Odd Job of the Week

Golf Caddie

Here in the Northeast spring has finally really arrived. The trees are flowering, the grass is turning green . . . and the golfers are hauling out their clubs and hitting the courses. There are almost 27 million golfers in America according to Sports Marketing Surveys, and a lot of them pay good money so they don’t have to lug their clubs, interrupt the game to go find a cold drink, remember to bring their own sunscreen—all the things you could do for them!

What You Do: Follow a golfer around the course handing him or her appropriate clubs, a golf towel, or a drink, helping with yardages, etc.

What You Need: Knowledge of golf is certainly helpful, but how much you need to know will depend on who your client is. If you’re assisting a pro, you’ll want to be able to help him or her with shot selections, course information, and know all the rules of the game. For recreational golfers, you may only need a friendly, helpful attitude and two arms to carry some clubs.

What You Get: Tiger Woods’ caddy purportedly gets between 5% and 10% of Woods’ earnings, plus about $1,000/month salary, which would be around $750,000 last year. Caddies at a local club can expect $20-$40 per round (rounds typically last 2-3 hours if the golfer is playing alone).

Sites to Check Out:
http://www.caddychicks.com/ If you’re female and attractive sign up here to become a Caddy Chick.
http://www.golfonline.com/ This site includes all things golf-related.

It's out!

Monday night I wandered into the Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center, walked up to the information desk, and asked if they had a book by the title Odd Jobs. I felt like some sort of undercover spy, though of course I didn't really have to work at not being recognized. The glory of being a first-time published author is mostly a very private sort of glory-- the kind that sends a surge of excitement through your innards but that doesn't require shaded sunglasses or a team of body guards. It's not like I have a flock of fans chasing me with the book in one hand and a pen in the other begging for my autograph. Actually, that sounds kind of nice . . . where are you, fan club?

Anyway, I waited not so patiently as the young man clicked away at his keyboard. "It's by Gehring," I said. "G-E-H. . . I'm not sure if it's out yet or not." He was quiet (except for the clacking) for long enough that I was sure he couldn't find anything about it. Maybe he would say there was no record of the book, was I sure that was the title? Maybe Barnes & Noble had changed their mind and they weren't buying any copies after all. . .

Suddenly he wheeled around and started walking away. He stopped after a few paces, turned back, and jerked his head for me to follow. Around a shelf, down an aisle, and. . . there it was! I wanted to hug him, to grab a copy and run around the store hollering "It's out! This is my book and it's out! I spent every night for months writing this and now it's here!" Instead I just thanked him, picked it up, flipped through it, turned the stack to face outwards so they'd be more obvious (sorry B&N employees. . . this probably drives you crazy), and walked away.

So that's that. The book is out. Ask at your local bookstore to see if they have it yet. And when you find it, let me know what you think!