Page 73 - 2018 Western Amateur Commemerative Program—Skokie Ridge Country Club

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SUNSET RIDGE CADDIE PROGRAM

— By SRCC Member Paul Kissane

Sunset Ridge has had only two caddie
managers since its founding nearly
100 years ago.

Upon receiving his honorable
discharge from the Navy following
World War II, Tony Battistello began a
41-year career as Sunset Ridge’s first
caddie manager. Battistello held this
position until his retirement in 1986,
when Greg Kunkel took over the reigns.
Kunkel, a Northfield native, New Trier
graduate and, like Battistello, a single-
digit handicap, was a renowned caddie
at the club for several years prior to Tony Battistello and his caddies during the 1972 Western Open
becoming caddie manager. the science and art of caddying to go

The membership takes great pride in THE BATTISTELLO YEARS:
along with an understanding and 1945–1986
its legendary caddie managers and
enjoyment of the great game of golf. In 1951 Tony Battistello was the first
nationally recognized caddie program,
boss of Peter Ueberroth, a freshman
along with this fact: Sunset Ridge is Along the way, each caddie develops a
at New Trier. Ueberroth would go
the only club in America that has two work ethic and learns invaluable life
on to be lead organizer of the 1984
caddie managers in The Caddie Hall lessons. They also gain an appreciation
Los Angeles Olympics, Commissioner
of Fame that is administered by the for earning an “honest buck” in the
of Major League Baseball from
Western Golf Association in unpredictable working conditions of
neighboring Golf, Illinois. a Chicago golf season that can run 1984–1989 and Time Magazine’s
the gamut from blazing heat and “Man of the Year For 1984.” In 1999,
Battistello was in the inaugural Caddie he led a group that purchased Pebble
humidity to blowing rain and even
HOF Class of 1999 that included Chick Beach along with Arnold Palmer and
a few snow flurries.
Evans, and Kunkel entered in 2015. Clint Eastwood.
Along with Tony and Greg, The Caddie With an average of more than 18,000
In an interview with Golf Digest,
Hall of Fame is comprised of golf rounds played per year (one of the
Ueberroth said his biggest break in
greats Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson highest in the region), Sunset Ridge
life was at age 13, when he caddied at
along with the caddies for Tiger Woods, has always been known as a walking
Sunset Ridge, “I owe a lot to the caddie
Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino. course that encourages the use of
master Tony Battistello because he had
caddies. The club has an annual roster
Thanks to the tireless efforts of both me double bagging, one bag on each
of more than 100 caddies who provide
Tony Battistello and Greg Kunkel, shoulder. That really built me up and
valuable assistance with everything
Sunset Ridge has an unmatched made me strong enough to play
from accurate yardage to navigation of
and admired caddie program with football and baseball. Ultimately
the North Shore’s most challenging
38 SRCC caddies being awarded it helped me get a water polo
and fast-paced greens. Members and
Evans Scholarships during their scholarship that was my only way
guests over the decades have enjoyed
combined tenure. of going to college.”
their Sunset Ridge golf experience due
to the seemingly endless supply of Jim Nugent, Publisher of Global Golf
EVERYONE’S FIRST BOSS well-trained, polite and efficient Post, caddied from 1969–1979 and
Both Tony and Greg have welcomed caddies, which is the trademark recalls that Battistello was “proud of his
many a nervous teenager for their very of the club’s extraordinary and troops and expected them to work hard,
first job: being a caddie. As the “first legendary program. improve their caddie skills, and be
boss” to thousands of young men and respectful to all members and fellow
women, they taught their new recruits
caddies.” Recalls Nugent, “If you
2018 WESTERN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP History of Sunset Ridge Country Club 71