Ye' old looper tales...

[Quinn Thompson]

I thought I'd try and put some " good humor" to all this...

This was 3-4 years ago...I was in France, with time on my side; and a nickel in my pocket...I phoned my father, back in A-Merry-Kay; and told him to meet me in Belfast City, at the Duke of York Pub, come 2 weeks time...and to bring his sticks. It was summertime in Chicago, the old teacher had time on his side...and my nickel in his pocket.

We met at around high noon, on a Sunday, he was out in the alley standing tall when I walked around the corner.

To County Down we were going ( I was told in the Aran Isles on my way up that there was nothing "Royal" about it )
Anyway, I had set up the proper tee times and a "looper" to carry the Old Man's Powerbuilt blades...the one's from '77.

He wanted nothing to do with it, an old South Side stick he was...he'd carry his own clubs.

Sean, the looper on hand, was bright and early, ginger and all...." Sean, me and you," I said.
( If there's a looper available, I always try to fire him, her...golf etiquette.)

So, the Old Man's up in the hills, by hole 2,3,4... lugging his weapons around, looking at barbershop poles in the distance, cracking 5 irons whenever he can.

We get to great 9th tee, and my father ask's Sean a question:

"Sean, what am I aiming for ?"

Sean nudges me on the elbow, winks, and looks at my Dad and gives the greatest response, upon the greatest hole...

" Why don't you ask your f'ooking caddy ?"

To loopers, to Sean...

[Quinn Thompson]

Sean...being mum.

[paul cowley]

I like it Quinn, I like it!

[Charlie Gallagher]

Quinn,
   I was there about 5 years ago. I realize it is a common name, but the Sean who carried for a friend and I would be in his mid 20's now and was a very good stick, a 1 at the time. Excellent caddie and a bit of a wise guy too. We all got along very well.

[BigEdSC]

great story.  Reminds me of one of my own.

Played the Old Course back in 2006.  We were off at 7am.  Getting there, I decided to carry my own clubs.  I felt like I could make my way around, and one of the guys hired a caddy for the group.

We get to 18.  I kill a drive, that left me with a pitch.  I pitch it to around 8 feet.  This putt, to me, was as important of a putt that I ever hit in my life, birdieying the 18th at the Old course.  I look at it from all angles, and it looked like a putt that would just drift left.  I hit the putt, and it breaks right.  I'm dumbfounded at it and exclaim, "I can't believe that it went right!"

Immediately, the caddy replies without a beat, "I guess you should of hired a caddy."

[Quinn Thompson]

Thanks Paul...to the loopers, right ? to the grounds crew...hell, I'll start a discussion on cart gals.

Charlie...likely the same " wise guy " I had the joy of spending a day with...a twinkle in his damned Irish eye...a "stick" I did not know.

Ed...yes...and yes...the only time I played there was without a caddy ( prior to my earlier claims; "if there's a caddy, give him, her a day's wage."...I was younger then...)
Anyways, I ask permission to peg one up...it's December...and the starter, the good man he is, ask's me if I would like to join the Irishmen on the tee...both with their loopers.
"If they don't mind," I replied...
One of the men was Seamus, the other Paul..." For sure," they said...Old Pals they seemed, what's one more ?

Again, so jittery I was on the first tee, I pulled what was my sure club back then ( 2003 ) ...a 3 wood Powerbuilt persimmon ( 1977 )

'CRACK'

It was a proper fade...slashing through the morning...to my surprise.
One of the loopers hired by the Irish picked up his hire's bag ( for I was the last to tee off ) and walking off the tee, looked back with a wink and a brogue...

" I love the sound of a persimmon in the morning..."

[Ian Andrew]

Sorry, I wrote about a negative experience and then thought that it did not suit the spirit of the thread. Erased the entry.

[Adam Clayman]

Quinn, along the same lines, I was told about a similar encounter on the first tee at Pebble Beach.

The caddie had a single and the caddie master asked one of the other singles in the group if he would like the services. The man asked for the rate...$45 to carry and $22.50 to fore caddy. The player declined both.

After everyone in the group had played, it was the decliners turn. he looked out over the hole, turned to the caddy and asked "how far to that bunker". The caddie, without missing a beat, replied "$22.50"
The caddie master could barely control his laughter.