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The Demise of The Black Caddy

Interesting New York Times story:

At the 76th Masters this week, there will be no club caddies required; only two black caddies started the season with regular jobs on the PGA Tour and one has since been fired. The great black caddies of the past, who carried the bags for Gene Sarazen and Jack Nicklaus and the game’s other greats, are dead or well into the back nine of their lives.

For a variety of reasons, no new generation has taken the bags from them. Caddying, once perceived as a menial job, has become a vocation for the college-educated and failed professionals who are lured by the astronomical purses driven by Woods’s immense popularity. In 1996, the year Woods turned pro, the PGA Tour purses averaged $1.47 million. This year, they average $6.20 million.

Yes, there is very good money in being a caddy of the professional golf tours now. I think we need not look for more in terms of explanations. If there was good money in picking fruit, there would be a disappearance of the Latino fruit picker. Yes, I am calling white privilege.

Speaking for me only

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    Nothing like some upper crust wages (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 08:57:43 AM EST
    to make things cool enough for white people.  The rise of the fruit sommelier.

    it's pretty much always been that way: (5.00 / 2) (#98)
    by cpinva on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 05:03:59 PM EST
    Yes, I am calling white privilege.

    of course, golf has historically been the "sport" of the privilaged. i remember in high school, guys who were on the golf team (all white) would all caddy at the local country club courses (also all white), because they got free practice time as employee's. and all these guys were sons of officers/executives/etc.

    for myself, unless there is a windmill in front of at least one hole, it isn't "real" golf!

    A trip down memory lane (none / 0) (#1)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 08:46:45 AM EST
    .

    My first job where a non-family member paid me was as a caddy at a country club at about age 14 or 15.  Great summer job, outdoors, learned some bargaining skols.  It only lasted half the summer because the wage and hour enforcement types told the club we had to get minimum wage and the result was about a 90% reduction in caddy work as most golfers chose to pull their own bags after that.

    .

    "failed professionals"? (none / 0) (#2)
    by EL seattle on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 08:56:58 AM EST
    I wonder how many football coaches (or sports writers) are usually described as having been "failed professionals" before they settled into their current jobs.

    Playing in the NBA (none / 0) (#4)
    by BTAL on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 09:45:38 AM EST
    instead of caddying.

    Cuz those are the 2 options (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 09:52:01 AM EST
    Sheesh.

    Parent
    "Yes, I am calling white privilege." (none / 0) (#8)
    by BTAL on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:03:04 AM EST
    Sheeze

    Parent
    Im calling class privilege (none / 0) (#10)
    by jondee on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:11:11 AM EST
    (there's that dastardly commie c-word again!)

    Parent
    You're sheeshing that? (none / 0) (#12)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:17:28 AM EST
    Well, let me just say that the comment tells me a little about your world view.

    Parent
    You created the strawman (none / 0) (#16)
    by BTAL on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:23:57 AM EST
    argument.  Nothing at all relating to world views.  

    Parent
    Straw man (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:44:55 AM EST
    I don't think it means what you think it means.

    Parent
    Seriously??? n/t (none / 0) (#9)
    by Yman on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:07:43 AM EST
    a modern day (none / 0) (#24)
    by CST on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 11:03:29 AM EST
    marie antoinette in our midst.

    Let them eat cake?

    Parent

    It's not just caddy jobs (none / 0) (#6)
    by vicndabx on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 09:54:29 AM EST
    Five years ago, Lynn Loosier, a jazz singer raised in Georgia, bought a renovated two-bedroom apartment in a Renaissance Revival building on Walton Avenue, one block off the Concourse, for $250,000, granite countertops included. Now, she said, most of the 140 apartments in the building are occupied by lawyers, professors and other professionals, with whites making up 40 percent of the tenants. The residents, Ms. Loosier added, cleaned out the basement, hauling away four dump trucks' worth of trash to open up space for the yoga studio, a gym and a room where she gives vocal lessons.

    "The one thing we need is good restaurants," she said.

