Caddying for a Cause

The Evans Scholarship Program makes higher education attainable

Following a three party agreement between BMW, the Western Golf Association and the PGA Tour, BMW is now the title sponsor for the golf tournament formerly known as the Western Open. The terms of the agreement establish a 6-year deal consisting of four major events. It is anticipated that BMW’s presence will elevate the prestige of the event and greatly increase the bottom line for the Evans Scholarship. For 80 plus years, the Evans Scholarship program has helped more than 8,500 young men and women achieve their goal of attending a four-year university. It is the largest privately funded college scholarship program for caddies in the nation and provides full tuition and housing grants to the most qualified applicants. For the last two decades the program has averaged about 825 grants a year. By maintaining a graduation rate of nearly 90 percent, the Evans scholars prove that given the opportunity they can consistently go above and beyond all expectations. The Evans Scholarship Program is full of success stories. Dr. Dwight Fitch, now a practicing oncologist in Sarasota, Florida, is proud to be one of them.

tgm: When did you start caddying?

df: I started caddying at Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan when I was 13 going on 14. I have a cousin who was about the same age and we did everything together. We took a caddying class and learned the fundamentals of golf for three days. Before the class I thought country clubs were for horses. The first year I was the most difficult because I didn’t know anybody. I got the lowest pay, the worst golfers and the worst tippers. But even then I began learning more of the game’s subtleties and nuances. I was working 12 or 13 hours a day during the summer. I was making good money after a while and it was tax-free. The job helped me stay out of trouble. It was a different environment in which I developed different expectations for myself and learned people skills. But caddying wasn’t what I wanted to be doing forever. I saw guys who were playing golf on Wednesdays at 10am. That was what I wanted to be doing, not living paycheck to paycheck.

tgm: How did you hear about the Evans Scholarship?

df: The caddy superintendent said on a whim one day that there was a scholarship for caddying, so I applied for it.

tgm: Where did you go for your undergraduate degree?

df: I went to the University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree and medical school.

tgm: Did you live in a scholarship house? How would you describe the experience?

df: Yes I did live in a scholarship house with other caddies. It was like a fraternity, but not exactly like a fraternity. It was a major transition living with mostly white people. I’m from Detroit, so when I was living at home the population was around 95% black. My only interaction with white people was caddying for them or seeing them in the mall. Over time I just got used to being the only black person in class. But it was a good adjustment and I learned that good people come in all shapes and colors.

tgm: Did the scholarship pay for all your graduate expenses?

df: The Evans Scholarship covered 4 years of full tuition. The rest of the expenses were based on the number of scholars living in the house.

tgm: How would you have paid to go to college otherwise?

df: Loans like everybody else, especially after medical school. I look back on it and it was a total blessing. I think it is an opportunity that is underutilized in the African American community. Young people operate with an “I’m not going to carry a white man’s bag,” mentality instead of setting goals for themselves and finishing what they start. There were days I’d be caddying in 90-degree heat, carrying two bags and I’d realize I was only at the 15th hole. It made me want to quit, but I didn’t. Many of the skills I rely on as a physician were honed on the course: being personable, relating to other people and understanding whether or not a person wants to talk a little or a lot. I learned all this caddying. I use these skills every single day.