ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 19, 2024) – Rockrimmon Country Club in Stamford, Conn., has been synonymous with the MGA Caddie Scholarship Fund since the Fund’s inception, and its new caddie manager, Joe Pica, has an equal passion for youth caddieing.
“It hits very close to home,” said Pica. “I caddied in my youth but never knew too much about the caddie scholarship program. So, what I maybe can’t give monetarily, I can give back through fundraising. It is good to see these kids get the help they need with the rising costs [of college].”
Pica and Rockrimmon will host the 49th Alumni Reunion on July 22. Pica is an active fundraiser for the Fund, participating in the annual golf marathon, where participants raise money by playing as many holes as possible, and has broken fundraising records, raising more than $350,000 over the last four years at the Golf Marathon in his previous role as Caddie Manager at Shorehaven. Last year, Pica raised $98,000, and in 2022, he raised $123,000—the most by one person in the event’s history.
Pica has only been with Rockrimmon for a short time, but since then, he has seen why youth caddieing has been so well supported there over the years.
Pica’s fundraising for the CSF has benefitted a lot of caddie scholars from Rockrimmon. Morgan Squires was one of those caddies. Squires spent one semester with the Semester at Sea Program while at Southern Connecticut State. The travel allowed her to gain valuable experience in her major and broaden her horizons. “That would not have been possible without the caddie scholarship I received.”
“[The members] want to get the Rockrimmon name out there through these caddies, which is important to them, and to know that this place has a culture in which youth caddies are welcome. They love the kids. I have caddies who just graduated [from college] and have been here since they were 15 or 16.”
At Rockrimmon, a handful of members started out as caddies at the club, and they have been helpful to Joe as he adjusts to his new role. “They help with training by bringing the newer caddies out on the course.”
Before Joe arrived at Rockrimmon, he was at Shorehaven, which has a small caddie program. He remembers one young man who worked in the bag room and caddied and came in as a very shy high school student but eventually came out of his shell.
“He came in not saying a word, and I was like, ‘Oh boy.’ And he stayed with me for three years. Now, he basically has the keys to close the place now. I still keep in touch with him, and he will be a caddie scholar this year.”
Pica is always looking for new caddies to keep the caddie program at the necessary levels to keep up with members’ desire to play golf.
“It helps if they have a little golf experience, but that’s not mandatory. But more so, it’s the attitude.”
A club and a caddie supporting youth caddieing so resolutely seem like a perfect match.
“It’s another way to show our support [by hosting this event]. It is important to us that we can provide and give back in any way we can. These are the kinds of outings we want, that I want personally here. Golf is my passion, so I will help and encourage it anytime I can.”