Midlothian Golf Caddie Turns Summer Job Into Full Ride To College

OAK FOREST, IL — An Oak Forest high schooler's summer job caddying at Midlothian Country Club turned into a full ride to college under an Evans Scholarship, the prestigious foundation announced last week.

Nick Smith, 17, has been golf caddying for almost six years. While the senior in high school said he hadn't considered caddying at first, a family friend convinced him to apply after their son became an Evans Scholar through the position.

In golf, caddies are people tasked not only with carrying a player's bag and clubs but also giving advice and moral support throughout the game. Oftentimes, caddies are assigned to one golfer or course in order to develop a rapport and familiarity with the players' games.

A Chick Evans Scholarship annually grants about 250 high school seniors with free tuition, room and board for four years of college. The award is available for caddies at select golf courses across the country to apply. According to Smith, leadership, caddie record, character and academics are all factored into applications.

"I like that caddying takes consistency and persistence and you get to meet new people," Smith said. "It's exciting to be part of the team."

Smith started caddying during summers with the intent of applying for the Evans Scholarship once he was old enough, even though he wasn't very familiar with golf at first. After being thrown into the lifestyle of long days in the sun, heavy bags and chasing behind golf carts, the 17-year-old said he's since seen and learned from "some amazing golf."

The award is named after famous amateur golfer and Chicagoan Charles "Chick" Evans. According to the Western Golf Association, Evans came into an amount of money in 1921 that would have ended his amateur career if he accepted. To put the money to good use, Evans told family he wanted the funds to go back into golf and set up the scholarship for "qualified caddies."

Scholars are limited to choose to attend one of 21 colleges and universities which have an Evans Scholar program established. There, students in the program will usually live together in a designated house or floor.

Students will submit their top four choices to the Evans Foundation which will then place the scholar with the best fit, Smith said. The Oak Forest native told Patch his top choices are Northwestern University, Purdue University, Marquette University and Michigan State University.

While the program limits college choices, Smith said those who win the scholarship are given freedom once they arrive and are not required to caddie in college. He'll likely return to Midlothian Country Club the summer after his freshman year, he said, but will be free for internships and other opportunities in the summers following.

"It really is the best job you can have during the summer," Smith said when asked what he wished more people knew about caddying. "It totally beats McDonald's."

"You're going to work half as much and make two to three times as much money. Not only the money, but you're going to meet all these people that are successful and can give you a way in later in your career."

Other local Evans Scholarship recipients include Hannah Smith and Pablo Vicencio from Midlothian Country Club.