Q&A with this month’s #PlattProfile, Ross Charlton.
Charlton talks about his experience caddying for the winner of a tournament.
(This interview has been edited for clarity and length.)
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 19.
Q: What school are you currently attending?
A: I go to Penn State now but I transferred from Virginia Tech.
Q: When do you graduate?
A: May 2025.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am a biomedical engineer major.
Q: How did you decide on that major?
A: I’ve always liked engineering, I had a really good program in high school. I want to go to med school to become a doctor so medical engineering combines the two.
Q: Do you participate in activities in school? Clubs?
A: I am really into weightlifting, powerlifting. I couldn’t join the powerlifting team this year because I was a semester late but I probably will do that next year. And also play club golf if that doesn’t work out.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Golf, weightlifting, hanging with my friends.
Q: What golf club do you caddie for?
A: Wilmington Country Club.
Q: How long have you been caddying?
A: This will be my 5th summer.
Q: How did you start caddying?
A: So, my high school golf coach emailed our whole team and said there was a position in the bag room at Wilmington so I talked to my manager who was also the caddy manager and I started caddying right away.
Q: What is your favorite thing about caddying?
A: Probably the people I get to meet especially at Wilmington. Everyone is so successful that I meet. I get to meet people from all over, learning from them, talking with them.
Q: How did you hear about J. Wood Platt?
A: It was actually my caddy manager and the other caddies we were always talking. He told me about the scholarship when I was a junior in high school and I applied for it from there and he wrote a letter of recommendation for me.
Q: What are your long-term goals? Think 5 to 10 years
A: I plan to graduate from Penn State with a biomedical engineering degree and then attend medical school to eventually become a doctor.
Q: What is something that happened to you while caddying that you will never forget?
A: I will never forget the club championship at Wilmington Country Club where I was lucky enough to caddie for the winner of the tournament. As a competitive golfer myself, it was so cool to caddie for someone that I hope to be as good as one day.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self as a caddie or a new caddie just starting?
A: Don’t miss the opportunity to make meaningful connections. Most golfers don’t only want someone to carry their bags, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and share a little about yourself. Creating genuine connections make each loop much more enjoyable and memorable.
Q: How has J. Wood Platt changed your life?
A: The generosity of J. Wood Platt lessened the financial burden for my family and is something we will always be grateful for. I’ve also begun to make connections and networks through Platt that I never otherwise would have made.
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.
