7 min read
Teen caddies are trending in Arizona—at last.
Thirteen-year-old Gianni Fuentes stood at rapt attention as he listened to the directive. He didn’t appear to be distracted by the staccato “hoot-hoot” hooting of an owl in a nearby eucalyptus tree, nor by the ominous storm clouds rolling in, bringing an otherworldly illumination to the brick-red Papago Buttes.
"Be engaged," boomed the adult voice. "Put yourself right where you need to be."
Gianni nodded. This wasn’t a junior varsity football practice, however. Gianni and seven other teenage boys, aged 13 through 16, were gathered at the third hole at Phoenix’s Papago Golf Club on a Friday afternoon in early March while participating in a caddie training session. Wait—kids caddying in Arizona? That happens in other states, but not here, right? Wrong. A youth-based caddie movement is taking hold in State 48.
(Photo by Alex Johnson)
Young caddies, such as Gianni, are learning about the game—and about life—under the auspices of a new organization, the AZ Caddie and Leadership Academy (AZCLA). Started by Brandon Rogers, PGA, in May 2023 and based at Papago GC, AZCLA is a 501(c)(3) community youth golf and character development program where young men and women, aged 13 and older, learn the art of caddying and acquire life skills to be utilized on and off the golf course.
A critical aspect of the AZCLA—and a huge incentive for kids to participate—is the Academy’s official partnership with the Evans Scholars Foundation, an organization tied to the Western Golf Association in Chicago that provides college scholarships to deserving students. These prestigious scholarships cover tuition and housing for one year and are renewable up to four years by the Foundation. It’s not easy to land one. In addition to meeting requirements such as caddying for a minimum of two years, recipients must also maintain a certain GPA, show financial need and display a commitment to school and community activities. You don’t have to be an actual golfer, however, to earn the prize.
Having exceptional character is a key component to earning an Evans award. AZCLA endeavors to bring that out in its caddies by offering them twice-a-month classes with subjects that include communication, financial literacy, the college admission process, service vs. hospitality and mindfulness. When you pair with an AZCLA caddie, you’re not just getting a bag-toter, you’re acquiring a remarkable young person.
Founder and Executive Director Rogers drew from unmatched experience with youth caddies in Arizona and paired it with a vision of what the future could—and should—hold. He served as the head pro at Desert Forest Golf Club for 24 years and it was there in 2015 that he established a youth caddie program. Three of his young charges went on to be Evans Scholars. Then the light bulb lit up.
“Over the decades at Desert Forest, over casual conversations with members, they would tell me about how they got introduced to the game of golf by caddying,” said Rogers. “One day it dawned on me. No young person in Arizona is getting introduced to golf through caddying. I decided to start a caddie program, but only for kids. We think there are kids out there that could get introduced to the game of golf this way. And what better way to grow the game?”
It’s no mystery as to why there was no caddying tradition among Arizona youth. “Arizona is a unique golf environment, as most of the junior caddying needs to be done in the winter and spring months,” explained Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona. “The caddie loops need to be on the weekends, as kids [are] in school on weekdays. The kids that want to try to earn an Evans Scholarship must be really dedicated and caddie on many weekends. In Arizona, it’s too hot during the summer months and the demand for caddies isn’t very high.”
Rogers solved that issue by scheduling the AZCLA program from November to May. “If a caddie gets one loop per weekend for those seven months, that hits the figure of 25 to 30 rounds per year needed to satisfy the Evans requirement,” he said.
The cost for a player having to pay a caddie has always been another barrier. “We solve the cost thing by being complimentary,” said Rogers. “We’re a non-profit that raises money through donations, so the caddie use is free. If the golfer wants to tip, fine.” The final barrier Rogers seeks to overcome—and he wants to tell that story—is why is golf a better game with a caddie? In other words, why take a caddie at all?
“That’s not always been easy to identify,” Rogers acknowledged. “But it comes down to this: Getting around the golf course, walking without worrying about your own equipment is freeing. Once you trust that this caddie has your stuff and is taking care of it for you, you get to walk down the fairway like a walk in the park, [with a] smile on your face and probably have a conversation. On top of it, let’s say the caddie can help with course strategy, raking bunkers, reading putts and even encouraging their player. Having a good caddie also allows you to play faster, in a better rhythm. [Finally] a caddie can help an anxiety-filled player. Instead of worrying about a certain shot or score, that player can put aside some of that angst and focus on the caddie and the conversation. Again, that can be very freeing.”
Referrals to the AZCLA come from a variety of sources, including schools, principals, golf coaches—the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA), which oversees the Youth On Course program, and even a recommendation from a youth pastor, which is how Gianni found himself at Papago. Most notably, The First Tee, based at Papago, has filled half of AZCLA spots.
