I got some sad news last week that my first boss, Thomas Roy, caddie master for 40 years at Alpine Country Club had passed away. I first met T. Roy (as he was known) almost 30 years ago. I had gotten my working papers and headed up to Alpine Country Club with some friends to find out what caddying was all about. I didn't know much about golf, I didn't know much about caddying but I did know that I needed a summer job to earn some money.
It was certainly intimidating at first, with over 50 experienced caddies in the yard and a very demanding clientele of business executives, Wall Street types and well you get the picture. Let's just say I got off to a slow start, which for an aspiring caddie means long hours in the caddie yard awaiting your turn. Fortunately, I loved reading which made the hours go by more quickly. It was the incessant questioning from my parents that were more troublesome ("how much did you make today?") as well as the three mile bike ride home that gave me too much time to think about whether this was the summer job for me. Unfortunately, I was also in the data collection phase of my life, so I would chart my daily income which flatlined at $0 on most days occasionally punctuated by a $7 fee I would collect from carrying 90-year-old Ike Bendow's bag on the back nine (Unfortunately, I couldn't convince Ike to play everyday). Ya gotta start somewhere, I guess.
I still remember that early encouragement from T. Roy "it's not easy, but if you can stick it out, you can make some real money here." He was not a man of many words but when he did have something to say, I learned to listen. I realize now that the first summer was a test in many ways. The flock of 14 year-olds that were there in June had thinned out considerably by late August. T. Roy had taught me that all important lesson of persistence. He returned my commitment (which often meant being at the course at 6am on Saturday and Sunday mornings) by slowly over time giving me more opportunities. Enough opportunities, in fact, that over eight summers I was able to pay my way through college. So, for that and for teaching me that all important lesson of persistence, I thank you, T. Roy. You will be missed...
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