We were a bit rusty but the town of Endicott was well oiled, ready for some good golf and a big party. There were signs everywhere welcoming players, caddies and fans. Dick’s Sporting Goods Open puts on quite a show, runs a great tournament and throws a huge party along the way, it’s like a mini Phoenix Open with huge support from the local community.
The PGA Tour started coming here in the early 70’s. Back then there was a Pro/Caddy softball game that drew thousands, a caddy golf tournament (they’re trying to bring it back) the Monday morning after with the winning caddy playing next year’s pro-am and a caddy talent show Saturday night headlining “Dolph”, Stadler’s caddy, as the comedian/MC. The talent show wasn’t pretty but hilarious and the golf wasn’t much better, I think the word might be intoxicated.
Technology overwhelmed the short, tight, tree-lined public course ten years ago and the big hitters didn’t want to play the strategic layout but Broome County welcomed back the Champions Tour with open arms. We all couldn’t wait to get back, you mention “Dolph” or “Bucky”, Sindelar’s caddy, in the Endicott area and you’ve made immediate friends.
It’s the perfect fit, the big event of the year, the fans line the fairways then gather every evening in the courtyard behind the first and tenth tees for cheap beer, live bands, good food (Spiedies --- spiced pork, lamb or chicken sandwiches are a delicacy here) and mingle with the players, tournament staff, caddies and volunteers.
The main tournament sponsors, Marty (Dick’s son) and Stacy Stack and the director John Karedes have poured a lot time, effort and money into the event making it one of the top stops on tour. The Maroon 5 concert Friday night drew 20,000 plus and Tom Watson stopped by for the first time in 35 years. He told us in the caddy tent he’d be back; he loved the course and the atmosphere.
They can’t do enough for you here; everyone bends over backward making you feel right at home. The player’s gift package included a 32” flat screen TV and the caddies had a breakfast buffet every morning, free lunch and drink coupons after each round plus a $50 Dick’s gift card. There were smiling faces everywhere even with the tough economic times here.
I showed up Tuesday afternoon beat up and sore after a two day drive from the cabin. Sunday night I slept in an Upper Peninsula truck stop and Monday in a seven room motel just south of Buffalo. The accommodations were iffy but I’ve never had a better breakfast, eggs done just right, fried taters with onion, sweet-spicy sausage and sweet potato pancakes. I was pleasantly stuffed as I wound my way through the Adirondack foothills along the Susquehanna River, I can’t remember a prettier drive.
I unloaded Bob’s bag at the clubhouse, dropped his luggage off at the hotel and checked into the Red Carpet Inn directly across the street from En-Joie CC. “Bagger Bob” made the arrangements, he is no longer my travel agent. The location was good, the shower was great but the office’s curry smell indicated problems. A crappy room is better than a crappy roommate, we survived the week.
I’ve caddied En-Joie whenever possible but not since 2007 and I was using a 2000 Lucas yardage book, I needed a walkabout so did my body. I registered, the caddy volunteers said they’d line me up with a massage so I took off stumbling down the first fairway. Over the years course conditions have been the only complaint, the fairways and greens were lush not the usual dirt with a little grass thrown in, we actually had to replace divots. Dick’s and Broome County have poured some cash and maintenance into the layout; I thought I was walking Augusta, well not quite.
Every tournament course has numbered sprinkler heads staring you in the face; it’s hard to give a bad yardage. En-Joie still has the small caps you can barely find and you have to line them up with specific landmarks along the fairway. There were a lot of mysterious numbers this week and the MCI caddies had a difficult time. You have to pay attention and remember the little nuances.
There were a couple of bogies in our group a tour caddy would have avoided.
Like I said we were a bit rusty but after hitting 300-400 balls Wednesday Bob played a decent pro-am and I didn’t give any bad numbers. Everyone stopped to congratulate us and listen to Europe vacation stories. The first week after a win is special; you never get tired of rehashing the win or buying drinks for the boys. I bought a few rounds but excluded “Shampoo”, a special (in his mind), actually worthless, caddy who’s always trying to steal someone’s bag. It was the highlight of the week; I got more kudos for it than the win itself.
We’re back in the winners pairings and teed it up with Tom Lehman and Tom Pernice in the last group Friday. I was a bit late and Bob was already on the range when I arrived. It’s tough to whiff a 1:55 tee time and I caught a bunch of crap from the boys. We started off with a bogie but played the front like a pro every day. If we could have stayed off the back nine we’d have won the tournament. There were a couple of doubles on 11 and 15 plus at least two penalty strokes lurking. We made the turn each day 3 or 4 under and finished even. The birdie on 18 Sunday helped a bit but we were a bit disappointed.
I pampered the old, sore body all week. The caddy volunteers scheduled my massage for Wednesday afternoon and then, don’t tell anyone, a manicure and pedicure. Thursday was an expensive haircut, Friday morning the chiropractor worked on me then “Fuzzy” and Tom Wargo grilled steaks for a few caddies on the range Friday night. I think I can make it through the hectic schedule coming up. The story’s a lot different than this time last year; Bob’s set his eyes on winning a major. There was a gleam when I mentioned the possibility.
