Issue 52

April 22nd, 2014  

This Newsletter sponsored by The Littlest Golfer

   

The Littlest Golfer makes resort-quality golf apparel, accessories, toys, books and equipment for infants and children-the fastest growing segment in golf. The company's golfing turtle mascots, Putter and Sandy, invite young children to explore the world. The Littlest Golfer's educational books are designed to give children the tools they need to succeed in golf and life.

  

You may have seen their "First Set" recently on a worldwide stage. Caleb Watson, son of MASTERS Champion Bubba and Angie Watson, loves his Littlest Golfer clubs and takes them everywhere with him. Here he is practicing for next year's "Drive, Chip, and Putt" Championship slated for Augusta National!

 

 


 

Please CLICK HERE to view The Littlest Golfer.

 

Jordan Spieth Gives First Caddy Experience in LA

 


When we asked young Jordan Spieth to "caddy for a cure" last fall, his response was virtually immediate with "Yes, sounds great!"  Jordan got it, was all in, and said he would love to be a part of this cause. We are so grateful, and so is his lucky "caddy" Doug Schmitz.  

 

 

Just being out on the famed Riviera Country Club, steeped with history, is a thrill in itself,  but getting to watch the hottest superstar in all of golf up close is worth golf gold. Doug had this golden experience standing next to and watching Jordan fire shot after shot straight at the flag.  

 

 

As we try to do on every occasion, Doug and Jordan were escorted by a wounded warrior. In this case, our warrior was KC Mitchell from Pasadena.  KC lost his leg in Afghanistan several years ago, but that hasn't deterred his love of the game. He plays to a legit 5 handicap, so he had a true appreciation of watching one of the best in the game, one-on-one. We are not sure who was more in awe of the other's abilities. 

 

 

Doug made the trek coast to coast from Long Island to "caddy for a cure." Having fought snow to get out of Islip made the warm California sunshine that much more sweet.  His dream is to one day be a caddy in professional golf, and what a better way to get a kick start than caddying for one of the world's best? 

 

 

Watching a young man like Jordan walking with a brave warrior like KC, letting Doug carry the bag, is what we are all about. The 18th hole at Riviera, with all that it has seen in golf, may not have ever seen a more inspirational story than on this day!  


 

The Honda Classic 2014 was an Enormous Success!

 

The 2014 Honda Classic Pro am Celebrity Group was the greatest success yet in the history of Caddy For A Cure. With nearly $90,000 raised for charity as a result of this special group, there are not enough words to completely capture this awesome day. If one picture says a thousand words, here are a few million...

 

 

When you have five of the biggest names in their respective fields going to the first tee, things can get a little hectic. Here is Toby Keith, Roger Clemens, Ben Roethlisberger, Branford Marsalis, and Darren Clarke going to #1 on the Champion of PGA National.

 

 

Big Ben wooed them all day long with his prestigious 300+ yard drives. What we learned this day was Ben is not only long off the tee, but he is long in the heart, as well. He could not have been nicer to all his Steeler Nation fans, nor to the wounded warriors that escorted our group.

 

 

Open Champion Darren Clarke treated his "caddy" Stuart Lestch and wounded warrior SEAL Steve Kupcha to a day they will not soon forget. You may recognize Dr. Lestch, he is a former caddy in our program MANY times. This was his fifth experience and when leaving, announced he will be back for more!

 

 

We have a dear friend from New York who has supported our program through the years and continued that streak at The Honda Classic. Debbie Benjamin not only made a generous donation to the Children's Healthcare Charities, but she also made a significant contribution to Birdies For The Brave. When superstar Roger Clemens learned of her generous heart, a hug was in order.  And what a hug that was!!

 

 

If you are not aware of Toby Keith's patriotism, do a Google search on his visits overseas with the USO. He is the most prolific artist this side of Bob Hope to perform for the troops overseas. His Daddy served in the ARMY, and lost his right eye as the song goes...and his heart for thanking the warriors is unparalleled.  Here he is with SSGT Brian Mast, and our National Spokesperson and Diplomat, Christian and Calen.

 

 

Take some big time celebs, get some generous caddy's, and surround them with wounded SEALs and warriors - what do you get? The Honda Classic 2014!

