Carrying Experience, Swinging with Purpose: a pro caddie's shot at the Idylwylde Men's Invitational
CBC
For the first time in 21 years, Kurt Kowaluk is back in his hometown of Sudbury, Ont., for the Men's Idywylde Golf Invitational.
As he gears up for a qualifying spot in the tournament, he says golf has been part of his life since he was a young boy growing up in Lively.
"It's certainly my dad's love for golf, taking my brother and I out. I remember being six years old and him taking my brother and I out at the Lively golf course where my dad was a member," he said.
It wasn't until age 10 when Kowaluk started to take the sport more seriously and things started to turn around for him. He entered his first golf tournament, placed first, won a golf club and his career after that took off.
Along the way, he connected with other golfers through junior-level golf right up to college level golf, including future pro player David Hearn.
"He called me up one day and said, 'Can you meet me in Florida next week?' and I was like, 'As in two days from now?'" said Kowaluk
That phone call happened in October 2005 and began his career as a professional golf caddie.
"We went from Florida to Mississippi to Texas and later signed on to caddie for him for the rest of the year," said Kowaluk
This October will mark 20 years since he became a professional golf caddie.
"All the golf courses that I watched on TV as a teenager growing up, I was then at them working the tournaments for David in the beginning, but then many other golf players after — it's been really cool." said Kowaluk, who lives in Las Vegas.
Kowaluk said he is looking forward to participating in the Idylwylde tournament this weekend alongside his friends, bringing with him the lessons he's learned as a caddie.
"Just being here at the Idywylde, everyone is so friendly and nice, and I just love coming back here," he said.
He said golf is not an easy sport and one you have to approach with patience and an open mind. You will win sometimes, but you also have to ready to fail and be OK with that, Kowaluk said.
"You have to understand that you are not going to succeed every tournament. It's not all that you watch on TV. You will see players succeed in a tournament, but it's not every player every week winning. Even the top players have off weeks," said Kowaluk.
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