    Ariela Heilman, a real estate broker for Halstead Property in Harlem who lives in Ms. Loosier's building, said that in addition to migrants from other boroughs, she often sells or rents to Europeans unaware of the Bronx's reputation, which is still sullied by the arson and crime epidemic of the 1970s.

    Several residents pointed out that there have always been black and Latino professionals raising families along the Concourse, proud of having arrived at a symbol of upward mobility even when the atmosphere was harshest.

    "Why do people only pay attention when other races move into the neighborhood?" said Marlen Valarezo, 40, a lawyer of Hispanic descent who works at the Neighborhood Association for Intercultural Affairs, which works to prevent evictions. Five years ago Ms. Valarezo moved into a rental apartment off the Concourse with her mother.

    No Longer Burning, the South Bronx Gentrifies

    Interesting haven't received any (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 09:56:12 AM EST
    ACLU e-mail re this particular issue. Yet.  

    Blech, Augusta (none / 0) (#11)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:13:06 AM EST
    lovely place.  Black men were not allowed to join until 1991.  But hey, isn't it okay that (white) men just want to be around (white) men?  Let them be!

    This story, about the first full-time white caddy at Augusta, is interesting as well.  He took up the position in 1989.  

    I worked at a golf course snack hut, vending pretzels, hot dogs, egg sandwiches, for a few months.  The staff and golfers were rather lecherous.  Golf, brings out the best in people.

    Women still are not allowed to play there (none / 0) (#30)
    by ruffian on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:19:48 PM EST
    Lovely place I hear.

    Parent
    Do you even attempt to get the facts (none / 0) (#35)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:43:53 PM EST
    right?

    To be clear, Augusta allows women to play as guests during the eight months it is open (October to May).

    There are no women who are members.  No one applies for membership.  You are invited to join.

    Parent

    Me only: (5.00 / 0) (#55)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:04:25 PM EST
    Do you even attempt to have any empathy? It is a sexist milleue. Period.

    Parent
    I see no reason to have (1.00 / 1) (#100)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 09:03:31 PM EST
    empathy for someone who is both rich and famous.  The members of Augusta are the 1% of the 1%.

    Do you have empathy for those who wish to have beluga caviar, but cannot obtain because it is banned from being imported to the US?

    Parent

    sorry...no...you misread entirely (5.00 / 0) (#101)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 09:47:39 PM EST
    and I was too opaque in my meaning...not what I was trying to say at all. Never mind.

    Parent
    I am much struck! (5.00 / 0) (#107)
    by sj on Thu Apr 05, 2012 at 01:32:12 PM EST
    I hadn't realized that once one becomes both rich and famous that one loses a measure of humanity and should therefore be treated as soullessly and without empathy as possible.

    Parent
    just saying (none / 0) (#36)
    by CST on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:48:37 PM EST
    this does not strike me as a coincidence

    "There are no women who are members.  No one applies for membership.  You are invited to join."

    Nor does the fact that women are allowed to play as "guests" make me feel like they aren't still a bunch of d-bags based on the above statement.

    It gets back to my other point that golf is still "culturally" a thing for white men.  Sure ladies can come as guests, but we're not really part of the club.  Etc...

    Parent

    New IBM CEO raises issue of female (none / 0) (#102)
    by caseyOR on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 11:48:26 PM EST
    membership at Augusta, again.

    The new CEO of IBM is Virginia Rometty. IBM is one of the only sponsors who stayed with Augusta after old Hooty's nasty response to efforts years back to open Augusta to women members. The last four IBM CEOs, all men, have been members.

    What happens now? Does Augusta change its membership policy? Does IBM act like the snubbing of its new CEO is no big deal?

    Inquiring minds and all that.

    Parent

    I imagine (none / 0) (#103)
    by lilburro on Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 12:30:24 AM EST
    there is some pressure on her to demur.  "Doesn't like golf," etc.  Although I also think Augusta would have no problem simply rejecting her, they have legions of fans who justify their current policy, so why should they care?

    Parent
    How is that significant? (none / 0) (#43)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:35:32 PM EST
    It's still men only membership.

