Tom Grzywinski dedicated 40 years to supporting youth caddies
GLENVIEW, Ill. – Caddie manager Tom Grzywinski was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 18, in recognition of his 40 years of dedication to promoting and leading youth caddie programs and creating life-changing opportunities for young men and women.
He was honored during a ceremony at Sylvania Country Club in Sylvania, Ohio, where he was the caddie manager for 33 years until his retirement in 2023.
Grzywinski began his decades-long career as a caddie manager at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Under his mentorship, more than 100 youth caddies earned the Evans Scholarship, and six Sylvania CC caddies are currently in school as Evans Scholars.
“On behalf of the thousands of Evans Scholars Alumni, we acknowledge the journey would not have been possible without a caddie manager like Tom who provided not only education about the game of golf and caddying, but more importantly, showed young men and women many lessons on life. He molded so many to be great caddies and even better people,” said Terry Shaefer, an Evans Scholar Alum, WGA Director and Sylvania CC board member.
In addition to his service as a caddie manager, Grzywinski also taught and coached basketball and baseball in the Toledo public school system for 35 years and was a longtime high school and college basketball official.
Grzywinski is a member of six halls of fame, including the Ohio Golf Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 2020.
“It’s our honor to welcome Tom Grzywinski to the Caddie Hall of Fame,” said Jeff Harrison, WGA senior vice president of advisory and special initiatives. “His impact on young men and women is unmatched, and we thank him for his dedication to youth caddies.”
“Who would think that when you do something like this you would be in the Caddie Hall of Fame?” said Grzywinski. “I just did my job, had fun, and worked with nice kids and nice people. I’m very honored.”
Administered by the Western Golf Association since 2011, the Caddie Hall of Fame highlights the tradition and importance of caddying by celebrating individuals who have devoted their lives to the
game of golf through caddying or by supporting the role of caddies, and those who have used their experience as a youth caddie for future professional success.
The Caddie Hall of Fame was created by the Professional Caddies Association in 1999 and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Past inductees include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Charles “Chick” Evans, Francis Ouimet, Jim “Bones” Mackay, Steve Williams, Joe LaCava, Jimmy Johnson, Charles Schwab and Peter Ueberroth.
To learn more, visit caddiehallfofame.org.