Official Caddying Story: John Ashworth

1986 Colorado Open Champions Mark Wiebe & John Ashworth

The founder of Linksoul and previously the eponymous Ashworth, John Ashworth is an icon in the golf world. But he may also have one of the longest, most unique caddying careers of anyone to ever pack bags. First caddying for his father, he looped through high school and college before making his way onto the PGA Tour, on the bag for Mark Wiebe (pictured). Paying it forward, Ashworth continues to give back to the game in myriad ways, especially through the Goat Hill Caddy & Leadership Academy, which he modeled off of George Solich’s program in Colorado. 

At which golf course did you first caddy and how old were you when you started?

I first started caddying for my dad at San Luis Rey Downs when I was almost 9 years old. He was a school teacher and absolutely loved the game, so I began caddying for his regular group as a way to avoid going to church on Sundays. He had a pull cart, which made it easier for a little pip squeak like me at that age, and at least half the time, he was the one pulling me around the course. But I loved everything about it and became a golf junkie. 

My dad played early, so it was still dark out when we’d make the 30 minute drive to the course. His regular foursome was comprised of a really nice group of guys, and they treated each other with respect. There was a doctor, a school principal, and another teacher. They were such gentlemen. They’d throw balls every time and play for a $1 Nassau or something like that. Seeing my passion for the game, my dad started taking us to the Tournament of Champions each year, and I got to see guys like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player. I was hooked on the game.

Why were you compelled to become a caddy?

Well, initially, it was to get out of church. My mom presented me with an ultimatum that I could either go to church or caddy for my dad. It was an easy decision. But that was just the start, and my caddying career spanned roughly two decades. From San Luis Rey Downs, I started caddying at La Costa Country Club when I was 15 years old. I then looped at Tucson Country Club when I was in college, playing on the golf team at the University of Arizona. Next, I caddied on mini tours and then ultimately the PGA Tour with Mark Wiebe and occasionally some other pros. Each stop along the journey was special in its own way.

At La Costa, I really cut my teeth as not only a caddy but just about every other job on a golf course. I picked the range, worked in the cart barn, etc. It was run by ex-Marines, so it was a really tight ship. Fortunately, my dad knew the director of golf, Tommy Jacobs. He was a great guy and gave me a shot. 

When I got to college, I was fortunate to caddy at Tucson Country Club on the weekends. It really helped me get through college, ensuring that I had some pocket money to party or buy some groceries. I had a regular group of guys out there who treated me really well, especially because I was on the Arizona golf team. 

After college, I started caddying for Mark Wiebe, whom I’d grown up playing against and had known forever. He came to me and told me that he was going to try to get his Tour card. It was perfect since I was kind of wallowing and trying to figure out what to do with my life. He agreed to pay me $250 per week and 5% of his winnings. We started on the mini tours and then made it through Tour School, which was super intense. I think I made like $19,000 the first year, so I was living in my car half the time. But we had a blast!

Take us through your first day on the job, who was your first loop?

Oh man, it was quite the scene at La Costa. The caddy yard was pretty wild, a real hodge podge. It was pretty intimidating at first. There were a lot of guys nursing hangovers sitting around playing cards, telling dirty jokes, and cursing up a storm. I remember thinking to myself “holy shit” as I just kind of hid in the corner. Most of the other caddies were career loopers who were out in the desert for the winter and at La Costa in the summer. I was a teenager, and keep in mind, this was the mid-seventies. I got quite the education at La Costa.

I don’t quite recall my first loop there, but I’ll tell you a good one for anyone who has seen that movie The Irishman. Back when I was looping, La Costa was really run by teamsters; it was kind of mafioso. It was even rumored that Jimmy Hoffa was buried under a house near the course. When I was watching that movie with a buddy of mine, I realized that I’d actually caddied for some of those guys! Couldn’t believe it, I had no clue at the time. 

What was the biggest mistake that you made during your caddying career?

I probably made some big ones but can’t really recall any in particular. I just remember how grueling the work could be on those hot summer days. Shit man, La Costa is a long course. When you were coming down the stretch at 15, 16, and 17 right into the wind, those old leather bags were tearing into your shoulder. It was so uncomfortable, and you’re just hoping that you won’t get stiffed!

What did you most enjoy about caddying?

I loved it all, from the moment I first stepped foot on a golf course. The fresh air, the sounds, the moments of quietness, guys hitting shots, walking to their balls, and the ebb and flow of the match. At that age, you don’t realize the layers that you’re developing, but it’s definitely an important part of my life looking back on it. Golf really is my religion. It’s what I’ve studied and been around my whole life. It’s a very spiritual game as you know. It’s close to nature and also close to people. You can really observe and get deep on yourself. It’s just never ending, like peeling back layers of an onion. You just keep going and going and going.

It’s an art, caddying is an art form as much as anything else. The life skills you develop, I think it’s more beneficial to learn to caddie than it is to play golf. It develops character and shows you how to navigate life. It’s a total game changer. 

Tell us about some of the people for whom you caddied, did any of them contribute to your career in a meaningful way?