    Parent
    Ruffian's claim (none / 0) (#46)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:40:54 PM EST
    was the women are not allowed to play there.  That isn't true.

    Parent
    Don't feel so bad, (none / 0) (#47)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:41:14 PM EST
    it's really not a men-only membership, it's really a men-related-to-a-current-member-of-the-board-of-directors-and-are-a-scion-of-(the correct) industry-and-are-a-managing-director-of-(the correct) charity-and-can-get-a-bunch-of-members-to-write-letters-on-your-behalf-only membership.

    Parent
    and I bet they all hate (5.00 / 0) (#59)
    by CST on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:09:22 PM EST
    affirmative action because it's not "fair".

    Sorry, I find this kind of thing really annoying.  Yes I realize most men are also not part of the "old boyz club"  But it doesn't change the fact that it's almost always a boyz club.  And yes, that type of $hit flows downhill.  Especially in golf and business.

    Parent

    LOL... (5.00 / 0) (#65)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:21:13 PM EST
    Well played CST.  Damn affirmitive action! ;)

    What I don't get is why minorities, women, and normal white men would wanna join such a club?  Sounds like a buncha Judge Smails arsehole types to me...no golf course is that beautiful to put up with that kinda ugly company.  

    Parent

    hitting the links with:

       Bill Gates, co-founder and chairman of Microsoft[11]
        Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway[11]
        Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric[11]
        Pete Coors, former chairman and CEO of Coors Brewing Company, current Chairman of Molson Coors Brewing Company & MillerCoors.
        James D. Robinson III, former CEO of American Express[11]
        Harold "Red" Poling, former CEO of the Ford Motor Company[11]
        Carl Sanders, former Governor of Georgia[11]
        Sam Nunn, former United States Senator from Georgia[11]
        T. Boone Pickens, Jr., oil tycoon[11]
        Hugh L. McColl Jr., Former CEO of Bank of America[11]
        Lou Holtz former college football coach[12]
        Lynn Swann, former NFL player[13]
        Pat Haden, former NFL player and current athletic director at the University of Southern California[14]


    Parent
    To each their own... (none / 0) (#83)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:12:07 PM EST
    but I think you're nuts;) Pete F*ckin' Coors?  

    Though I guess I would like to ask him how a drug dealer can fund an outfit called a Partnership for Drug Free America with a straight face.

    Parent

    Holtz, Swan, Haden?! C'mon. (none / 0) (#91)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:28:12 PM EST
    I also saw somewhere that one of the (none / 0) (#92)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:30:05 PM EST
    old-school astronauts was a member, sounds like probably a pretty interesting cat...

    Parent
    rich white guys club.. (none / 0) (#94)
    by jondee on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:48:47 PM EST
    a regular outdoor star chamber..with none of those messy, unkempt trees, tall grass, ferns and toadstools to make those contracted sphincters loosen up..

    Parent
    I'm sure there are some diamonds... (none / 0) (#95)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:59:30 PM EST
    in the rough...but overall, I'm confident its too douchey a scene for me to want to be a part of it.

    But if you're looking to get in and need a reference or something, you can always call on me brother;)

    Parent

    great place to spike/electrify (none / 0) (#96)
    by jondee on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 04:07:55 PM EST
    the martinis, though..

    Parent
    Thanks man, you got my bock! (none / 0) (#97)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 04:13:47 PM EST
    er, "back!" (none / 0) (#106)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 09:15:46 AM EST
    Fair enough. And you made me google (none / 0) (#62)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:16:47 PM EST
    to see if there are any women-only clubs as the only ones I could think of were sororities and the Girl Scouts...

    It was revealed Friday that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor belongs to the Belizean Grove, a highly selective club for women only.


    Parent
    oh there is no denying there are clubs (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by CST on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:21:38 PM EST
    for girls.  That's just not usually where the real power is.

    Case and point, you had to google.  Also, she is no longer a member.  As with most women's clubs, guess where it came from:

    "The Belizean Grove bills itself as women's answer to the 130-year-old all-male Bohemian Club in California."

