A Golfer & A Caddy
By: Peter Madden
Recently, the golf world lost someone who was arguably the greatest amateur golfer, ever: R. Jay Sigel. Jay quietly battled cancer over the past couple of years with dignity before succumbing to the disease. I won’t exhaust too much ink on his many accomplishments on the course but just to name a few: the winningest player on the Walker Cup team, winner of back-to-back U.S. Amateur Championships – only done again by someone named Tiger – won the Pennsylvania Amateur Championship multiple times, played in 11 Masters Tournaments, and the list goes on.
Though we both belong to Aronimink Golf Club, I never saw him for years, but would walk by his locker and think, “eventually I’ll run into him.” And one Saturday morning, I did just that. I brought my son out to the far end of the range and as I loped up to find my place on it, I glanced over at a Pine Valley bag and the bag tag with his name on it. Jay – in the flesh!
I popped some balls but thought it made a lot more sense to step back and watch the master at his craft. Every ball, perfectly drawn to his target. I introduced myself and asked how he was doing. “Damn sciatica!” was his response. He advised me he was trying to figure out how to hit the ball while his back and legs were experiencing the pain. As I joked with a friend later, I would have paid a lot of money to hit the shots Jay referred to as “passable.” He was extra kind to my son, giving him some advice on the art of the swing. “Before you know it, you’ll be beating Dad!” he joked.
I was fortunate enough to play a round with him last season. He was a gentleman throughout the round, giving all of us great advice and telling all kinds of stories. He obviously took great pride in his history on the course, but it didn’t seem boastful. More matter of fact, and enjoying spinning tales from Augusta to his own backyard.
Just a few days ago, only a couple of weeks removed from losing Jay, Aronimink lost our elder statesman of the caddy yard, Hal Thompson. 57 years of looping there! As our Caddymaster and friend Tom Foley advised me, if it wasn’t pouring rain, Hal was there and ready to go. I was “out there” with him on more than a few occasions and always found him to be very kind, a great sense of humor (with my game this is important!), enjoyed conversation but happy to not say a word if you weren’t talking, and obviously loved what he did.
As with any death, it’s always shocking. With Hal, it seems improbable. If you ever visited the course, eventually you would cross his path, whether around the patio or on the course , and he would offer a gentle smile or kind word. I don’t think I ever saw him without his trademark hunter green bib with his name on it.
As I reflect on these two gentlemen, I believe perhaps they had more in common than you would think. Though one was a decorated and well-known golf hero and the other a humble caddy, they seemed to share the same DNA of kindness and warmth, treating people evenly and with grace.
I find comfort knowing that Jay perhaps called our most storied caddy home and now enjoying rounds together, just the two of them.
Rest easy, gentlemen. You will always be missed.
