been a caddie since 1992. They were holding a member-member tournament, with each team consisting of two members that competed against the other two-somes! It’s a very difficult golf course so the competition was intense.
Not only do the players need to have knowledge and experience, but as a caddie you really have to have knowledge of the course and a great deal of experience. I’ve caddied in many golf tournaments, including two of the President’s Cup Tournaments that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Sang and many other Pro Golfers played. Besides the club members, I’ve caddied for many famous people including Vince Gil, John Elway, Michael Jordan, President Bill Clinton, Joe Gibbs, Dr. J. (Julius Irving) and many more! If I don’t say so myself, I was a very good caddie! Members would call me personally to set up their play times to ensure I would be able to caddie for them. I knew everything about the course! A good caddie makes the player good! I knew how far they needed to hit the ball, where to aim and I was good at reading the greens. The members listened to me and trusted my knowledge! Three of the club members actually came to California to visit me in the hospital, and many others called and emailed.
When I used to caddie for tournaments like the member-member tournament, I really felt like I was part of the team. If one of my “teammates” lost a hole, it really hurt me. I really worked hard to help my members win, and we won many!
It was good to be back out the golf club and visit with the other caddies. I’m just sorry that I couldn’t be a caddie for one of the teams. I know so many of the members that were competing. I’m so thankful that I got to learn so much about golf and so many of the players. It made me a better person.
Thanks to Kurt and all the caddies for visiting with me! I’ll be back to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on July 30th for the Caddie-Member Tournament and banquet. I hope that I can caddie again soon!
Out – Mike “Vinny” Vincent