I was inspired by my access to a golf course via being a caddie. I started shagging balls for .50 cents an hour at Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter Pa. I was 9 or 10 years old at the time. I began caddying carrying 1 bag for .90 for 9 holes and 1.50 for 18 holes. I loved the smell of the freshly cut grass, the smell of leather golf bags and even the smell of the dried up pools of water while searching for golf balls. It was wonderful and embedded in my mind the desire to be around it forever.
I became a class A golf professional in 1966 and have been at the same job at my club for 51 years. I got the head job at Lords Valley Country Club in Lords Valley Pa. when I was 24 and am now 75 and still am an active member and director of golf there. I have 53 years of being a class A professional, have been at the same job a Lords Valley Country club for 51 years and have been married to my wife for 55 years. Golf has been my whole life. I have watched it evolve successfully through the 80’s and 90’s. Unfortunately for the last 15 years it has been losing momentum and paying much less.
Being able to transform to the new digital and social culture has been the key to staying successful albeit even if that means just simply holding you own ground. In the long past I have been a club builder and used to fit and build 60 to 70 sets per year. I built a fitting inventory of 75 clubs or so with 5 different lengths, 6 different grip sizes and 5 different lie angles and 6 different flexes. This was great for many years until it became difficult for component manufacturers to duplicate the sophisticated head designs of the major manufacturers. Moreover they discovered my successful theory of providing demo clubs and fitting services. I am in the twilight of my golf career but still love the game and the golf environment.