On this early March day, it was refresher time for eight members of the AZCLA caddie corps, an opportunity for Rogers and his right-hand man, legendary teaching pro Don Hurter, to gauge the progress of their young loopers.
“Our first camp was last July,” said Rogers. “Some of these kids were part of that. Our first loops on the ground here were [in] October. They’ve been taking loops here and there based on golfer demand. So golfers can request these caddies right now. They’re also caddying at Arizona Country Club and Estancia. My job is to continue to audit their performance.
We’ll do these refresher courses half a dozen times throughout the year just to make sure the knife is still sharp.”
(Photo by Alex Johnson)
While Rogers is the ringleader, his young caddies are the stars of the show. Having never played golf, Gianni took a spiritual path to his club-carrying, attributing his caddie gig to divine inspiration. His new buddy, 15-year-old Mason, was already a golfer. Each first picked up a bag late last summer. In Gianni’s case, that can be the toughest part
of the job.
“Counting the clubs and carrying heavy bags are the biggest challenges,” he said. “And just walking the five or six miles.” Mason concurs. “Once you learn how to rake bunkers, it gets pretty easy,” he said.
“Following the ball when it’s hit into the sun is definitely challenging. But yes, dealing with heavy bags can be tricky.” Both love what they do. “I’m definitely an outdoor person and I just love being on the golf course,” said Mason.
“I’m glad that caddying will help my golf game and my enjoyment of golf.” Gianni believes that caddying is a good job, especially at his age. “And I find it really nice that I get to socialize with people like Mason, make friends and connect with other people.”
Connecting with others isn’t necessarily a walk in the park when it involves caddies and players. The task can be daunting. Interactions call for mental fortitude from the young loopers—in an ongoing, evolutionary process called maturity. On this training day, the eight caddies were learning how to forecaddie s well, a variation to the carry experience, and one which comes with its own set of responsibilities.
“It’s not easy,” said Hurter. “It’s actually a lot more work to manage four players.” Added Rogers, “We’re asking something that is extremely difficult for a 13-year-old, to command four adults on a golf course. It’s challenging, but we’re doing it and we’re going to continue to do it.”
Mike Zoellner liked the progress he saw. Zoellner, a Denver resident who spends his winter in the Valley, agreed to walk Papago with a young caddie and to assess his AZCLA caddie experience. Evaluating the performance of the youth caddies that day, Zoellner stated, “very professional, very well-trained. They have a great attitude. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it and every one of the caddies I’ve met have been true gentlemen.”
As for room to improve, Zoellner echoed what others have said. “They’re a little nervous. I think what they’ll improve upon is just their willingness to carry on a conversation and to get to know the player and for the player to get to know them better. Right now, they’re a little anxious about being in the right place and doing the right thing. But I’m sure all those things will come with time.”
(Photo by Alex Johnson)
Meagan McEnery knows where caddie dreams can take someone. Currently Senior Manager, Brand Partnerships, for AZ GOLF, McEnery was a shy teenager in the Bay Area who could barely swing a club when her father convinced her to check out the new Caddie Academy program offered through Youth On Course. Initially resistant, she was soon looping at the private California Club and at TPC Harding Park and quickly experienced positive changes.
“The more I caddied, the more I got to work on those interpersonal skills that you don’t really get to learn in school.” In addition, McEnery plunged from a 36 handicap down to 12 and number one on her high school team after one year of caddying. “Watching people play golf for four or five hours transferred straight into my golf game,” she said. “Caddying definitely advanced my passion for golf.”
McEnery took to caddying and it to her; in her senior year of high school, she flew to Seattle for an Evans Scholarship interview—and apparently aced that test. She got a full ride to the University of Washington. “It showed me that you can do anything you set your mind to. So aside from the financial aspect of it, it was an overall confidence boost and it has grown me into the person I am today.”
McEnery gives back by volunteering with the AZ Caddie and Leadership Academy and for Youth On Course. She tries to impress upon the kids that caddying can be a great opportunity, a pathway to a better life. “We’re lucky to have AZCLA here. We want all those kids to have the opportunity. If they do become Evans Scholars, great. If they don’t, they still have that work experience and all those lessons learned.”
An understandable question arises: Given the lack of youth-based caddie presence in Arizona for all these years, are the AZCLA efforts the proverbial drop in the bucket, or will they make a serious splash? McNevin votes for option 2.
"This is a huge opportunity for youth caddies in Arizona and it's really ready to explode," he says.
“It’s needed the right person, who is passionate about making a difference for youth and changing lives, and really providing the right platform. I’m confident that Brandon Rogers is the right guy to lead the new caddie movement in Arizona. Finding the kids that want to caddie, as well as the right mix of private and public clubs to be involved, will be the keys to success of the AZ Caddie and Leadership Academy.”
If kids such as Gianni and Mason are representative, it feels like the youth caddie movement in Arizona is in a very good place.