Mark’s Kaddy Korner

Hey all,

Bittersweet, that’s all there is to say about last week; home without a job but it’s really not home any more. Shawn and Cindy were gracious; they let me and Alaskan Dave crash at their place for the week while we searched for work. It was nice, I guess, seeing some old friends, my dog Zach, but I was ready to get out of their Tuesday after a futile job search. On Monday I thought my prospects were good but Tuesday morning there was large gathering of experienced caddies in the parking lot.

Searching for Work after the Firing

A couple of days on Mackinac Island were good for the soul, I hated to leave, but a new job search was necessary. The PGA was in the Quad Cities and the Champions Tour was in Minnesota, I figured I could split my week and talk to a few guys on each tour. We headed for Illinois on Sunday, arrived Monday evening after checking on my van in Milwaukee, and spent a couple of days roaming the parking lot, practice facility, and clubhouse area talking with anyone who would listen.

A Caddie’s Lament

Every caddy, excluding those top few, has one wish. They are looking for that one big tournament each year. It doesn’t have to be a win; a top five will help the bank account and keep you going a few more years. Without that one good tournament each year you lose a bit of motivation and your positive attitude dwindles. When a caddy languishes below the top twenty every week, spends a lot of time in the parking lot job hunting, and checks out of motel rooms on Fridays more often than Sundays; the job gets old.