Q&A with this month’s #PlattProfile, Matt Sharp
Sharp speaks about building relationships with members.
(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: Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia.
Q: When do you graduate?
A: I graduate this May.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am an accounting major and a business administration major as well.
Q: How did you decide on those majors?
A: I kind of knew I wanted to do something with math coming out of high school because it was something I enjoyed so I picked accounting. Then I realized there wasn’t much math actually, but I also realized I enjoyed business anyway. So, I stuck with accounting and picked up business admin to get a broader range I also want to be a CPA so I needed more credits for that.
Q: Do you participate in activities in school? Clubs?
A: I am an officer of the accounting society and then I play intermural sports.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Yes, I love to play basketball, or any sport, love hiking, and just being outdoors. There are a lot of good hiking spots out here. I also love hanging out with friends, and playing board games, card games, and golf.
Q: What golf club do you caddie for?
A: Lancaster Country Club.
Q: How long have you been caddying?
A: I have been caddying since 2017 I believe.
Q: How did you start caddying?
A: My dad was actually a caddie in high school. I was working a job at Subway that I did not enjoy. My dad told me I should try caddying, he brought me over to the club, and he actually knew the caddie manager because he caddied for him when he was in high school.
Q: What is your favorite thing about caddying?
A: I think it is the relationships I can build with the members. Obviously, when you are caddying, you’re out walking for 4 or 5 hours. It is a good time to talk and catch up with members you haven’t seen in a while and get wisdom from them. I have had plenty of opportunities to network and was offered jobs by members of the club so it has been a cool experience.
Q: How did you hear about J. Wood Platt?
A: I heard about it from previous caddies who had gone through the program at Lancaster Country Club. My caddie manager also advertised it and once I was of age and had been there for two years, I applied. I knew a lot of people applied for the scholarship and it helped a lot with paying for college.
Q: What are your long-term goals? Think 5 to 10 years
A: In the next 5-10 years, I hope to be a licensed CPA with a few years of experience in public accounting. I have accepted a job at RKL, LLP, where I intend to work for the foreseeable future. After that, I would love to move out of public accounting and work for a private company that I have a passion for in a higher-level role such as controller and/or CFO.
Q: What is something that happened to you while caddying that you will never forget?
A: One time, I was caddying for a member and his guest in one of our annual tournaments. After the first day, it seemed unlikely that we would win our flight. However, the second day included a “Lucky Dog” wild card spot, where the team who scored the most points that day and didn’t win their flight would advance to the playoff. My group did well at the beginning of the day and then won our final match 9-1 to claim the wild card spot. Unfortunately, we did not end up winning the tournament, but it was such an enjoyable day that I will never forget.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self as a caddie or a new caddie just starting?
A: I would say to go into every loop with confidence and a smiling face. As a young caddie, I did not know much about golf, but as I continued caddying I learned a lot. Regardless of your golf knowledge or other worries, you can always have a positive attitude and make the round enjoyable for everyone in your group!
Q: How has J. Wood Platt changed your life?
A: J. Wood Platt has allowed me to afford a quality education at Liberty without stressing too much about paying off student loan debt. It has also provided me with many opportunities to meet many interesting people and make long-lasting connections. Platt has truly helped me kickstart my professional career while working a summer job that I love.
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.