Well, Mark, he was a big part of it, obviously. It was great. We really got into our bubble, especially during qualifying school. It was a grind; it was intense. We just tried to keep it simple though, stick to the process and get into a rhythm. 

Another person would be Dave Stockton, which is a cool story, actually. It was at the Players’ Championship down at TPC Sawgrass, and Mark wasn’t in the field. But I headed there anyway to see if I could just pick up a bag. You could do that back in the day. So there I was just hanging out in the parking lot and in drives Dave Stockton. I went up to him and said, “Mr. Stockton, I caddy for Mark Wiebe who isn’t playing this week, and I was wondering, you know, if you could use someone on your bag?” He said, “As a matter of fact, I can.” Boom! Right then and there, I meet Dave Stockton, and I’m on his bag that week. Then, he gets paired with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player for the first two rounds! How good is that?!? It was wild and kind of full circle since I’d grown up watching those guys with my dad at the Tournament of Champions.

Years later, Dave became the Ryder Cup captain and had some really great years on the senior tour. I called him up when I started Ashworth and said, “Hey, Mr. Stockton, not sure if you remember me but I caddied for you...blah, blah, blah. I’ve got this clothing company.” He started wearing Ashworth, which was fun, and we’ve been friends ever since. 

I feel like what I do, believe it or not, designing and making clothing is kind of like caddying. I’m trying to make looks that people can pick and choose. I’m just putting out a menu of options. In essence, I’m caddying for how they’re gonna look. You know what I mean? I’ve never REALLY thought about it that much, but it’s kind of like being a sherpa.

What was the biggest lesson that you learned from caddying that helped you succeed as you progressed in life?

You really do get a lot out of every experience, and it’s hard to go back and dissect. They’re like little pieces to a puzzle. So many things that you pick up along the way, it’s like a kaleidoscope of experiences. And you've got to edit. There are bad experiences, but you’ve got to see those for what they are. Caddying is the ultimate in objectivity because you’re not actually doing anything. You’re just helping someone navigate what it is. It’s not up to you. But you’re the chief consultant on the thing, definitely the consigliere.

Here’s a story that says a lot, however. Coming up, Mark had developed a great relationship with Payne Stewart, going all the way back to the mini tour days. So when Mark made it up to the PGA Tour, they hung out and often played practice rounds together. Through this, I also got to know Payne. One week in 1984, Mark didn't get into Honda Classic, but I went down there anyway to try to pick up a bag. There I am again waiting in the parking lot. Payne walks by and says, “Hey Ash, what are you doing here?” I told him that I was trying to get a bag. He said, “You get one? I said, “Nah.” Then he said, “Where are you staying?” At this point, I’m low on funds, kind of down to fumes. I told him that I would probably sleep in my car. Payne says, “Stay with me. My wife’s not here, and I’ve got two beds in my hotel room.”

This is how cool Payne Stewart was! I’m not even caddying but get to stay the whole week. The entire time, he’s picking up all the dinners, and we went to a couple movies. He was such a good dude, so strong mentally. It was really great to be around that. It was great to be around someone so successful and see how he treated the process.

Would you mind telling us more about Goat Hill Park and the caddy academy? 

Goat Hill came out of the blue. I didn’t see it coming. In a way, it chose me. I’d played this track back in high school. It was a nine holer. I even remember playing El Camino High School there when I was at Orange Glen, so I knew it well. And while I’d become a member at La Costa, where I’d been a caddy, I found myself playing Goat Hill 2-3 times per week with my business partner and coworkers. I’ve always loved recreational golf. Coming from a humble family, I was only able to play golf because my dad adored it, and there were public courses for us to play. 

But Goat Hill had been really run into the ground. The city owned the land, and there were real estate developers lining up to get it because the 75 acre parcel with ocean views was probably worth $100,000,000. On a lark, we put in an offer, filled with the most idyllic, whimsical stuff we could think of. We wanted free golf for kids and for it to house the North County Junior Golf Association (NCJGA). We just had fun with it and then sent some “Save Goat Hill” t-shirts that we’d printed up to people like Bill Murray and Mark Wahlberg. Everyone kind of jumped on the bandwagon, but we were still completely shocked when the city council told us that we’d actually gotten Goat Hill. Then, of course, we needed to spend $3.5 million over two years, which I didn’t really have at the time because we were putting everything into Linksoul. A wealthy guy who had agreed to back us all of the sudden disappeared when we finally got the lease. In the end, we got super lucky, and the drought actually bailed us out thanks to a rebate.

We’ve now had it running for over five years. And the coolest thing is that it’s become the home of the NCJGA, which is actually what I played in as a nine year old. Inspired by George Solich’s academy, we teach kids to caddy and then pair them with good people who will mentor and guide them a bit, plus give them a tip. But we have a nonprofit, a 501c3, that pays the golfer’s caddy fees. The kids are 13-17 years old, and it’s just incredible to see how it’s changed their lives. Even kids who had never played are now into golf. 

If you could nominate one former caddy who went onto enjoy success, whose Official Caddying Story would you like to hear?

Rick Reilly over at Wilshire Country Club, he’s a dear friend and grew up looping. He’d be a good one.