KCC Caddie Program has offered local teens jobs, an introduction to the world of golf, and college scholarships

KCC has one of the best youth caddie programs in the country and one of a select few remaining in the Midwest. Our caddie program is a great way for Kalamazoo area youth to earn summer money, make contacts, and learn about life. Young men and women love the atmosphere at KCC as they assist our Members on the golf course and have done so since the 1930s. We annually train more than 100 young men and women and encourage our golfers to make use of this unique experience.

The Glen C. Smith Jr. / KCC Caddie Scholarship Fund was established in 1985 by the Kalamazoo Country Club Caddie Committee in honor of Glen Smith, Jr. for the purpose of providing scholarship assistance to area young people in qualified caddie programs at Member clubs of the Golf Association of Michigan and the Western Golf Association

How It Works

Caddies are not KCC employees, instead they’re employed by the golfer they work with. Payment is worked out between the caddie and the golfer, who can pay the caddie in cash or charge it to their KCC account. Payment is recorded on the CaddieCard, which the caddie turns over to the golfer after the round. KCC caddies can expect to make $10.00-$25.00+ / Hour. Seasonally, the highest earning caddies can make between $2,000—$7,000.

The Caddie Manager at KCC trains new and returning caddies at the beginning of each season. Each CaddieCard also contains a selection for the golfer to comment on the caddies’ performance; this evaluation is used to rate the caddie, and also to perform additional training during the season. It is important that each golfer fill out the rating selection of the CaddieCard. Nevertheless, the best training occurs during each golf round, when the golfer advises or corrects a caddie on the spot.

The KCC Caddie Scholarships Program

Over the years, KCC has awarded over $200,000 in scholarship aid. At any one time, we have funded up to 20 people, each at $3,600 over 4 years, at a variety of colleges (MSU, Wayne State, Northwestern, U of M, KVCC) and trade schools. Each award is for 1 academic year, renewable only with a satisfactory academic record.

Scholarships are funded by an annual assessment to the Club Members, the net proceeds of the KCC Invitational Tournament, and other private contributions. All of this fund goes exclusively to scholarships. In 1985, the Board of Governors established a Foundation for the administration of our Caddie Fund, in order to guarantee tax deductibility to our donors. This Fund is within the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, in association with Fifth Third Bank. In connection with the generous endowment contribution by Fifth Third Bank on the occasion of the retirement of one of its most honored employees, the Fund was named the Glen C. Smith / KCC Caddie Scholarship. It is prepared to receive your contributions of cash, stock or other assets, all of which will be fully tax deductible to you as a charitable contribution.