 

 

Many thanks to all who participated and who made this a success. Thanks to the world class team at The Honda Classic - Ken Kennerly, Ed McEnroe, Russ Evans, Bill Decker, Tina Moulton, Penny Waugh, Jane Broderick, and so many more! 

 

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Jack Nicklaus Meets The Wounded at The Masters


Greatest golfer of all time. We are sure of that. What we would also assert is that Jack Nicklaus may just be the greatest of all time, in any category. What a story about and with him from this year's Masters!

 

The story began with a call from a fellow PGA Professional with a big heart, Greg Moore of GolfWRX fame. He called us and said he had two Masters tickets for Monday. Could we find him a few warriors from our program that could make it to Augusta? He would cover their air fare and hotel expenses. We found them. 

 

 

We had a thought - most certainly Jack Nicklaus would be there at Augusta. Since one of the warrriors going, SGT Randy Nantz, was Jack's caddy a few years ago in our program, and another former program caddy, SGT Joseph Lowery, was committed to the trip, why not see if Jack would shake their hands while on the grounds of Augusta. No easy task to coordinate, as you can imagine, given Jack being the celebrity he is and his schedule demands for the week.

 

 

The email came back in laser-like speed from the Nicklaus camp, "Of course Jack would LOVE to say hello." The only issue was Jack was not arriving until Tuesday...could they stay another day since they were scheduled to leave on Tuesday? Of course Jack and The Nicklaus Company would provide the tickets for the extra day.  Seriously, arm twisting did not come into play on this decision!  

 

 

When fate finally came together that Tuesday evening,  Jack yelled over to Hall of Famer Gary Player and invited him into the mix. Jack and Gary took nearly a half hour out of their day, right before the Champions' Dinner, to pay tribute and give thanks to two men who have given so much in their service to us all.  

 

 

Getting to go to the Masters. Cool. Getting to meet Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player under the Oak Tree inside the ropes in front of the clubhouse. Really Cool. Having your golf swing analyzed by Jack and Gary while at Augusta National. Priceless.  

 

 

Yes, he has won the most majors of all time. Yes, he owns the record books. Yes, his golf is nothing but pure legend. But the man we have come to know as Jack Nicklaus the man, is solid EPIC! He could not have been kinder, more grateful, or more patriotic with this gesture of kindness...done in typical "quiet" Nicklaus fashion. 

 

 

 

Thank you, SGT Randy Nantz and SGT Joseph Lowery, for your service.  Thank you, Mr. Jack Nicklaus and Mr. Gary Player, for a moment in golf that no one will ever forget! 

 

   

Upcoming Players - a "Who's Who" in Golf!

The upcoming list of players for the 2014 season reads like a "who's who" in golf. PGA Champion Jason Dufner, US Open Champion Justin Rose, Masters Champion Adam Scott...the list continues! Is this your year to "Caddy For A Cure?"

Greetings!

 

It gets kind of personal when you watch one of your best friends walk up the 18th hole with a 3-shot lead in The Masters. Not sure why, but it sure seems to tear up my eyes every year no matter who wins The Masters. It must be that I know how much has gone into this career, and how history will now forever remember this fateful day of donning a coveted green jacket.

But it's watching one of your best pals quietly carry the flagstick off the 18th green for the inevitable retrieval of the flag for home as a momento, which really chokes one up. It sure did this caddy.

The beauty of it is that veteran caddy Ted Scott is incredibly grounded and has done a better than brilliant job in grounding his player - Bubba Watson. You don't have to go far to hear Ted talk about "Bubba's mechanical genius." I often talk about Ted's "mental genius" to keep this whole team together. The two of them working together is true perfection in the eye of the trained caddy.



But yet, Ted is the same old Ted. Grounded in his faith. Loved and loving his wonderful family. And a joy to all who come in contact with him.  What many do not know is how much Teddy has assisted our Caddy For A Cure initiative through the years. He regularly comes over to our guests and welcomes them...thanks them for coming...and will sometimes even bring Bubba over to say "Hi." He is without question, the consummate friend.

No matter who you rooted for this Masters, you have to root for the guy with the biggest heart. And in this case, both won!


V/R,

 

Russ & Colleen Holden   

Caddy for a Cure Founder's

 

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