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Tim O'Neill recalls caddy career |
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Tuesday, 16 June 2009 |
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Pawtucket native Tim O’Neill joins the list of former Pawtucket Country Club caddies who are contributing their memories of long-time caddymaster Jim Tanner prior to the July 6 tourney dedicated to their old friend and mentor.)
By TIM O’NEILL
PAWTUCKET -- It’s true “home is where the heart is” and for me….home is where the cart is – the golf cart, that is.
The Pawtucket Country Club was a big part of my life growing up in Pawtucket, R.I. In fact, I have never stopped working on a golf course since those days as a young caddie and member of the grounds staff.
After 28 years as the golf course superintendent at the Country Club of Darien in Darien, Connecticut, I can look back and appreciate my time on the links as being a life-shaping experience.
Coming home to attend the “JT Classic” sparks memories and gives me a chance to renew the many friendships from my youth. I became hooked on the golf course life first as a “looper” under the tutelage of caddie master, Jim Tanner (JT) and then as a member of the grounds crew when then Superintendent, Les Kennedy, took me under his wing and mentored me toward a lifetime career as a golf course superintendent.
Coming home to Pawtucket also gives me a chance to visit family. All my brothers, my father and many uncles caddied at Pawtucket as well. In all, three generations of O’Neills have participated in the looping experience and numerous nephews have and continued to work at PCC.
As for so many others, the Pawtucket CC experience engendered in me a love for the game of golf that continues today.
In the early days of looping, it was not uncommon to find 40 -50 young and old caddies ready to carry a bag or two. The competition was always stiff, but JT always seemed to reward those who worked hard, were dependable and had some kind of talent for the jobs of a caddie.
Back then, the “A” train group of players were notorious for playing quickly which is always appreciated by a caddie. Once I became a regular “A” train caddie, I knew I had made the big time. The train would always play on Saturday and Sunday mornings and Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
Although JT organized the caddies and golf carts for the players, it was the then Pawtucket Chief of Police, Joe Roy, who was in charge of the players. In fact, it seemed like the “chief” was in charge of most things back then. It would be safe to say that he didn’t have the most pleasant attitude for others -- probably this demeanor came with being the chief of police.
Often times a regular caddie had to be patient while waiting for the call from JT. That time was usually spent playing cards (I became a skilled gin and hi-lo-jack player), pitching cards and coins or listening to the tales from the older caddies.
Back then, JT was famous for bestowing nicknames on many of the caddies. It seemed like half the guys had the same nickname “Fly Trap” but there was “Bowling Ball” and “Bowling Pin”. There was one kid they called “Super Shack” because he didn’t mind working at the practice tee and another was just called “No Days.” There was “Harold the Hawk,” “Cautious Claude,” “Reno,” “The Colorful One” and too many others to remember. For sure, each was a character who had a story to match his unique name.
The JT Classic appropriately honors Jim Tanner (JT) for his lifetime of work and mentoring so many young men at Pawtucket. Those of us who were fortunate enough to learn from JT will undoubtedly flock to the course on July 6 to show our appreciation.
I count myself as lucky to attend the JT Classic, a not-to-be-missed event celebrating a Pawtucket Country Club icon.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 June 2009 )
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