    You get shut out enough and you start your own groups out of necessity.

    Parent

    What in heck's the "Bohemian Club?" (none / 0) (#70)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:30:47 PM EST
    And why haven't they sent me a dam invitation yet?

    Parent
    I am not a Bohemian club member, but (none / 0) (#72)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:34:53 PM EST
    we you meet me here or here oh sarcastic one?

    Parent
    You funny! (none / 0) (#77)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:50:53 PM EST
    I have no idea (none / 0) (#74)
    by CST on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:38:57 PM EST
    I'll let you know once I get invited to their female counterpart.

    But yes, like I said in my earlier comment, I'm aware that most men also aren't invited to the powerfull people club.  It doesn't change the fact that the club is overwhelmingly male.  And things like this perpetuate that phenomenon.

    It does sound like something you have to grow your hair out and start smoking pot for.  Maybe move to France and get a mistress.

    Parent

    Ha! (none / 0) (#78)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:51:59 PM EST
    the Teamsters Union...

    I jest!

    Kinda...

    Parent

    The Teamsters (none / 0) (#53)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:56:13 PM EST
    have women and men as members.  So your point is what exactly?

    Parent
    That Joe/Jane Blow can't walk up and join, (none / 0) (#58)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:08:33 PM EST
    that often times you need to be a relative of a member to get in. At least, that's often the case for the Teamsters in the LA film industry that I work with...

    Parent
    Pretty sure that doesn't make a difference (none / 0) (#52)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:55:06 PM EST
    as I could be all of those things and still not get in because I'm a woman.  At least they don't discriminate on race anymore, though!

    Parent
    I could be all those things (none / 0) (#56)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:05:45 PM EST
    and also still not get in and I am a man.

    It's a private club, it only invites about 300 hand-picked members.

    It doesn't invite women. That is only one of, probably, dozens of criterias they use to decide who to extend a membership invitation too...

    ...that said, the new IBM CEO is a woman, and the last 4 (male) IBM CEO's were invited to join, so it should be interesting to see how this plays out.

    Parent

    And year after year (5.00 / 0) (#68)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:26:32 PM EST
    those 300 hand-picked members are exclusively men.

    I mean let's not act like Augusta has just been waiting with open arms for an organic opportunity to admit a woman.  I don't think you're so naive as to believe the lack of female members or even invitations is all some colossal coincidence.

    Parent

    else's comment, as it appears not to relate to what I wrote...

    Parent
    Ok (none / 0) (#71)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:33:05 PM EST
    what other innate, accident of birth criteria do you think Augusta has on its list?  

    Parent
    I already said that women are not invited to join. I also pointed out that that is not their only criteria.


    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:15:47 PM EST
    I am the one looking for the argument.  This coming from the commenter who offered the comparison of Augusta to the Teamsters.  Whatever you say, guileless unnamed one.

    Parent
    In jest! (none / 0) (#88)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:20:43 PM EST
    Kinda...

    Parent
    There are also fewer black live in (none / 0) (#13)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:19:31 AM EST
    Hosekeepers, limo driver, maids and nannies.

    I see this as a change in lifestyle not a racial issue but if you must search for one by all means.

    My garden hose (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by CoralGables on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:23:16 AM EST
    is always entangled, strewn around, and getting under my feet. What is the going rate for a Hosekeeper?

    Parent
    You need a hose caddy.... (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:29:17 AM EST
    try Sears;)

    Or I'll be your hosekeeper, 20 bucks an hour.  

    Parent

    Is that plus (none / 0) (#31)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:22:09 PM EST
    Room and board?

    Parent
    No room, no board.... (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:04:03 PM EST
    but if we can keep it off the books that would be cool, I'd even go down to 18 per;)

    Parent
    20 an hour is (none / 0) (#42)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:33:03 PM EST
    above the "going rate" I'd say, at least for house cleaning. Or is that the rate in NYC?

