Q&A with this month’s #PlattProfile, Michael Larkin.
Larkin speaks about his time as president of the J. Wood Platt Evans house.
(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 20.
Q: What school are you currently attending?
A: Penn State.
Q: When do you graduate?
A: May 2023.
Q: What is your major?
A: My major is finance.
Q: How did you decide on that major?
A: I was very interested in the finance field and it was the broadest major in my opinion.
Q: Do you participate in activities in school? Clubs?
A: I am the current president of the J. Wood Platt Evans chapter. Other than that, I participate in THON and I am usually on a THON committee every year.
Q: What is it like being the president of the Platt Evans house?
A: It’s awesome! Sometimes it is a lot of work but it is very rewarding. I love everyone in the house.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: I love to golf, go see movies, and hang out with friends. I am also a huge sports fan.
Q: What golf club do you caddie for?
A: Llanerch Country Club.
Q: How long have you been caddying?
A: I will start my 7th year this summer.
Q: How did you start caddying?
A: Word of mouth, someone told me about it. It was so long ago!
Q: What is your favorite thing about caddying?
A: My favorite thing about caddying is meeting people really.
Q: How did you hear about J. Wood Platt?
A: I heard about it through my club actually, our caddie master and the caddy program promoted it really well.
Q: What are your long-term goals? Think 5 to 10 years
A: My long term goals are to get a job that I love in the field of finance, finding a way to give back to J. Wood Platt and Evans (either through joining a club and giving back to the caddies or donating to the program), and giving back to my family.
Q: What is something that you learned while caddying that you will never forget?
A: The most valuable thing I ever learned was being able to comfortably interact with highly successful individuals on a personal level. That is a very valuable skill that many do not have the opportunity to practice at such a young age.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self as a caddie or a new caddie just starting?
A: Engage as much as you can. There is so much to learn from the people you are caddying for and if you put yourself out there and talk with them it can only improve your experience.
Q: How has J. Wood Platt changed your life?
A: Receiving the J.Wood Platt Evans Scholarship has done everything for me. It knocked my life into an entirely different path and I will forever be grateful.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The Trust’s mission, which has remained constant since its inception in 1958, is to financially aid deserving caddies in their pursuit of higher education. The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created by GAP through the efforts of then President Walter A. Schmidt; Leo Fraser, President of the local section of Professional Golfers Association of America; and Albert Keeping, Golf Professional at Gulph Mills Golf Club. It was named in honor of Philadelphia’s premier golfer of the era, J. Wood Platt. Not only was Mr. Platt an accomplished player, but he was also the Trust’s co-founder and first contributor.
