Q&A with this month’s #PlattProfile, J.R. Lang.
Lang tells us about the many golf clubs he caddies at.
(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 21.
Q: What school are you currently attending?
A: I go to Rutgers University.
Q: When do you graduate?
A: I will be graduating next December.
Q: What is your major?
A: My major is Finance, I am in the school of business.
Q: How did you decide on that major?
A: It just always interested me and then I started an internship with a private equity company in my sophomore year. They guided me to finance, they told me that that would be the most beneficial if I followed through with the company just knowing that type of information so they were also a big factor in that.
Q: Do you participate in activities in school? Clubs?
A: Yes, I play golf at school. I am on the golf team.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: I like traveling, I like going to events, Phillies games, Eagles games, and a bunch of concerts over the summer.
Q: What golf club do you caddie for?
A: Tavistock in Haddonfield, NJ.
Q: How long have you been caddying?
A: I started at Tavistock in 20 19 and then I’ve picked up a couple of other clubs as I’ve gone. So now I’m at Tavistock, Hidden Creek, which is down the shore, Trump Bedminster, and then I help my brother out. He’s over at Philly Country Club so I go there sometimes and then hopefully I’m going to be getting into Galloway National also this year.
Q: How did you start caddying?
A: My brother, he got into it and he let me know about it said he loved it, he was getting paid well, and meeting a lot of cool people so I figured I would start.
Q: What is your favorite thing about caddying?
A: I would say aside from the connections that you make that are so valuable, one of my favorite things is the experience of being out there hearing their stories. Just really becoming friends with people that you would never think of. Obviously, you can caddy for famous people but even just regular everyday people when you hear their stories about what they do, I think just listening and taking it all in is my favorite part.
Q: How did you hear about J. Wood Platt?
A: My brother as well, although he heard about it from my aunt who was a member at North Hills and she donates to the scholarship. So that’s how we got set up with it.
Q: What are your long-term goals? Think 5 to 10 years
A: Some long-term goals of mine include settling into the company of the current internship I have now, which is with a private equity company, and I am doing commercial real estate leasing and acquisitions. I hope to move forward and be promoted to director of sales as I continue with this company. I also hope to acquire some properties of my own and begin to rent them out. As I continue to grow, I hope to expand my network and continue to meet new people along the way.
Q: What is something that happened to you while caddying that you will never forget?
A: One experience that I will never forget was actually my first time ever caddying. It was the 13th hole at Tavistock, which is a short par 3. The man whose bag I was carrying hit his shot and it lodged on the ledge of the cup, ending up around 3 inches from the hole. It was the craziest thing and we actually had to notify the greenskeeper to repair the indented lip of the hole.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self as a caddie or a new caddie just starting?
A: I would say to be more outgoing and be more of myself around players. I was so worried when I first began to say the right thing, never make a mistake, and really just be by the book. Now I have learned that people want you to be yourself. They also hope to connect with you and enjoy their time out there. I would just advise you to be outgoing and do your best to help them enjoy their round but also enjoy it yourself.
Q: How has J. Wood Platt changed your life?
A: J. Wood Platt has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I am forever grateful for the trust for not only the scholarship and connections they have given me but also the person they have helped me become. Being surrounded by great mentors, professionals, and individuals has inspired me to be like them. Having access to such a successful, caring, and motivating network is more than I could have ever asked for.
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 3,700 young men and women have received $25 million in aid from the Trust.