    Parent
    What can I say... (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:41:47 PM EST
    I'm white, and somewhat priveleged;)

    I have no idea what the going rate is for a housekeeper, I take pride in keeping my own house.

    I was offering my services as a "hosekeeper",
    different position...dealing with potable water connections and everything, big responsibility, and I have some expertise in this regard.  Does CG have a hose bibb vacuum breaker installed to protect the potable water supply, for instance?  A good hosekeeper knows these things...;)

    Parent

    I think everyone should at some point in their (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:06:19 PM EST
    lives, clean someone else's toilet.

    Parent
    It's honest work.... (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:11:25 PM EST
    more honest than banking...I just prefer to clean my own.

    Come to think of it, I think everyone should clean their own toilet, at least once.  Builds character, imo.

    Parent

    but cleaning someone else's is really a lesson (5.00 / 0) (#61)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:14:36 PM EST
    in what that work is about.Yes-the privilege of nasty.

    Parent
    Come to Indiana and you can clean mine (none / 0) (#82)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:06:18 PM EST
    $8/hour is the going rate around here

    Parent
    We pay 15/hr. (none / 0) (#63)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:17:39 PM EST
    10 to 15 sounds about right. (none / 0) (#64)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:19:07 PM EST
    in private homes I mean (none / 0) (#67)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:24:28 PM EST
    Hotel cleaners do much worse, generally.

    Parent
    I hear the union hotel cleaners.... (none / 0) (#85)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:13:14 PM EST
    do ok actually, at least in NYC.

    Parent
    d@mn unions (none / 0) (#87)
    by CST on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:15:53 PM EST
    ruining things for everyone.

    Parent
    I know... (none / 0) (#90)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:26:52 PM EST
    I hear they get paid sick days and everything.  Totally outrageous;)

    Parent
    The fight to organize has met fierce (5.00 / 0) (#99)
    by DFLer on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 05:46:41 PM EST
    resistance and taken years (eg Hilton)

    Hyatt also has been resistant and fracked.

    Sometimes, it's not just the wage, it's also the amount of rooms expected to be cleaned in a certain period of time, etc.

    Here's a guide to finding union hotels: link

    Parent

    There are not fewer PGA caddies (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:44:15 AM EST
    I've seen your argument at my daily kos post and it stuns me how clearly some people are determined to miss the point.

    Parent
    The change is because being a Caddy (none / 0) (#28)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:14:46 PM EST
    Became an actual job meaning you worked for a pro instead of for a course.

    Augusta used to provide the caddy now the tour players have their own.

    If we where still under the old system people would be complaining that the black caddies where underpaid and mistreated, be ause they where.

    Are you proposing he government should be providing a susidized work force as a symbol of times gone by?

    The market worked it out just as it did for the other jobs I mentioned.   Lobs can no longer afford to subsidize a manual work for e of professional caddies because they would have to provide all the benefits they provide their other.

    If your complaint is more Black people should play golf than that is another matter.

    Parent

    Sorry for the typos (none / 0) (#29)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:16:02 PM EST
    First post on new iPhone

    Parent
    Actual job (none / 0) (#34)
    by vicndabx on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:43:46 PM EST
    Think the point was it was an "actual job" before.

    Parent
    Did all courses... (none / 0) (#40)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:12:06 PM EST
    provide the caddies back in the day or just the segregated private clubs like Augusta?

    Could ya bring your own caddy to Augusta back in the day if ya chose too?  Did they let white folks carry bags?

    Just curious...pretty ignorant about golf and golf history.

    Parent

    Private courses pretty much all used to have a staff of caddies and if you played there, either as a member or a guest, you used a staff caddy.

    Public courses pretty much you carry your own dam bag (on the back of your cart).

    Parent

    Prior to the early 80's at Augusta (none / 0) (#73)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:36:33 PM EST
    you could not bring a caddy.  All the caddies at Augusta were black until the very late 80's.

    Parent
    Thank you both... (none / 0) (#75)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:40:09 PM EST
    so the personal caddy thing is kinda new to pro golf, 20-30 years or so.  Thats what I was wondering.

