Fifty Questions Asked of a Pebble Beach Caddie. James Hudgeon
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gallery would come around the dogleg ahead of the players, and you could tell when Jack Nicklaus came around the dogleg; the gallery came up to the sixth tee box two and three deep. The colors the galleries had on with the background of Stillwater Cove, from where I was it was an amazing view. No gallery in front of us, just fairway all the way down the right side of the fourteenth hole; that was pretty cool moment.
Jack’s gallery followed him down the fifteenth hole. Two groups later, the gallery was building again, and we know that was Tom Watson. I remember the size of the gallery; it was huge, and as the gallery came up the path it never ended. The whole fourteenth hole from one end to the green was just the most awesome thing to see.
Being a caddie at Pebble Beach, I know not to follow the last group down the fifteenth hole. My best move was to say, “Thank you for your hospitality, I’m going to the seventeenth hole that Jack Nicklaus made famous ten years earlier.” With that shot that hit the pin after Jack adjusted his swing in the middle of his swing. My way to the green was across the fourteenth fairway behind the sixth tee box down number five and four, and I’m there, seventeenth tee box.
I found a spot along the right side on the ropes before the Tom Watson gallery arrived. I was far enough down the fairway that I could see the front of the green to see how far Tom carried the bunker; the greens were firm all week, and I knew that that was going to be the game plan off the tee. Jack was teeing off at the eighteenth tee; I moved in right behind Jack’s gallery.
Tom hit a shot that just covered the bunker, and I remembered thinking that that was a perfect shot, but the ball did not get on the green. It hung up in the left rough, and with that rough for the US Open, you had to get the ball out first, and I was in the perfect spot to see what was about to happen.
Tom hit the chip; the ball popped up, and before you could think about his putt and what Jack was doing in front on the eighteenth green, the ball disappeared and Tom lost it. Tom was too cool; the moment was a moment, and Tom pulled it back in. Tom was outside of himself for a moment, very cool to see very cool.
Years later, in my caddie career at Pebble, I was lucky enough to do a couple practice loops with Mr. Watson in the group. I had to mention to him that I was there live at the 1982 US Open when he chipped in. I said how exciting that shot was, and that soon after the tournament Pebble Beach started to build a retaining wall and every golfer that played Pebble Beach for the next several years had to try that chip shot. He was very nice, and I just thought how lucky I was again.
Understanding how lucky I was at the moment to see the ball cover the bunker, I shared with Mr. Watson how close he had come when his shot covered the bunker. Tom replied, “That is what I was trying to do, I knew that was the game plan all along.”
I guess I learned a lot caddying that week.
Chapter 2
What Was Your Biggest Tip?
For tax reasons, I do not talk about tips. Some tips came from the shop on group outings. On some or most of the group outings the rule of the day is no need to tip the caddies; the caddies have been tipped, and there is no need to tip the caddie today. That is something that I thought about time to time. Why tell someone not to tip and tell the caddie that is gouging? If you did a great job that exceeded their expectations, and they feel that was the best time they have had with their clothes on, I often got a tip anyway. That was one of my most favorite things to tell the guest that golfed at Pebble beach; this is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Tips come in a lot of ways: like a handshake and eye contact with a thank-you for the round, great job and nice to meet you, but the biggest tip was what I learned on the loop. There is nothing I can buy with that, other than the knowledge for the next loop.
Tickets to Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. I was not a Packer backer, but my friend Larry Carroll my brother from another mother, as Larry would like to say had never been to Lambeau. Now here was a tip I could share with a real Packer Backer, so right away I asked if I could bring a friend that has never been to Lambeau Field. I know some of the history: Bart Starr and the pulling guard Jerry Kramer on the quarterback sneak on the goal line to win the Super Bowl in 1966. My high school number was 64; the tailgating and the frozen tundra—yes I wanted to go to Lambeau as well.
Steve aka Gumby asked if I could come in December. Of course what went through my mind was the frozen Tundra, but Steve put that concern to rest when Steve said, “We got a box and we play the Bears,” and at that moment I thought about my brother from another mother. I couldn’t wait to call him about this tip; Steve could not have given me a bigger tip. I got two tickets to Lambeau Field and a soon-to-be-very-happy friend.
Michael Bolton also gave me a tip that I got to share with others. I caddied for Michael Bolton in the AT&T, and we made the cut. For the first time he will be playing the tournament on Sunday, and he was pretty happy about that and proud about it. I think he had a pretty fun Saturday night. I had to find him twenty minutes before his tee time on Sunday, but I could relate to that. He was in the moment that night; making the cut for the Sunday round is as good as winning the tournament. Jack Lemmon never made the cut.
Michal Bolton talked about his upcoming tour, and I said I would like to see him perform. He said that he would be in Lemoore, and that is close to Monterey. No way I went to high school in Lemoore, and I have friends there. Can I bring them? Of course. He gave me four passes to the show at the Tachi Palace in Lemoore. I called Dale Jones and his wife Vicki and asked if they wanted to go. I also called my real estate agent, Caroline Jones, and we all got a photo with Michele before the show, and we really had a great time.
Hootie & The Blowfish came to Pebble Beach and gave me tickets to a show. They were touring Cracked Rear View. The show was in San Jose, and I took my sister Julie too that one. It may not have been the best date, but family first, and it was a good night. Later, Darius Rucker played in the AT&T. That was a fun week on the job; he is too fly. Blow like Hoottie too fly brother never paid for the booty; RIP, Biggie, you are so right—he is too fly.
Tips come in many ways. I like the ones the government cannot tax I have gotten tips on top of tips, I am guilty of that, but hanging out with new and old friends is where it’s at.
Photo with Michael Bolton before the show Tachi Palace Lemoore
Chapter 3
Who Did You Caddie For?
Take everyone in world that you can think of and bring them to play golf at Pebble Beach. I have caddied for them: sports stars, movie stars, writers, business people, everyday people, cheaters, and really good folks (with some bad in there). They all had one thing in common—they were about to play Pebble Beach, and my job was to exceed their expectations.
Rock stars were the most intense; they are performers, and they are used to being the main act, so I had to bide my time with them, earn their trust, calm them down, and let them relax. I was not there for an autograph or a selfie. In those days, thank God, there was no such thing as a selfie.
The Backstreet Boys are a boy band that came to Pebble Beach to play golf. I think because they did not play the game well, this round was just a trip to Pebble Beach. It was only after three holes that I realized on the fourth tee that my job today was just keep them moving, and they are there just for something to do, and that is cool. Welcome to Pebble Beach. Enjoy your cigars and the view, we love to service you, and I will do the best to exceed your expectations. Thanks for the photo and the autograph.
John Denver played in the Crosby and the AT&T. Also, many other times at Pebble Beach, he had a home on the Monterey Peninsula. He was hard too caddie for, only because he told you that he has played Pebble Beach enough that he knows everything. When I heard that, I realized that my job was to just carry the bag, rack the bunkers, clean the clubs, and wait for his orders—not a fun