Q&A with this month’s #PlattProfile, Lucas Gilbert
Lucas Gilbert is a 23-year-old nursing graduate of West Chester University and a caddie at Philadelphia Country Club. He recently began working as a registered nurse in the operating room at Chester County Hospital and hopes to specialize in orthopedic surgery.
(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 23 years old.
Q: What school did you attend?
A: I graduated from West Chester University in December.
Q: What was your major?
A: Nursing.
Q: How did you decide on that major?
A: I played sports throughout high school, and I always thought that if I could walk, I could play. I learned how to take care of my own injuries, and through that, I became interested in the human body. I took some allied health classes in high school and realized that I really enjoyed it and thought I could make a career out of it. I went into nursing, and I love it now.
Q: Did you participate in any school activities or clubs?
A: Yes, I was one of the founders of the West Chester Golf Club.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Of course, I golf a lot. I also love talking about sports, spending time with my dad, and going out.
Q: Are you working anywhere after graduation?
A: Yes, I got a job working in the operating room at Chester County Hospital.
Q: How do you like it?
A: I love it. I love working in the OR.
Q: What golf club do you caddie at?
A: Philadelphia Country Club.
Q: How long have you been caddying there?
A: I’ve been caddying there for about four years.
Q: How did you get into caddying?
A: I didn’t really start golfing until my senior year of high school when COVID hit. Before that, I hated golf and thought it was the most boring sport. I played baseball, so I never really touched a golf club. One of my buddies brought me out during COVID, and because I’m so competitive, once I lost, I got hooked. I started looking for jobs and got one at Philadelphia Country Club. I began working outside with golf, and once I started caddying, I was hooked right away.
Q: What is your favorite thing about caddying?
A: I love the interaction with people, especially talking with adults from different walks of life. It’s always interesting to hear how they got to where they are today.
Q: How did you hear about the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship?
A: I heard about it through the country club. My caddie master at the time, Ryan Plower, who is now at Cedarbrook, really encouraged me to apply and look into it. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Q: What are your long-term goals? Think 5 to 10 years.
A: In five to ten years, my goal is to continue working in the operating room as an RN and specialize in orthopedic surgery. I’m also interested in mentoring someone and sharing what I’ve learned through caddying and nursing school.
Q: What is something that happened to you while caddying that you will never forget?
A: A few years ago, my mother passed away during the summer, and members of Philadelphia Country Club reached out to offer their condolences and check in on me. They didn’t have to do that, and I’ll never forget how much that meant to me.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self?
A: Always be kind and spread positivity. You never know what people are going through, and a simple hello or asking someone how they are can really change their day for the better.
Q: How has J. Wood Platt changed your life?
A: J. Wood Platt has given me lifelong connections to people I never would have met otherwise. It has also helped me financially, allowing me to graduate debt-free and begin saving for my future right away.
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.
