Students practice at NC State's golf course
Cary, NC – The first-ever university-accredited professional caddie certification program has graduated its first class, and one of its graduates has already looped on the PGA Tour.
The program, which costs $4,000 for seven days of training, was the brainchild of three professional caddies, Grant Berry, Mike Hicks and Heath Holt. It is hosted at NC State University’s Lonnie Poole Golf Course. Caddie students practiced their craft alongside the NC State golf team.
Student Ronan Lucey was on the bag for former PGA Tour player David Hearn of Canada at last week’s Puerto Rico Open. Hearn missed the cut by one stroke, finishing at 3-under. Winner Karl Vilips of Australia finished at 26-under.
Over the course of seven days, student caddies received instruction from golf industry experts, including Masters and U.S. Open Rules Official Todd Satterfield; Tour physio expert Digby Watt; leading golf psychologist Josh Nichols; Level 4 AimPoint expert Justin Blazer; and Tour statistician Austin Powell.
First class included a colonel, club caddies, builder, photojournalist
The inaugural class included three full-time club caddies; a college golf coach; a photojournalist and documentary filmmaker; a retired executive in golf travel; a builder and part-time caddie; and a retired Pentagon colonel.
“After a year in development and with the backing of respected industry figures like Todd and Austin, we were both excited and nervous about launching this program,” said Grant Berry. “The outcome exceeded all expectations, and the feedback from our graduates has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Allen Smith, Head Men’s Golf Coach at the University of Lynchburg and a course graduate, said, “I really didn’t know what to expect, but everything was above and beyond. The instructors were passionate and knowledgeable, and the learning experience was exceptional. Beyond professional caddying, the course imparted lessons in professionalism and life principles that will benefit us all.”
Hicks emphasized the program’s role in meeting industry demand: “There is a significant need for trained caddies at clubs, resorts, and lower tour levels. In the past five years, caddying has become a financially viable career beyond the highest professional tours, opening up new opportunities.”
The program is has been endorsed by the Association of Professional Tour Caddies, Golf Coaches Association of America, and CaddieMaster, which manages many resort caddie programs.
The second Professional Caddie Certification program is set to begin on July 15. For more information visit here.
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Featured image courtesy of Bandon Dunes Resort
