How a Florida caddie program (at a PGA of America pet project) is changing lives
More than a dozen teenagers are making good money – with an eye on a college scholarship – at The Park through its junior caddies program.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — There are lots of ways for high schoolers to make money these days. They can babysit, walk dogs, bag groceries, wait on tables, mow lawns and caddie at a public golf course.
Wait, what? Caddie at a public golf course? More than a dozen teenagers are making good money – with an eye on a college scholarship – at The Park, the former West Palm Beach Country Club that was reimagined and rebuilt three years ago through an effort led by former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.
Club officials chose The Park as the new name because they wanted it to sound inviting to the community. They hoped to attract young golfers, minorities and families who don’t normally play the sport. When Brian Conley became The Park’s general manager in 2023, he had several “must-haves” for the facility that had been closed for five years.
“One of them was to develop a junior caddie program,” Conley said. “We were confident we could build a caddie yard that would support a junior caddies program. ” Having caddies is common for area high-end, private golf courses such as Seminole, The Bear’s Club, Medalist and McArthur.
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