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Lost art of caddying will return to RVCC By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports Posted Jul. 8, 2016 @ 8:22 pm Updated Jul 8, 2016 at 8:24 PM By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports Posted Jul. 8, 2016 @ 8:22 pm Updated Jul 8, 2016 at 8:24 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> David Gault was often filled with anticipation as he pedaled his bike through what was then rural east Medford on the way to his summer job. Whom would he walk with on this day? A movie star, a captain of industry, a local doctor or lawyer? What stories would they tell? What life lessons would they impart? Being a caddie at Rogue Valley Country Club in the 1950s was a pretty good gig, and it helped start Gault on a successful path. "There were just innumerable good experiences," says Gault, 78, whose caddying led him to a scholarship at the University of Oregon and, later, an accounting career. "The members at the club tended to be the upper middle class of Medford society. They were all very good in the way they treated the caddies. They were very helpful with a lot of things. It was a good experience to be among them and listen to their conversations." Caddying isn't nearly as prevalent as it was in the decade before the golf cart was introduced. But there's a move at RVCC, in concert with the Western Golf Association, to bring back the craft. Rogue Valley is starting a caddie program open to all boys and girls ages 13 to 17. The first training session is Thursday at RVCC. Those interested can call head professional Tracy Snyder at 541-772-4050. There is no fee to join. The impetus for the program came from the WGA, which oversees the Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies and is trying to expand its presence in Oregon. Of 910 Evans Scholars in colleges this past school year, 32 were from Oregon. Bill Ashenden, a member at RVCC and a volunteer director with the WGA, approached the club about organizing a caddie program. The WGA originated in the Chicago area, where Ashenden grew up, and his father was a past president. Ashenden, a market manager for Bicoastal Media, is helping establish caddie programs throughout the state. Bandon Dunes has the largest operation, but there are strong programs in the Portland area, he says, and others have popped up outside the metropolitan area. The goal of the RVCC program is not to create Evans Scholars, says Snyder. Rather, it's to provide opportunities for kids and service to its members. "There is no downside to it," says Snyder, who annually enlists about 25 caddies during the Southern Oregon Golf Championships. The caddies in the startup program will get extensive training. In addition to sessions at the club, there will be online resources. The WGA provides bibs for the caddies. "Caddies have fallen by the wayside in a lot of places," says Snyder. "This, to me, seems so much geared toward helping the kids. It's not something that will really be mainstream out here. But it's another service we'll be able to provide, and there's that group of people that will take a caddie every day if we have them." In addition to regular caddies for individuals, forecaddies will be available for groups. The fee for each is $30, and all the money, plus any gratuity, goes to the caddie. Ashenden would be thrilled to get a dozen or so kids as the program unfolds. "We're hoping this year to kind of walk before we run," he says. And if an Evans Scholar emerges from the group, all the better. The full scholarship is for four years. Among the criteria for application is caddying 50 rounds over two years, financial need, academic standing and community involvement. The Evans Scholarship Foundation bought a house in Eugene and will open this fall as the residence for 35 scholarship winners. Gault, a 1960 Oregon graduate, was the first Evans Scholar in Oregon and was one of two from Rogue Valley. The other was the late Stewart Schroeder, who graduated from Oregon State in 1962. Gault's grandson recently earned an Evans scholarship while working at Eugene Country Club. Although it's relative to the era, he chuckles at the disparity in their earnings. "Sometimes I'd have two caddie rounds for $2 a round and make $4 for eight hours of work," he says. "My grandson gets about $45." Among the celebrities Gault looped for were Jack Benny, Clark Gable and Ginger Rogers. "Rogue Valley Country Club was one of the premier courses in the state, and it drew a lot of attention," he says. Times are different, of course. Ashenden caddied at Skokie Country Club near Chicago, where Evans rose to fame as one of the nation’s best golfers. This is the 100th year anniversary of him winning the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur. The only other player to win both in the same year was Bobby Jones. Caddying is more prominent in the Midwest, says Ashenden, where it resembles, to a degree, what was depicted in the movie, "Caddyshack." Granted, the movie embellished greatly for the sake of comedy, but there is realism intertwined. Star Bill Murray and his four brothers all caddied as youngsters. An older brother, Brian, co-wrote the script, and part of it was based on another brother, Ed's, successful pursuit of an Evans Scholarship. Ashenden relished his time caddying and is sold on its benefits. Players with caddies can enjoy the walk, enjoy the game and mentor youngsters. "They're (caddies) not going to go out and read your putts, they're not going to become your swing coach," he says. "They're going to carry your bag, rake the traps and find your ball, those types of things." The caddies, meanwhile, will learn more than simply how to caddie. "It puts a young man or woman in a role that they have to be attentive," says Ashenden. "They have to look people in the eye and give them a firm handshake and go out and help them enjoy the day. By doing that, they get the benefit of walking with maybe a leader in the community, maybe someone who can really coach them and just be a good mentor for them. That's really the key for the kids." Have a local golf story idea? Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 541-776-4479, or email [email protected] By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports Posted Jul. 8, 2016 @ 8:22 pm Updated Jul 8, 2016 at 8:24 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Gurley: I'm No. 1 Overall Fantasy Player Jul. 11, 2016 at 10:41 am Predicting the Top Fantasy Football Sleeper at Each Position Jul. 7, 2016 at 7:00 am Top Fantasy Football RB Handcuffs for This Season Jul. 1, 2016 at 7:00 am Identifying Potential NFL Fantasy Sleepers Jun. 19, 2016 at 7:00 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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