I honestly had no idea.
Last week, I was asked by a couple of players, caddies and even a few fans where Caddie Confidential was and if I was still doing it. I must have had a shocked look on my face when I told them I was still doing it, and was just on a little vacation because the look of relief on their faces gave me a strange sense of satisfaction. It's good to be missed.
This week in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a very special tournament, especially for caddies. The course will be explained and you might be surprised to learn why the field is so strong. Most importantly, this caddie gives an insight into two very important words; fun competitiveness. I'll admit it, I missed y'all too!
Enjoy this week's Caddie Confidential.
Collins: There were some changes to the golf course with big changes coming as soon as we finish this week. How uncomfortable is it for the caddie on the holes that have changed?
Caddie: You know, I've had this talk with a number of different caddies and the word that keeps getting said is "annoyed." Because people don't realize, obviously you do, how much work goes into your yardage book. A yardage book for me is my most important piece of property I have that week. I can basically go without anything else, with the exception of clothes...
As you know, we've got runout lines, we've got carry numbers, we've got what spots in the rough are high and low, we've got missed spots around the greens, and when they make subtle changes, it's just annoying more than anything else. Now this week at Quail there's not very many changes, and the ones that are so incredibly subtle there's not a whole lot of extra work to do.
Now next year when we come back for the PGA (Championship) it's gonna be quite a different golf course ... As far as this year goes, they just reshaped a couple of bunkers, they lengthened the seventh hole (and) moved the tee a little bit ... No. 11, they took out a bunker which was actually very difficult. They're gonna put it back in for the PGA (sigh.)
Collins: Wait, they took a bunker out for this year and they're gonna put it back for the PGA (Championship)?
Caddie: Yes, there was a little mistake there made. "Higher ups" thought that bunker was insignificant, (then) all the players said that was the most penal bunker probably on the golf course. There was a mistake that had to be realized, so it's out for this year, but when they tear the golf course up Monday, it will be put back into play! So there ya go.
Collins: What is your favorite thing about this golf course?
Caddie: What a great question. I love courses that have a lot of diversity. I like courses that you've got a 320-yard hole, you'll have a 510-yard par-4, you'll have short par-5s, short par-3s, and this course has a little bit of all that. It's got a drivable par-4 No. 14 and also No. 8 can be drivable one day ... so you've got two potential drivable par-4s in the same round, which is virtually unheard of.
You've got par-5s that are all reachable for an average PGA Tour length driver, which is again something we don't always see. And then you've got the stress of the last three holes, which is just flat out brutal! The 17th hole just basically makes you wanna take a kid from the side (of the crowd) and have him pick a club ... It's just a brutal, brutal. A 220-yard hole to a skinny firm green with water guarding it. So I love this course cause it offers a little bit of everything.
Collins: Everyone talks about "The Green Mile" (holes 16-18). Give me another hole people should keep an eye on that no one talks about.
Caddie: Difficulty-wise, I go to the front (nine). There are two holes on the front that are very tough. No. 9 would be one of them. (A 495-yard, par-4) It's a dogleg left ... If you have an average length driver of the ball, it's really, really tight. You've got a bunker down the right side and if you hit it in (the bunker) there is zero percent chance to reach the green in two. And if you pull the drive off the tee (into the left rough) it's about a 10 percent chance to get home (in two).
So it's just a drive that's extremely demanding ... The other hole is No. 4 (a 483-yard, par-4) ... It's just straight away. (The hole) doesn't give you anything to look at to aim (the tee shot) off of or to turn it off. You almost want a little bend to a hole so it fits the eye well. But I'd say by the end of the week, (No.) 4 and (No.) 9 will be two of the toughest, if not the toughest, holes not on the "Green Mile."
Collins: From the beginning, this tournament was loved by everyone. What makes it so special for the caddies?
Caddie: I actually like to say it was kind of the "breakout" tournament ... (Executive Director) Kym Hougham was the first one that said, "Guys, these caddies don't get treated well out here. They don't have food that is good, a lot of times they don't have hot food." I remember one year at Pebble Beach, they had cereal and chocolate milk. There was no white milk to put in your cereal! I think the options were Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms and Frosted Wheat with chocolate milk. Kym came through and said, "Let's change this up."
We get hot meals every time (breakfast and lunch) ... We got chefs out there cooking for us! It makes you feel like you're wanted to be there. And I don't mind saying this, the caddies were the ones who kinda started getting the word out, telling their players, "you need to come play here!" And since then, a lot of tournament directors have caught on. I think each year, one thing that's been impressive for me to see, each year we are treated a little bit better (at every other tournament) which is a wonderful dynamic to see.
Collins: What was it like the very first time you pulled up to this tournament and were told your (the caddie) car was going to be valeted?
Caddie: I think it's like the dog that has the "zapper" collar and he's not allowed to go outside the yard. And you first take the collar off so he's allowed to go anywhere, but he's kind of afraid to go anywhere! (We're both laughing furiously.) I remember the first time I pulled up thinking, 'They're going to impound my car. I'm not going to see this car ever again.' You almost feel like everybody is looking at you as you're coming around the corner.
One cool thing they always do here is the defending champion caddie gets to drive a Mercedes S550 for the week for free and they get a hotel for the week for free! That's another thing this tournament does ... All these little things, people think it takes a lot (to make a caddie happy) and it doesn't. Just some good hot meals, some healthy options, allowing us to park in a place where it can be convenient so we don't have to plan an extra hour in our day. It goes a long way for us that's for sure.
Collins: Like access to a toilet that flushes.
Caddie: Aw yeah! Let's bring that up, too. (Said in a serious but frustrated tone of a man who hasn't had that very often.) Behind our caddie area, we have like a little mobile 3 bathroom unit that also has showers in it. Again, most people wouldn't think that's a big deal but ... we actually get to use a bathroom where blue water is not splashing on my butt. That's a pretty big thing (for caddies). They don't miss a beat here, which is really impressive.
Collins: Lastly, what about the condition of the golf course?
Caddie: This tournament used to have a great reputation (for the course) and unfortunately it had been through three consecutive years of really bad conditions of the golf course. Last year they hired away the superintendent from (a different course) and within three months he had the course immaculate. This is the best shape I've seen (this) golf course in, in forever. There's not a bad lie on the golf course and the greens are pure. Just for me, it's a big tournament as to how well we're treated and in turn the players are treated that way so you want (the course) in great shape. So it's nice to see it get back to where it belongs.
