Page 79 - 2018 Western Amateur Commemerative Program—Skokie Ridge Country Club

WGA_Program_2018_V5__ 6/28/2018 3:43 PM Page 77
MEMORIES OF A SUNSET RIDGE CADDIE
Jim Nugent, Sunset Ridge Caddie,
1969–1979
2018 WESTERN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
— By Jim Nugent, Sunset Ridge Caddie, 1969–1979
JIM NUGENT RECALLS short life. I remember the anticipation
GROWING UP ON THE COURSE of the week, and I recall almost every
I caddied at “The Ridge” for 11 step I took as well.
summers. I showed up as a tall
During my last few years at Sunset
and skinny 12-year-old and was
Ridge, I became Tony’s assistant. That
immediately intimidated by the caddie
meant that I got to choose my loops,
manager, Tony Battistello. He was
but I had to close and clean the caddie
commonly referred to as “Batman”
shack each night. I was proud that
by my fellow loopers, but
Tony selected me to be his assistant.
never to his face.
It was a great honor.
Tony was a gruff, well-dressed man
Tony was beloved by the membership.
who arrived early each day and
He enjoyed Monday playing privileges
supervised a group of probably 75
when the club was closed, and he
caddies in peak season. They were of
brought a regular group of guys who
all ages, including college kids and the
zipped around on golf carts. Rumor
occasional adult “pro jock,” as we
had it that some money exchanged
called them.
hands; Tony never talked about it.
If you showed up regularly, you got
Tony became a surrogate father to
out almost every day. Tony looked
countless young men, all of whom
favorably on those who wanted to would eventually come to appreciate
work. He had little patience for kid-like
the special opportunity they had to
behavior. Card playing in the caddie
work for such a boss.
shack — Hearts was the game of choice
— was permitted. You were expected I recall that Tony came to my father’s
to work hard, improve your caddie wake some 10 years after I had left
skills, and be respectful of the members Sunset Ridge. I was honored, and I
and your fellow caddies. Any missteps thought to myself, if he went to the
and you were sent “down the road.” wake of a parent of all the loopers who
stayed with it though college, he would
If you stuck with it and grew up a bit,
be attending at least one every night.
you graduated to carrying “doubles.”
That meant twice the effort, for twice I went to grammar school for a few
the money. If you continued to caddie years with Greg Kunkel, who
through college, you were assigned succeeded Tony when he retired.
better loops, which mostly meant Greg and I were never close friends,
people who paid better than average but our Sunset Ridge tie kept us in
and who were fun to caddie for. touch from time to time.
The highlight of my career at Sunset “Kunks,” as he is universally known,
Ridge came in 1972, when I caddied for has a lot in common with Tony. He is
Charles Coody in the Western Open. equally loved by the membership, and
I was not quite senior looper, but I he takes the role of surrogate father
wasn’t a kid anymore either. It was very seriously.
an honor to be given the Masters
He is the very definition of the modern
champion from the prior year. We went
caddie manager. And he is a bigger-
72 holes plus two practice rounds, and
than-life person on the Chicago area
for that I made $15 — more money
golf scene.
than I had ever seen at one time in my
History of Sunset Ridge Country Club 77