Effort will introduce high school students to caddying

GLENVIEW, Illinois – The Western Golf Association (WGA) has launched a new youth caddie program at The Evans at Canal Shores in Evanston and Wilmette, Illinois.

The 105-year old- neighborhood course re-opened last summer after undergoing an extensive renovation. The WGA was a lead donor of the project, and the course was named The Evans Course, in honor of Program founder Charles “Chick” Evans.

The project featured course renovations, the creation of a new youth golf facility and the establishment of a caddie program to ensure local students have work opportunities and a pathway to the prestigious Evans Scholarship.

This summer, a dozen high school students began caddying and are carrying bags for golfers in the mornings most days of the week.

“Caddying is the greatest summer job in the world for many reasons, one of which is the ability to meet and network with community leaders,” said the WGA’s Spencer Groessl, Director of Caddie Recruitment, who helps oversee the program. “The Evans at Canal Shores provides a perfect opportunity for these students, as it sits right next to the campus of Northwestern University, where we sent our very first Evans Scholars to school back in 1930.”

The Evans caddie program also provides the opportunity for participants to further develop by graduating into placement at other nearby clubs. A current Evans Scholar is serving as program caddie manager on-site at The Evans at Canal Shores.

Newly named Canal Shores Executive Director Bill Sullivan knows firsthand the positive impact caddying has, as he is a former Evans Scholar Alum.  “With the recent addition of a WGA-sponsored youth caddie program, we now have the ability to build a youth development legacy that we can be proud of for generations to come,” he said. “The local golf communities have embraced the caddie program, and we are off to a very inspiring start!”

The new summer program is part of a larger WGA plan nationwide to bring caddying to public golf courses in an effort to provide more opportunities for youth, and for more golfers to experience the game alongside a youth caddie.

“We are thrilled to welcome our first group of caddies to the Evans Course,” said Matt Rooney, president of the Board of Trustees of Canal Shores. “We believe this program will provide meaningful character development and life skills to young people from underserved parts of our community.”

So far this season, Rooney has done a half dozen loops with the caddies. “They are all energetic and motivated to do a great job,” he said. “It is truly a fun and worthwhile experience to spend a morning or afternoon with them.”

Visit wgaesf.org or www.canalshores.org to learn more.