    Parent
    Actually, I think the personal caddy (none / 0) (#76)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:50:07 PM EST
    is kinda new to pro golf at Augusta for the Masters Tournament, I think pro golf itself had personal caddies long before then.

    The Caddies: Augusta National remains one of the few golf clubs with a staff of caddies ready to assist members, guests and professionals.

    In the previous PGA Master's Tournaments, staff caddies were assigned to professional players. Not until Jack Nicklaus insisted on having his personal caddy complete competition play alongside him was the protocol changed.



    Parent
    Jack broke many a mold... (none / 0) (#79)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 02:53:25 PM EST
    double thanks.

    Parent
    The black caddie is a holdover (none / 0) (#84)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:12:37 PM EST
    of the old school elitist south.

    There are still clubs in the south where you have predominately Black Caddies.  Not many but a few.  

    I've played at one in Birmingham and in an odd way it's almost a tribute to the old south.   All the caddies are old and have been there for most of their working lives and my friend who hosted me said they would most likely not replace them and for the most part you didn't have to use them unless you played at certain times.

    As someone else pointed out 50 years ago if you played golf at a southern elite country club you had a black caddie.  Just the way it was.

    Kind of like if you where a rich southerner you had a black maid and maybe a limo driver as well.

    Parent

    It's actually the demise (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:21:08 AM EST
    of the caddy, not the demise of the black caddy. Most golf clubs once had caddies available for hire. That has faded away, leaving the only caddies available as scratch golfers that couldn't get their tour card or friends of the pro with whom they like to spend their time.

    The Nationwide Tour was in town recently and advertised a need for caddies because the club has no caddies. Very few of the Nationwide Tour players can afford a full time caddy as the pay rarely covers expenses. The pay to caddy? The caddy had to pay $100 to carry the bag.

    PGA Tour caddies (none / 0) (#20)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:43:25 AM EST
    is my point, as OI think it quite clear.

    Parent
    It's a change in the job description... (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:34:57 AM EST
    caddy used to mean servant to carry the bag, even though the servant helped the player navigate the course, pick clubs, etc...they got no credit for it.

    Now its more like a golf coach who carries the bag, and they get credit (and paid!) for helping the player navigate the course and pick clubs and what not.

    It actually sounds like (none / 0) (#19)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:41:24 AM EST
    caddies' value hasn't changed or in fact it has decreased, while they've become better compensated.  I mean, did black caddies not help the player navigate the course and pick clubs?

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    They most certainly did... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by kdog on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 10:53:07 AM EST
    but I don't think the public knew it...they just saw a servant, no different than the waiters or busboys in the club.

    Once the image of a caddy changed, and they got paid better, so did the demographics of PGA caddies.

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    But They Couldn't Be as Good... (none / 0) (#89)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:23:33 PM EST
    ...as a personal caddy.  Beyond color, having some guy at the club help with distance is a hell of a lot different then having what is essentially a golf partner.  Who knows your style, who's opinion IMO holds more weight than a guy you meet 10 mins before teeing off.

    What really surprises me is how these people treated an entire race so despicably, yet used them in such prestigious events and at some level respected their opinions.  It doesn't compute in my head.  

    White crusty dudes using people they wouldn't let use the same water fountain for reference in a game of privilege and prestige.

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    2002 article from Black Enterprise (none / 0) (#25)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 11:03:59 AM EST
    article here:

    But the advent of the golf cart in the 1960s heralded the end of an era for caddies. As the civil rights movement gained momentum and jobs in a variety of industries opened up, young African American teenagers and adults found higher-paying jobs in factories, manufacturing companies, offices, and in many other positions that were traditionally off limits to us. By the early 1970s, many caddie programs at these clubs were all but eliminated. However, the end of blacks dominating the caddie industry seemed to have come in 1983 when the Augusta National Golf Course stopped requiring its Masters participants to use club caddies, who were always black. As a result, players were given the option to select their own caddies, and these new caddies were overwhelmingly white.

