The 2007 season brought a new focus to the MMJGA. Rather than having MMJGA participants caddie at the public courses, the young caddies were accelerated to private golf courses where they could make more money, caddie more loops, and qualify for the Evans Scholarship (a special scholarship only awarded to experienced caddies in good standing at a private course).
With the excitement of the new program focal point, the MMJGA began the year with 89 youth—a record number of participants for the program. Such a large number meant an expansion in the number of training days in April to accommodate everyone at varying levels of golf knowledge. With a little extra work, by the end of the month almost all MMJGA participants were ready for the ranks of caddying at a private course. But the influx of participants left the problem of placing this many kids at MMJGA partner courses Golden Valley Country Club and The Minikahda Club. The answer to the caddie overflow problem came in expanding MMJGA partnerships. Working with more courses than ever before, MMJGA youth were placed all over the Twin Cities including Midland Hills, Oak Ridge and Minneapolis Golf Club.
By the end of the season, 31 MMJGA participants remaining in good standing with their home course. This may seem like a small number but a 35% retention rate is actually quite high for a caddie program, simply due to the nature of the work. Still, the aim is to make that number even higher in 2008.
But it was not all work and no play in the MMJGA as there were more playing clinics than ever before thanks to partnerships with the University of Minnesota, MMJGA teaching professional Craig Waryan and First Tee clinics. Over half of the MMJGA caddies participated in at least one of the 18 golf clinics provided throughout the season. The athletic department at The University of Minnesota also helped with the life skills portion of the season giving all participants a full tour of the University. Hosted by head golf coach Andrew Tank, this was an excellent event as the MMJGA participants prepare for the future.
Of course, getting to all of these places is no easy task for MMJGA youth as there were events all over the Twin Cities. The MMJGA’s partnership with the Urban League helped out immensely as all youth were able to ride Urban League vans from general pick-up points throughout Minneapolis to each event.
After a fantastic 2007 season, the MMJGA plans to maintain a full off-season program as a way of keeping the solidarity of MMJGA caddies from year to year. Because of the wonderful weather of Minnesota the idea of a year-round golf program is not realistic so the MMJGA is implementing non-golf events to keep all participants active. These events will range from hosting Leo Lewis for life skills workshops to attending sporting events with the aim of keeping the MMJGA caddies as one solid unit. By participating in an off-season program, MMJGA caddies look to turn a very positive 2007 season into a fantastic 2008 campaign.
Click on the photo above to view the new MMJGA photo galleries on Flickr.