Caddie honoured for exceptional play
A caddie for 24 years, now the full-time drinks cart driver at Reading Country Club and a golfer with exceptional talent.
ALBERTON – Meet Patrick Memela (40) from Greenfields in Thokoza and well known face on the fairways and greens of Reading Country Club. Patrick has just been honoured as Player of the Season in the Ekurhuleni Caddie League category. To achieve that, he had to win all eight of his league games throughout the 2014 season.
Though he’s been a caddie for the past 24 years, he only took up the game 14 years ago, when a member at the club gave him a second-hand set of golf clubs.
“Since that day, golf has become my life. When I don’t drive the drinks cart or fulfil a caddie duty, I practice,” he says.
Reading allows for their caddies to play the course on certain days of the week without them having to pay a players fee. That way they improve on their own skills and experience the course as a player would experience it.
Patrick is quick to acknowledge the amazing support he and several of his fellow caddies receive from members of the club. “They really care about us and that in turn spurs us on to be our best and deliver on the standards as set out by this club.”
Asked what the one thing in his many years on the course, as caddy and player, has taught him, he answers: “Respect. Respect for the game, respect for the player and respect for the club. I have observed when caddies become too nonchalant about their duties. That is not good for our reputation or for the club.”
Patrick is a father of two and his earnings go to his family first. “There is not much left for the golf, so I am truly very grateful for anything that can help me to further my dreams, one of which is to possibly become a PGA instructor.”
With his determination and passion, it is clear that Patrick may just achieve all his dreams on the golf course.
