JIM TANNER – PAWTUCKET CADDY ICON
On Monday, July 6, 2009, the Pawtucket Country Club rightfully plays host to the Third Annual Jim Tanner Caddy Classic. The tournament honors long-time Pawtucket caddy master, Jim Tanner (“JT”), and the proceeds will be used to endow permanently a John P. Burke Caddy Scholarship in JT’s name. I recently sat down with JT to learn more about this true Pawtucket icon.
James K. Tanner was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 18, 1938. He moved to Pawtucket at age 6 and followed a classic Darlington educational track, namely, Potters, Goff and Pawtucket East High School, graduating in 1956. At Pawtucket East, JT was on the golf team with Harold “Senator” Miller, Skip Brown and Bobby Dale. While his team never won a state championship, the team was extremely competitive with JT playing at number one.
JT’s first job was at age 10 as a Pawtucket Evening Times paper boy. While the money was steady, JT’s uncle encouraged JT to try out caddying at the Pawtucket Country Club where JT’s uncle also caddied. Les Kennedy was then the head pro at Pawtucket and he, along with then caddy master Arnold Nightingale, gave JT his first loop in 1949. Walter Cook was the Club president. In addition to caddying, JT worked in the golf shop and also on the greens crew. After a short stint in the Navy, JT returned to Pawtucket Country Club and continued to caddy. In 1968, when George Gay was Club President, Les Kennedy was Club pro and Al McQueen was the last caddy master, JT assumed the position of Pawtucket Country Club caddy master and has occupied that position continuously for over 40 years. In total, JT has been associated with the Pawtucket Country Club for over 60 years.
JT’s first loop earned him just over $1.00. In the late 40s and 50s, a Class A caddy could expect to make $1.60 per bag. As a sign of the times, it is not uncommon today for a caddy to make anywhere between $50.00 and $100.00 a bag. Unfortunately, with carts costing much less than caddies, there are no caddies currently at Pawtucket and most other golf courses in Rhode Island.
The decision to become caddy master back in 1968 was an easy one for JT. He was married to the former Doris Lemonde, living in Pawtucket and starting a family and caddy master paid the most. However, at that time, the job was essentially 24 hours, 7 days a week. JT had no assistants and had to be there from sun up through sun down just about every day of the year. JT’s wife, Doris, was especially accommodating and while JT did take her golfing once, golfing was nothing that she aspired to. JT and Doris have three children, namely, Timmy, James and Jennifer. Timmy and James also caddied at Pawtucket during the late 70s and early 80s.
JT mentioned that it was not uncommon for Pawtucket to have over 100 caddies at various times of the day and week. Many of them were adults (some with families) who considered caddying their full-time job. Actually, many of these adult caddies worked at Pawtucket during the spring, summer and fall and moved to Florida to caddy in the winter. This was their only source of income and as such, JT favored them over the younger caddies when it came time to assigning bags. One Pawtucket caddy, Paul English, made it all the way to the Ladies Professional Golf Tour, caddying for Joanne Carner and then later Jane Blalock.
Asked about his personal achievements, JT’s lowest score at Pawtucket is 67, two under par. His greatest loop was when he caddied for the late, great Sam Snead. As for the greatest golf round he ever witnessed, JT immediately recalled the 2008 score of 65 shot by long-time Pawtucket member, Frank Rampone, who shot that score at age 77.
While JT himself was a great golfer when he was young, having reached the finals of the Rhode Island State Juniors in 1956 losing to Tom Cunningham at Rhode Island Country Club. JT’s golf game was put on hold when he became caddy master. Again, he had no help and had to work all the time. It was not until the last decade or so, when Pawtucket saw a need to get JT some help, that he resumed playing. Thankfully, the additional help in the bag room and the generosity of Pawtucket Country Club and its members have allowed JT to play again the game he so much loves. Even though it has been over 50 years since he played number one at East, he is still striking it solidly and is typically number one on his team in the A Train.
As a former caddy myself in the 1970s and 80s, I learned a lot about golf and life from JT. JT reconfirmed the most important qualification of being a caddy when I asked him what it took for him to hand a bag to someone. JT stated, “I selected caddies based on ability and a willingness to work.” Clearly, these requirements summarize what it takes in today’s world to succeed. Work hard, perform your job well and be reliable and respectful and you will succeed in life.
On behalf of all current and former caddies, we thank you, JT, for life’s greatest lessons and wish you and your family all the best. Many thanks to Doris and the entire Tanner family for sharing JT with us at Pawtucket Country Club for over 60 years.
LeonBoghossian
Pawtucket Times – June 19, 2009
Tags: 2009 by Rod MacKenzie