Ex-soldiers enlist in caddie school

GOLF: Fife project aims to help veterans get back in the swing of civilian life

The world’s first residential caddie school for ex-servicemen has returned to the Home of Golf in Fife.

Launched yesterday and running until February 28, seven former soldiers from Canada, the United States and the UK have convened at the Duke’s Course, St Andrews, for the second session of the Caddie School for Soldiers.

Over the course of the month, the art of becoming a golf caddie will be learned by Dan Matthews, Royal Canadian Parachute Regiment; Rick Finn, Canadian Army; Stuart Beaton, Royal Logistic Corps; Robert Goodwin, Coldstream Guards/royal Medical Corps; Jeremy Balmonte, US Infantry; Joshua Campbell, US 4th Airborne Brigade; and John Pitts, US 4th Airborne Brigade.

Returning again as mentors are Davy Gilchrist and David Scott.

Gilchrist, former caddie master at Kingsbarns and twice voted Caddie Master of the Year in Scotland, is leading instructor for the six veterans.

David Scott, a Master PGA professional, will complement the soldiers’ education, demonstrating how to help their golfers escape the perils of pot hole bunkers, remedy swing problems that produce wayward shots, and plot their way thoughtfully around a golf course.

The soldiers are all living together for the month in Elie.

Herb Kohler Jr, owner of the Old Course Hotel, has again provided the Duke’s golf course for the soldiers’ training.

As featured in The Courier last year, Caddie School for Soldiers was founded by Don Snyder, a US author, who was working as a caddie at Kingsbarns and St Andrews when he first began to learn about the difficulties many soldiers were facing as they returned from war.

Don told The Courier yesterday: “Our goal remains the same: To provide an experience that will help these soldiers heal their wounds of war, and to train them for meaningful work in a profession where they can regain their belief in themselves by earning the trust of golfers at their side.”

Pictures: Mhairi Edwards. Clockwise from top left: Rick Finn putts with mentor David Scott as others look on; Caddie School for Soldiers founder Don Snyder; some of the veterans on the Duke’s Course; Dan Matthews plays a shot.