MASTERING ADVERSITY
THE GEAUX PRO SERIES CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Golf requires a lot. You’ve got to know the distance to the cup, choose the right club, account for wind trajectory, and determine whether to use force or finesse. You need to understand how the greens are running that day. Both your mental and physical game must be in sync to deliver the desired result.
Unlike other sports, golf offers no teammates to lean on during a tough round, no coach to draw up a new play to outsmart the competition. At the end of the day, it’s all on you.
But even the greatest golfers aren’t truly alone. To perform at a high level in life, business, or sports, success requires support and a strong core team. In golf, that core is known as the caddy—a confidant who guides you through the 18-hole journey, ensuring you reach the finish.
Today, Let’s Geaux Golf celebrates the unsung heroes who helped create champions.The Black caddies who quietly made a major impact on the sport’s history, particularly at the Masters Tournament, where their knowledge, skill, and guidance became the X factors behind legendary performances.
BEHIND EVERY MAJOR MOMENT
Behind every major win, there’s a guiding voice. A strategist. A trusted partner who sees what others don’t. In golf, that person is the caddy—the X factor that has quietly shaped some of the sport’s most legendary moments. And for decades, particularly at Augusta National and The Masters, that role was filled almost exclusively by Black caddies—men whose course knowledge, instincts, and wisdom were instrumental in crowning champions.
Before The Masters became one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, before the green jackets and Sunday roars at Amen Corner, there were the Black caddies of Augusta National.
From the course’s opening in 1933, Augusta required professional golfers competing in The Masters to use local Black caddies. These men weren’t just assistants—they were course architects in their own right, shaping the way Augusta was played long before data tracking and high-tech analytics. They knew the course’s every contour, every break, every hidden slope.
Their ability to read greens, manage emotions, and give precise club recommendations made them just as valuable as the clubs they carried. And while their names weren’t engraved on trophies, their impact is forever etched into the tournament’s history.
Some of the most legendary Black caddies at Augusta include:
🏆 Willie "Pappy" Stokes – Caddied for Ben Hogan’s 1951 Masters win, known for his meticulous preparation.
🏆 Nathaniel "Iron Man" Avery – The trusted caddy of Arnold Palmer, guiding him to four Masters victories.
🏆 Willie Peterson – Carried Jack Nicklaus’ bag for five of his six Masters wins, helping craft one of the most dominant careers in golf history.
🏆 Carl Jackson – Served as Ben Crenshaw’ caddy for over 40 years, including two Masters wins in 1984 and 1995.
These men weren’t just carrying clubs—they were carrying legacies, shaping the performances of the greatest golfers in history.
John H. “Stovepipe” Gordon (center) with his fellow caddies at the 1935 tournament. Photo Bettman Archive | Getty Images
THE AUGUSTA ACES
For many Black caddies, golf was more than a job—it was one of the few entry points into a sport that historically shut them out. While they could master the game’s toughest courses, playing on them was another story. Many were better golfers than the professionals they worked for but were denied the opportunity to compete due to segregation.
Some, like James “Big Boy” Dent, started as caddies and fought their way onto professional tours. Dent, an Augusta native, learned the game carrying clubs for others, refining his swing until he eventually turned pro. Despite limited access to tournaments, he carved out a career with 12 Senior PGA Tour wins, proving that Black talent in golf wasn’t limited to caddying—it just lacked opportunity.
However, as golf evolved, so did the role of the caddy. In 1983, Augusta National lifted its rule requiring players to use club caddies, allowing professionals to bring their own. While this opened doors for modern caddies, it also ended an era one where Black caddies were an essential part of The Masters' fabric.
The stories of these men, their brilliance, and their influence have often been overlooked. But their impact on the sport is undeniable.
Willie Peterson and Jack Nicklaus walk the greens in 1973. Photo Augusta National
SUCCESS + SOLIDARITY
The Black caddies of Augusta weren’t just carrying bags—they were mentors, strategists, and game-changers. They understood the course in a way that modern technology still struggles to replicate. Their knowledge and instincts shaped the careers of golf’s biggest legends, yet their own names were rarely mentioned.
Golf is a sport where individual achievement is celebrated, but no one wins alone. Behind every great golfer, there’s a great caddy—a steady presence, a guiding hand, a keeper of wisdom.
As we reflect on Black History Month, Let’s Geaux Golf honors the Black caddies who mastered adversity, shaped The Masters, and changed golf forever. Their impact lives on in every strategic putt, every perfectly calculated shot, and every golfer who steps onto the green knowing that success is never truly a solo pursuit.
Tommy “Burnt Biscuits” Bennett, left, caddying for Woods when he finished as the low amateur at the 1995 Masters. Margret Sellers
CARRYING THE GAME FORWARD
Let’s Geaux Golf honors these unsung heroes,the Black caddies who didn’t just carry the bags, they carried the game forward.
By bringing the game directly to communities through Lets Geaux Golf Mobile Clubhouse Experience, supporting initiatives that expand access, and working to keep pushing for inclusivity in the sport of golf.honoring the work of pioneers that led the way.
The legacies of James "Big Boy" Dent and the Black caddies of Augusta remind us that the sport of golf has long been influenced by Black excellence,even when the world wasn’t watching.
As Lets Geaux Golf continues to push for a more inclusive future in the game, we honor the resilience, knowledge, and passion of those who paved the way. By recognizing these unsung heroes, we ensure that their impact isn’t forgotten but instead serves as inspiration for the next generation of Black golfers and industry leaders.Shop the HBGU Historically Black Golf University Limited Edition Apparel featuring golf greats. Available Now at the Lets Geaux Golf Pro Shop.
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