(Editor’s note: This story initial ran on Dec. 29, 2023. It has been updated with information about Ward Clayton’s Augusta appearances.)
They had nicknames such as Pappy, Burnt Biscuits, Cigarette and Cemetery.
When Ward Clayton first heard the nicknames, he didn’t know much about the real men behind them.
“As sports editor at the (Augusta) Chronicle from 1991-2000, we delved deeply into the history of the tournament. The deeper we got, the more chances I had to run into the names of the caddies,” said Clayton, who has recently written an update to his 2004 book “Men on the Bag: The Caddies of Augusta National,”
The new book “The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National: Inside Stories from Golf’s Greatest Stage” is set for an April 2 release. To promote the book’s release, Clayton will be at the Book Tavern at 7 p.m. on April 3 and 10, signing books and answering questions. He’ll also be at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 4 for a presentation of the Men on the Bag program.
For nearly 50 years, golfers playing the Masters could only use Augusta National’s caddies. From the first tournament in 1934 until the ban on outside caddies was lifted in November 1982, the Black caddies not only carried the bags of golfers but gave their expertise and insights on the course and the game.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt they are the greatest caddie corps in the history of the sport,” he said.
But as sports editor, he said there was little information about the caddies except their colorful nicknames.
“I was intrigued by their personalities, but we didn’t have anything to base upon who they were. That was troubling to me that we couldn’t tell the story,” he said.
Every spring in Augusta, Clayton met many book publishers who came to town golf week pitching their latest golf-related read, asking for coverage at the newspaper. He developed relationships with them. When one asked him if he had any book ideas, Clayton knew one that needed to be written.
Read More: Augusta National’s Black caddies focus of program at Lucy Laney Museum
He told the publisher “I think there’s a great book on the caddies in Augusta, but it’s going to take a whole lot of research. It was a story that had not been told.”
The first book is now out of print. The new version has updated material including updates on the caddies after they left Augusta National. Most of them have died.
There’s also a chapter on the historic neighborhood where many of them grew up and lived. The Sand Hills neighborhood is nestled amid Summerville, Augusta National Golf Club and the Augusta Country Club.
“If you take away golf and the racial implication, this is an American story,” he said. “They got a job next door. That’s what happened. They went to great lengths to do that. They created a niche for themselves.”
And it’s a niche that can never be replicated.
Over the years, Clayton has talked to a lot of people about the caddies, and many people have their own anecdotes that are “good natured and humorous” about the positive impact the caddies had on golf.
He’s glad to have the book returning to print.
“Not only is it a great story, but it’s continuing their legacy hopefully — to make people aware of what they did and how they did it. That shouldn’t be lost with time,” he said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
