Pebble Beach
I guess the next best thing to playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this week is caddying in it. Well, Grand Rapids resident and one-time Tour caddie Scott Dieleman is doing just that. A long time friend of Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly, Dieleman is on the coach’s bag this week on the scenic Monterey Peninsula. Dieleman first became friends with Kelly when he was coaching at GVSU in Allendale. “I told Brian if he ever got invited to a big Pro-AM like the Pebble Beach, that I was his designated caddie,” said Dieleman who caddied professionally in the late 70s and early 80s for brothers Danny and David Edwards. In fact, a photo of Scott caddying was on the cover of the April/May issue of Michigan Golfer in 1983.
Dieleman probably has caddied at Pebble Beach five or six times but this week will be a special thrill for both himself and Kelly. A New England native, Brian Kelly’s pro partner is James Driscoll who hails from Boston, Mass. To top it off, they’ll be playing with New England Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick and his pro partner Ricky Barnes. It’s been a hectic week for Kelly according to Dieleman, an independent sales rep for Image Builders Management.
“We got here on Sunday night and then played on Monday with actor and comedian Jackie Flynn,” said Dieleman. “Then on Monday night we were invited to Clint Eastwood’s party in Carmel at Mission Ranch and all of the celebrities were there including Kenny G and Huey Lewis. Just a great time.
“We played Monterey Peninsula Shore Course early yesterday (Tuesday) morning, being one of the first groups off,” said Dieleman. “Afterwards, Kelly then flew back to South Bend for Wednesday’s signing day for football. He’ll fly back here on Wednesday night to make our Thursday morning tee-time.”
Scott Dieleman
Their tee-times are as follows: Thursday: 8:45 am PST at Monterey; Friday: 8:00 am at Spyglass; and Saturday: 9:30 am. Dieleman reported that Kelly’s handicap is 13 while Belichick’s is 14. The low 25 amateurs make the cut after Saturday’s round and will play on Sunday. Dieleman says Kelly’s game is rusty, no surprise considering the 24/7 pace the coach has been on with the football season.
True to his caddie ethic, Dieleman walked Spyglass Hill on Wednesday due to Kelly’s absence, getting himself reacquainted with the layout and the yardages. It’s a grueling job but someone—like the good-natured Dieleman—must do it. Afterwards, Dieleman will retire to his digs for the week—The Lodge at Pebble Beach.
Sometimes, life is a beach.
Photo courtesy of the PGA Tour
