Moving to Chicago 2020

[Zac1321]

So my girlfriend is from the northwest suburbs and got a job back that way to be closer to family. im planning on following march/april-ish (to get through the end of the year at my current job and miss out on the majority of winter). In thinking about and browsing job listings here and there I got the idea of taking the summer off and caddying a few days a week before transitioning back into a full time gig in my career field. Im not too worried about making a ton of money from doing this (im a CPA and can pretty easily pick up some part time work as a bookkeeper or doing tax prep if i really need to) but at the same time it would be nice for it to supplement my savings for 5-6 months and not need to pick up side work. im looking to get general thoughts and opinions on this: is if this is worthwhile at all, im in southern California now and caddies are unheard of here except at a select few very exclusive clubs. I know Chicago has a much more extensive private golf scene but are caddies still used at a lot in the area? any clubs ideally in the northwest suburbs to look into for this when next season rolls around?

[DavePelz4]

You might consider Medinah based on having 3 courses and a corresponding number of members.

[VNutz]

> @Zac1321 said:

> So my girlfriend is from the northwest suburbs and got a job back that way to be closer to family. im planning on following march/april-ish (to get through the end of the year at my current job and miss out on the majority of winter). In thinking about and browsing job listings here and there I got the idea of taking the summer off and caddying a few days a week before transitioning back into a full time gig in my career field. Im not too worried about making a ton of money from doing this (im a CPA and can pretty easily pick up some part time work as a bookkeeper or doing tax prep if i really need to) but at the same time it would be nice for it to supplement my savings for 5-6 months and not need to pick up side work. im looking to get general thoughts and opinions on this: is if this is worthwhile at all, im in southern California now and caddies are unheard of here except at a select few very exclusive clubs. I know Chicago has a much more extensive private golf scene but are caddies still used at a lot in the area? any clubs ideally in the northwest suburbs to look into for this when next season rolls around?

 

Butler has a good caddie program. My brother caddies there on weekends occasionally if he's got nothing on his schedule or just wants a little extra cash. I don't know how much he gets from it or if it's enough to make it worth your while though.

[MountainKing]

They're used at most of the higher end clubs, most of the programs are geared toward high school and college aged kids. If the goal is to put some time in somewhere to get free golf, you might be better off finding a pro shop job at a public course. Most of the caddies get to play the course on certain days the club is closed as long as there's no outings.

[Thunder Dan]

If I were in your shoes, I'd try getting a gig at Chicago Golf Club as a caddie, likely your only shot to ever play there. It's all walking so you'd get a bag, and you'd get some famous bags for sure.

[DavePelz4]

> @"Thunder Dan" said:

> If I were in your shoes, I'd try getting a gig at Chicago Golf Club as a caddie, likely your only shot to ever play there. It's all walking so you'd get a bag, and you'd get some famous bags for sure.

 

TD...agree on the thought but if he's going to be in the NW burbs (depending on his definition of the NW burbs) it might be difficult to get to CGC. Plus, the majority of their caddies are high school kids.

[Zac1321]

thanks for the suggestions so far! great point TD but tbh my goal isn't to put in time to get some free golf, although that would be a great perk especially for a private I normally would not otherwise be able to get on. For me the move is as good of an opportunity as any to take a bit of a break from my career to enjoy the summer and get some good golf in around the area. i figured if im gonna do this i might as well find something part time and added bonus if its at a course. id honestly take a groundskeeper position in a heart beat (way way way before id wanna work in the pro shop) but caddying seems like it would offer a little more flexibility whereas groundskeeper would come with a more rigid schedule.

[ldchristopher]

The country clubs in the area are pretty much all affiliated with the Evans Scholar program so caddies are all high school students. I actually started caddying in 8th grade but not every course allows 13 year olds to work. I don’t think the money will be good enough anyway. Pro shop gigs at municipal courses are almost always patronage jobs but that isn’t the case at privately owned courses. As for groundskeeper, I honestly have no idea what the qualifications are. Chicago Highlands, a newer country club (opened in 2010) in the Western suburbs located right off the toll road, is actually hiring for that position right now, for what that’s worth.

[psygolf]

In the northwest suburbs the best choice would be Twin Orchard CC in Long Grove. 36 holes, guaranteed to get out every day.

 

[geochitown]

At Onwentsia, Shoreacres, Lake Shore, the caddies are not all students, so those might be good ones to try.

 

[Schley]

An alternative is head up to Whistling Straits on the weekends as well for they have a huge caddie program there as the Straits is walking only anyway. Three other courses to supplement that. Not too far of a drive from the NW burbs and doable on a weekend.

[Zac1321]

> @"Schley " said:

> An alternative is head up to Whistling Straits on the weekends as well for they have a huge caddie program there as the Straits is walking only anyway. Three other courses to supplement that. Not too far of a drive from the NW burbs and doable on a weekend.

 

my man I would do that in a heartbeat, don't think it will fly with my lady though haha

[jimwgt26]

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