    "This marked the end of seeing black caddies on television," explains McDaniel. "It was the only time black caddies were treated well and recognized for their role in the sport."

    [Four years ago], only one out of the top 50 golf players (Hal Sutton) employs an African American caddie (Freddie Burns). Pete McDaniel breaks it down to dollars and cents. "Last year, there were 55 millionaires on the [PGA] tour, and caddies make 10% of a player's earnings and a bonus if the golfer wins the tournament. Fifty-four white caddies made $100,000; only one black caddie made this amount."



    Due respect (none / 0) (#26)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 11:11:53 AM EST
    Duh.

    The article and my post are about caddies on the professional golf tours.

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    Fair enough (none / 0) (#27)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 11:44:59 AM EST
    background reading.  I think the NYT article muddles the club/PGA tour distinction too, though.  I guess it seems like yes, club programs ended, caddies became associated with golfers, but in the process black caddies were phased out (the caddies interviewed in the article are pretty old) and replaced by white guys that want to make a lot of money.  If that's the story the NYT did not tell it very well.  Which I suppose is just repeating your point again, but I find the exercise useful..

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    This not a racial issue in (none / 0) (#32)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:28:30 PM EST
    Terms of discrimination.

    If more black people played golf at a high level there would be more black caddies.

    Just like there would be more black hockey players, race car drivers, tennis pros, soccer players, bad mitten players, ping pong players,  volleyball players, baseball players, swimmers, bycyclits, lacrosse players, divers , snow boarders, skiers, surfers,  etc ...

    Yes some sports are harder for poor people to participate in but most of it is simply cultural.

    golf is probably not the best example for this (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by CST on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:37:33 PM EST
    "some sports are harder for poor people to participate in but most of it is simply cultural"

    as it is basically the poster child for "harder for poor people to participate in"

    The rest of them vary.  Although I agree with you that it's cultural, the "culture" of golf in particular is overwhelmingly tilted towards white men.

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    Re: (none / 0) (#45)
    by lilburro on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:40:06 PM EST
    If more black people played golf at a high level there would be more black caddies.

    The point of this article is that there were a great number of black caddies when there were no, then very few, black professional golfers.  And now there are very few black caddies.  What you're saying is completely contradicted by the article.

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    There where actually more (none / 0) (#93)
    by Slado on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 03:40:09 PM EST
    black golfers 30 years ago then there are now.

    And most of them where former caddies.

    The sad reality is blacks (if you remove caddies from the conversation) had just as little involvement in golf as they do now.    Once the need for caddies was removed by the golf cart and better opportunities for black men int he south caddies stopped being trained and used.  

    I reread the article and it's really quite pointless.   Why not an article about black chauffeurs or maids?   Yes a symbol of the racist segregated south is now gone, so what?

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    Just different symbols now (none / 0) (#104)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 06:10:17 AM EST
    Take for example.....oversized hoodies

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    And Lacrosse is a Native American sport (none / 0) (#105)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 06:12:23 AM EST
    That Ivy League white people felt confident enough to co-opt without getting any on them.

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    Oddly enough even the AA golfers (none / 0) (#37)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 12:55:18 PM EST
    choose white caddies, like Tiger (1/2 AA) and Jim Thorpe.

    SSS? (none / 0) (#39)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:06:07 PM EST
    Sorry, sabermetric abr (none / 0) (#50)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:45:25 PM EST
    for Small Sample Size.  Used when a guy with 3,000 Plate Appearances in MLB with a 220/280/320 slash line lights it up for a month.  The narrative becomes "he's in the best shape of his life" or some other nonsense.  In reality anything can happen in a small enough sample.  You might flip heads ten times in a row if you flip a coin 1,000 times, but you can't draw conclusions from that sample.

    So my point was that with only two professional golfers it is hard to say that is just random or represents something larger.

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    off the top of my head...

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    Vijay Singh (none / 0) (#54)
    by me only on Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 01:59:37 PM EST
    Obviously not AA, but not white had a white caddy for years, Paul Tesori.

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