Question of the Week

George, Spokane, WA
Subj: Having a ball
Where does the term "Caddy" come from?

The word has been attributed to Mary I, a colorful Scottish monarch who lived from 1542 until 1587. Although Mary was born in Scotland she was raised in France where the resident royals attempted to make her feel more at home by creating a lavish golf course for her personal amusement. Naturally a queen can’t be expected to carry her own clubs, so she was assigned French military cadets to perform the task for her. Mary liked the idea so much that she brought it back to her ancestral homeland where the name eventually morphed from “cadet” to “caddy.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Question of the Week

Charles, San Antonio, TX
Subj: Getting a jump on the competition
Hey Ryan, everyone knows that Tiger Woods was a golf prodigy, but what about Jack Nicklaus? Did The Golden Bear show flashes of greatness at a young age as well?

Absolutely, Charles. Nicklaus’s future dominance became evident in 1950 when he accompanied his father, Charlie, to the Scioto Country Club for his first round of golf. Although he was only 10-years-old at the time, Nicklaus shot a very respectable 51 for his first nine holes. Two years later he won the first of his six Ohio State Junior titles en route to becoming the most celebrated young golfer in the state.