Ambassador Spotlight: Jim Denon, The Springhaven Club
Each month, we highlight a dedicated Ambassador who helps advance the mission of the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust at their club and in their community. This month, we’re proud to feature Jim Denon of The Springhaven Club. A longtime supporter of caddie programs and former scholarship recipient himself, Jim has played a key role in growing awareness and support for Platt at Springhaven.
Q: What club are you affiliated with and how long have you been involved with JWP?
A: A longtime supporter of JWP, I became the Ambassador to The Springhaven Club in April 2023.
Q: What inspired you to become a JWP Ambassador?
A: A friend at Springhaven is connected to GAP and JWP. He knows my commitment to supporting caddie programs and how I promote their benefits. He knew of the ambassador program and mentioned it to me – I’m very glad he did.
Q: What’s your connection to the caddie community or the game of golf?
A: I began caddying at an early age at Hempstead Golf and Country Club and started to play shortly after (Metropolitan Golf Association). I was a recipient of the MGA Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund while attending Villanova.
Q: What is one thing you’ve done recently to support Platt that you’re proud of?
A: I’m proud of the significant increase in contributions by members of The Springhaven Club. We reached an important milestone in 2024 by ranking #14 on the club contribution list with $44,000+ contributed. 2025 was even better with over $77,000 contributed. We’ll have to see where that ranks on the 2025 list! Prior to 2024, Springhaven averaged below $15,000 annually. Big thanks go out to the Springhaven members for their generosity – they should be proud!
Q: Can you tell us about a moment when you felt your efforts were making a difference?
A: I have attended several Scholar Induction events. The scholars themselves are always very thankful and appreciative, but it’s been nice to hear directly from the parents, too. The parents have provided very meaningful feedback about the impact and opportunities that the Trust provides their children.
Q: What does JWP mean to you personally?
A: As mentioned above, the current scholars and parents are great to talk to, but beyond that, I hear from Platt alumni who received the scholarship 10 to 50 years ago. They make a point to recognize how receiving the scholarship helped their individual paths and helped them achieve their successes. It means a lot.
Q: What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a JWP Ambassador?
A: I would say just do it. There is no single formula that works at every club. Ambassadors are critical to offering insight and ideas about their club’s culture and what works. They don’t have to work alone. Co-ambassadors or a small committee are great and work well. It is just important to understand the need for and importance of the ambassador role. With the expansion and growth of Service to Golf scholarships, Ambassadors are needed more than ever. It is very fulfilling.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created in 1958 and is the charitable arm of GAP (Golf Association of Philadelphia). The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust’s mission is to financially aid and empower qualified caddies and those working in golf operations in the pursuit of higher education. Along with aiding caddies financially, J. Wood Platt’s EMPOWER program strengthens scholarship investment dollars by providing caddies with exceptional benefits and leadership training through access to the wide network of J. Wood Platt donors and alumni. To date, more than 4,200 young men and women have received $29 million in aid from the Trust.
